Trade City

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PRODUCTIONS: 2000-2005

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An after-school theatre/social justice arts class conducted by Natalya Brusilovsky and Maureen Weiss at Westchester High School. The culmination project for the class was a student-written and directed play based on the students' experiences in the class and in their community. The class was made possible, in part, by a grant from the City of L.A. Cultural Affairs Dept. and support from the Westchester PTSA, Academic Booster Club, Def Poets and WHS Administration.

MARCH 25 - APRIL 9 2005

Cody Wayne Rosenberg's iconoclastic play about three guys sitting in a bar in the year 2012, drinking their beers while an apocalyptic, transcendental revolution takes place outside. Directed by Paloma Parfrey at the 1160 Bar and Lounge at the Hollywood Ramada.

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FEBRUARY 12 2005

A reality-based theatre piece / game-show in which actors auditioned in front of a live audience for roles in a never-to-be-produced play. The auditions were critiqued by a panel of "experts" and the winners were given cash and prizes. Staged in collaboration with the Powerhouse Theatre.

A live drum & bass Western about a posse of self-styled cowboys trying to find a homestead on the frontiers of a high-tech society.

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AUGUST 2 - 30 2003

Tennessee Williams' autobiographical play about his formative days in a seedy New Orleans boarding house. Directed by Reza Safai and presented at the historic Ivy Substation in Culver City. The project was made possible, in part, by a grant from the City of Culver City Art in Public Places Fund.

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Trade City charter members Kip and Aaron Hendry's street-theatre performance which toured festivals around Europe. The act combined medieval fencing, puppets, mask-theater and story-telling. Their two shows Jack and the Bean Soup and The Fantastical Adventures of Coule and Glissado were recounted in a simultaneous mix of English and Italian for all audiences, children and adults alike.

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A "come as you aren't" performance party/art exhibit in which guests were invited to come dressed incognito, as their secret identity. Lasting eight hours, the show attracted over 400 people and involved six musical acts, nine performance artists, and 28 visual/installation artists.

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An exhibit of paintings, drawings, sculpture, fashion and performance by artists under the age of twenty. Conceived and curated by 18-year-old artist Jonas Aaron, the show showcased works inspired by the artists' own bedrooms or personal sanctuaries. The exhibit was be held at The Creativity Center in Santa Monica. The project was made possible by the City of Santa Monica Community Arts Grant program, a project of the Santa Monica Arts Commission.

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At The Miles Playhouse in Santa Monica, as part of the 20th Anniversary of the Santa Monica Arts Commission, Trade City performed an original performance piece, "Strangled Cold of November." Inspired by Anne Sexton's poem, "Music Swims Back to Me," Maureen Weiss directed her mother, her aunt, and her two cousins. The performers were not traditional actors, and worked in collaboration on the piece, which detailed the death of the family's matriarch. The piece featured Patricia Ryan Weiss, Colleen Ryan Lehman, Emily Lehman, and Molly Lehman. Video by Dong Hoon Jun.

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A public art piece created by Vanessa Madrid in collaboration with the students of Ms. Warick's 4th period art class at John Adams Middle School. The piece was an exploration in language and art using apple sculptures and bilingual poetry. The work was on view in a tree outside John Adams Middle School. The project was made possible by the City of Santa Monica Latino Community Arts Grant program, a project of the Santa Monica Arts Commission

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This well-mannered exhibit featured art and interactive performances by Dong Jun, Maureen Weiss and Josh Worth. Guests were on their best behavior and were invited to sit down for a polite meal in the gallery. At the Upstairs at the Market Gallery in downtown L.A.

For the Santa Monica Arts Festival at Cloverfield park, Trade City presented a sampling of spoken word/performance poetry with a piece by Paloma Parfrey and Dong Jun. Later on, Reza Safai entertained the kids as Teats, the potty-mouthed cow

AUG 10 - 25 2001

A psycho-political tragicomedy, loosely based on the Elektra myth, about the rules of domination and order in a fictional White House inhabited by dogs and the people who are their masters. Written by Rita Valencia. Directed by Matthew Faber.

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We tried to keep them away, but the naughty puppets came back! This time with musical numbers by The Sharp-Ease, an "educational" presentation by Josh Welsh, a twisted fairy tale by Jason Goldwine, and "Cocktail II" by Josh Worth. Hosted by Kim McCann, Pat McManamee and a fresh chicken.

An exhibit of photography by Kip Hendry, Matthew Hobart, Maggie Breslin, Sukru Boztepe, Conrad Starr, and others. The evening also featured performance poetry, music and short fiction readings, hosted by Paloma Parfrey.

