The Transcendence Artist project-WEEK 8

On April 24, 2009, the children of Casa De Paz orphanage were treated to their own special theatrical performance by The Transcendence Theatre Company at The Gertrude Pearlman Theatre. It was an incredibly moving and legendary day for all. The children had never been to a theatre before and it was mesmerizing for all of us to experience the immense joy that was shared onstage and off. It was a truly magical experience. This very special show was themed around sharing our love for theatre with the kids. Before each number, every actor shared why they loved theatre with the audience. The theatre was truly alive with dancing, singing, juggling, puppet shows, and even the crowd favorite... A Project Runway extravaganza. Our show ended with a very special movie we made for the children filled with memories from our trip to the orphanage. The laughter, applause, tears, and happiness that was experienced in the theatre on this special day was undoubtedly one of the greatest moments of our entire lives. After the show, we all had an amazing dinner and ended this perfect day by watching the sunset on the beautiful oceans of Punta Banda. A special thanks to all of the community members who helped us serve an amazing meal to these adorable kids. This day was the best day ever by far times 14 million! We love these children more than words can say and are so blessed that they are our forever friends.

The Transcendence Artist project-WEEK 7

Back by popular demand, we were asked to do our review show, "Living a New Dream", in Rosarito. We had an unbelievable time due to the warmth and generosity of the Rosarito theatre guild who graciously took care of us and hosted us during our stay. A local reporter documented our show along with an original jingle we had written about our love for Rosarito. Both the reporter and many of the audience members expressed their belief that our visit to their theatre would help revive tourism in the area. We certainly hope so!

Theatre In The Green with Michael Crowley

During the last week of March 2009, the artists of Transcendence Theatre Company turned their attention toward a topic that has been growing in importance across the globe: the environment. Using the beauty of Punta Banda, Mexico as a backdrop, I had the pleasure of working with Transcendence’s passionate company members to use their creative spirits to explore our planet’s pressing ecological issues.

Our work began with a discussion of what it means to be an “eco-artist”: What can a theatre professional do to ensure that their art is in harmony with the land upon which it’s created? What are the ecological issues affecting the arts community? Are there certain materials theatrical professions should (and shouldn’t) be using, to ensure a safe and healthy environment for artists and audiences? The Transcendence Theatre Company members took the “Verdant Artist Pledge”, promising to reuse scrap paper during the rehearsal process, ensure that colleagues are recycling backstage and in artist housing, utilize organic make-up alternatives, and work with costume staff members to use organic cleaning processes.



After discussing the environmental impact of the energy-intensive act of theatrical production, we began a dialogue about “eco-art”. Transcendence Artists read short plays that addressed various ecological topics. Arthur Miller said, “The job of the artist is to remind people of what they have chosen to forget.” Most of today’s audiences have forgotten their relationship with the environment - actors, dancers, directors, playwrights and designers have the ability to use their art from to help patrons find the missing connection between the natural and cultural worlds. For a company dedicated to holistic artistic creation, developing works that include environmental considerations seemed like a no-brainer to the Transcendence Artists. I challenged the company to think anew about songs and monologues that they have cherished throughout their artistic lives. Highlighting a natural element in popular song or speech can instantly help audience members embrace the green movement.


As the company prepared their eco-art pieces for our community performance, I headed to local Mexican retailers to purchase environmentally friendly upgrades for the Gertrude Pearlman Theatre. For example, installing compact fluorescent lightbulbs (which use ¼ the energy of traditional bulbs) in backstage areas will reduce the theatre’s energy bill and allow the theatre to put that money into programming and educational initiatives. Additionally, swapping the theatre’s traditional (toxic) cleaning products with organic materials will create a safer environment for future inhabitants in the space.




With no curbside recycling in Mexico, we had to do some investigative research into recycling collection. A synchronicity drew two company members to a nearby school that had set up its own recycling program. The school staff members gladly agreed to take the theatre’s recyclables. We took this discovery as a sign, and set up recycling receptacles at the Pearlman, so that artists and patrons could help reduce the waste stream attributed with the fantastic shows presented in the space.



After completing a greenovation of the Pearlman, it was time to share our work with the community. On March 28th, in honor of Earth Hour 2009, the Transcendence Theatre Company presented “Teatro de Verdes”, an evening of environmentally themed music, plays and dances. Audience members were encouraged to take a free CFL lightbulb (or two), as well as candles – in hopes that they would turn off the lights in their homes during Earth Hour. All donations from the event were given to Zonas Verdes de Punta Banda, a local non-profit environmental education organization.




Following the eco performance, audience members were invited to join the company onstage for a candlelit discussion during Earth Hour. Once all of the lights (and power) were turned off, company members led the audience in theatre games. The event quickly turned serious, as company members commented on local seals that were being poached by tuna fishers. One Punta Banda resident used our hour in the dark to educate participants about the history of the environmental crisis in Southern California and Punta Banda. Who knows? Maybe there’s a play in there somewhere!