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JUN 15 - JUL 20 2001

A two-act contemporary satire by Josh Worth in which a young couple is invited to participate in a marketing survey that could change their lives forever. Directed by Maureen Weiss. Featuring Matthew Faber, Hollace Starr, Josh Welsh, Christopher Rossi, and Elda Pineda.

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MAY 11 - 26 2001

An absurdist two-act play about a woman who builds a man out of things around the house. Has she created the New Messiah? A psychiatrist and his plucky assistant pay an investigatorial visit. Written and directed by Kim McCann. Featuring Edison Park, Anna Khaja, David M. Lynch, and Maureen Weiss.

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APR 27 - MAY 5 2001

An autobiographical solo performance written and performed by Nena St. Louis and directed by Michael Lewis. After five years of childhood depression, when Nena was eight, she began hearing a voice in the back of her head which took up permanent residence. The show is.

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A multi-dimensional performance in which the audience was lead from one area to another to experience performances by eight artists.

MAR 16 - 24 2001

An exploration of human emotions, relationships, and spirit, through dance, live music, and spoken word. Presented by Lineage Dance.

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This gala fundraiser was a chance for our friends and supporters to play dodge-ball, everyone's favorite, highly-competitive gym-class game while wearing their most elegant formal attire. There was a live DJ, champagne, and a melee of rubber playground balls. Proceeds helped to pay the rent on the Trade City warehouse.

FEB 16 - 24 2001

In this one person show, Edison Park played Heppie, a Korean cowboy who wanders the dark alleys of Los Angeles only to find the meaning of light. The play was an exploration of identity involving the martial arts, an electronic gamelan, and a shiny red tricycle. The show was developed during Trade City's Thursday night Simple Stage workshop.

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Visit Thing Studio

An art show which focused on the impact of the oil industry on our daily social, political and enviromental climate. Curated by Mark Farina of thing studio, this show featured, among other things, live music played from the back of a truck parked in the Trade City warehouse.

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JAN 12 - 27 2001

Two original one-act plays. Amp: A self-destructive rock-star and his manager face their demons. Starring Reza Safai and Josh Welsh. Written and directed by Christpher Rossi. Recess: The story of two women who meet while waiting for their train to arrive. Featuring Hollace Starr and Nadya Starr. Written by Hollace Starr. Directed by Maureen Weiss.

A one day art showing of Javier Lara's retrospective and current work.

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NOV 16 - 18 2000

A three-night event featuring orginal films by new artists, storytellers, and actors. The festival was a rare opportunity for filmmakers with limited resources to present their work to a large audience.

A Halloween masquerade party featuring a collection of artwork that washed up on the shore of a radioactive beach.

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The Grand Opening of the Trade City Amateur Puppetorium featuring art and performances by Mark Farina, Kim McCann, and Josh Worth. An evening of surrealism, satire and socks.

An exhibition of color experiments and interactive activities by artist Josh Stone.

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A program for poets, writers and literary enthusiasts. On the first Tuesday of the month from 2000-2001, Trade City opened the stage to teenagers and adults wishing to share their thoughts and works through spoken-word performance. This event was supported in part by the L.A. County Arts Commission.

A weekly showcase of new or previously produced one-act plays or monologues. The event provided actors and writers an opportunity to perform their work outside the constraints of a formalized theater environment. Pieces were under 45 minutes, with minimal production requirements.

AUG 18 - SEP 9 2000

An evening of one-person performances. Hollace Starr found ghosts and glamour in My Dad Came Dressed as Marilyn Monroe. Reza Safai became the Iranian James Bond in Transplant.

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MAY 12 - 27 2000

An undercover play-within-a-play-within-a-play written by Josh Worth, directed by Maureen Weiss. The performance was disguised as a political allegory written by an Italian anarchist, but soon revealed itself to be an elaborate theatrical conspiracy involving the cast, crew and the audience. The cast included Hollace Starr, Reza Safai, Josh Welsh, Edison Park,and Natalya Brusilovsky.

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The Pants Projex was a presentation of performance, fashion, video, sculpture, photos, and sound. Curated by Mark Farina and Adam Harteau, the show gave artists and performers a unique opportunity to strut their stuff.

An informal luncheon at the estate of a wealthy military advisor in Central America is the setting for this play by Charles L. Mee. While the erudite guests sip champagne, a bloody insurrection is taking place just beyond the walls of the expansive compound. For this project director Juan Carlos Tonda and his visiting company, Nose Productions transformed the interior of the Trade City Warehouse into a lush greenhouse patio.

Bic and Hazel unload more than personal belongings at their apartment yard sale in this dramatic comedy written and directed by Kim McCann. Starring David Lynch, Olivia Haskell, Kim McCann and Patrick McManamee.

Productions: 1997-1999 »