After a week of ecological artistic exploration, company members and local residents headed to the beach for a major clean up effort. What a perfect way to end a week that began with the question: “What can an artist do to ameliorate our planet’s pressing ecological issues?” Be it greening backstage areas, using sustainable materials in the production process, creating new works that explore environmental issues, or simply taking care of the land upon which their artistic work is created (as was the case with the beach cleanup), Transcendence Artists will forever include environmental thinking into their artistic endeavors.



For more details about the green efforts of Transcendence Theatre Company, or for information about how your arts organization can instill environmental thinking into your work, please contact Michael Crowley, Transcendence Theatre Company Sustainability Consultant, at michaelcrowley@teamtranscendence.com.

Sponsors Of The Week!!! - Dr. Bronner's - Eco Store - Eco paper- Enviro-Cycle Systems

HAPPY EARTH DAY!!!! Today in celebration of Earth Day we are sharing with you our amazing Eco-Friendly sponsors!!!!! First of all, you should go to www.earthday.net to find out more info on Earth Day and what you can do to better our Earth! The Transcendence Theatre Company is dedicated to doing our part in reducing our carbon footprint by becoming as eco-friendly as we can and inspiring others to do the same! This month we even had a specialist come down to Mexico who talked to us about creating sustainable artistic creations! We even put a "green" show together and performed songs and scenes in the spirit of being green in your life and work. So with that we reached out to sponsors who could help us out! We are so grateful for what we were given so let me tell you about them now!

Eco Paper is an amazing company that makes journals, and note cards, and paper products that are all tree free! They use banana paper, coffee paper, cigar paper, mango paper, lemon paper, and hemp paper to make their products. One ton of their fibers saves an estimated 17 trees!! Imagine how many trees could be saved if we all use these products from such an amazing company that uses sustainable organic materials that are truly the most eco- friendly paper free products around! Please check out their website and buy their journals that we have been generously donated. They have a lot of different designs to chose from and their binding makes them easy to use. We have been using them for our personal journaling to write our goals and thoughts and we've been logging everything we have been doing for our personal use. We have also been using them for taking notes on our specialists' lectures and during our rehearsal process. They have been so helpful and easy to take along with us everywhere! What a great way to remind us of our mission every time we open our journals. We stand for the same things this company does in helping to save our planet by reducing the amount of trees that are being cut down for paper products!

Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap has also sponsored us by giving us each a bottle of 18-1 Hemp Peppermint Pure Castle Soap made with organic oils. You can use this soap for a variety of things beyond just bathing! Check out their website and see the many uses including shaving needs, massaging your hair and scalp, use it for your baby, for the beach, on your body, in the bath, as deodorant, for pets, cars, or a hand and foot soap! See I told you a ton of things!! The great thing is all the ingredients used are certified fair trade so that all the workers are being treated humanely. We as a company are excited to join up with them because we believe in not polluting the planet with chemicals and using natural organic products in our daily use to help not only the planet but our bodies! We strongly believe in fair trade and looking out for our fellow man! Since being here in Mexico we have been using it daily and we have replaced the soaps that are here with the soap we were given!! So thanks Dr. Bronners! Use their soaps - I promise you they are amazing!!!

Eco Store has been another incredible sponsor whose ethics are in line with our beliefs. Charles Kaye - ( who happens to be our very own company member Randi Kaye's dad) is a partner in this company! He and his company have sponsored us by giving us eco friendly cleaning supplies like glass cleaners, soaps, laundry detergent, pure oxygen whitener, shampoo and conditioner to use when we are in Mexico! "No Nasty Chemicals" is the foundation of the entire product line and philosophy of ecostore. Their eco-friendly, plant based household cleaning products are as effective as the leading supermarket brands, and their body care products are gentle on your skin and are simply beautiful to use. All of their products are made form plant and mineral based ingredients, free of toxic chemicals that bring people closer to nature with non-toxic, environmentally safe solutions that help reduce our carbon footprint. Since being here, we have used these products to clean our houses and theatre. We've put aside all the other cleaning products because we truly believe that these kind of products will only help us and the environment! Thanks so much for your sponsorship!!!

Envirocycle Systems is another unbelievable company that has sponsored us by donating a composter! This makes us laugh because we are a theatre company who has a composter!!! It is just amazing to us! Composting is a wonderful way to eliminate compostable garbage from landfills. Imagine if everyone composted there would be so much less waste in landfills and therefore we would be giving back to the earth if we use the compost in our soil. By composting as well it will eliminate toxins that are created by compostable garbage that can't break down in a regular landfill. The composter that we were donated is a really great one. The lightweight bin sits on stand with wheels so that it turns easily. There is no need for pick forks because you just have to turn it by hand as you add materials through a convenient opening at the top. It is ventilated and has holes so that the composting juice can either seep into the soil beneath it or you can collect it and use it as a gardening fertilizer! We have been compositing and are excited for it to be put back into the earth here in Mexico!

Look back later when we tell you about even more of our incredible sponsors!!!! Until then...