Garry Posey isn’t looking to do the same old thing.
Rather than writing or choosing a play for the actors of the Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga to perform, he took on a multistep process combining performance and visual arts.
“This season, we’re focusing on partnering with artistic disciplines,” said Posey.
For “Mixed Media,” which premiered Thursday, he commissioned sculptor Thomas Spake to create a glass and metal sculpture. The two men then split the creation into four components: sketch, process, statement and inspiration. The description of each component was sent to a playwright, who crafted a play based on those descriptions.
Once the plays were written, the final step of “Mixed Media” was to commission four artists to create pieces based upon each play.
“None of the playwrights or artists communicated with each other, and they were each chosen at random based arbitrarily on my subjective understanding of each person’s style,” Posey said. “As desired, and despite this separated process, the final product has a very homogeneous feel.”
Posey will direct “Mixed Media,” which continues through April 17. Ellen Poole is stage manager.
IF YOU GO
* What: “Mixed Media” by Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga.
* When: 7:30 p.m. today and April 9; 3 p.m. Saturday and April 10; 2 p.m. Sunday and April 11 and April 17.
* Where: St. Andrew’s Center, 1918 Union Ave.
* Admission: $10 adults, $8 students.
* Phone: 987-5141.
* Web site: www.ensembletheatreofchattanooga.com.
FIRST STEP
Sculptor Thomas Spake was commissioned to create a glass and metal sculpture.
SECOND STEP
Spake described four components of the artwork’s creation, and four playwrights based individual plays on those descriptions, according to director Garry Lee Posey. Playwrights involved are Derek Barham of Chicago, Rob Smith of Chicago, Peter Macklin of New York City and Anthony Garcia-Copian of Raleigh, N.C.
* Sketch: The play based on the sketch of the piece is about a man proposing to a woman who is afraid to accept because a previous lover’s heart exploded during his proposal. “It’s about being able to accept reality,” Posey said.
* Process: A piece about the creation of man and choice vs. destiny was born of the description of process.
* Statement: In his artist’s statement, Spake recounted the experience of being a new father, according to Posey. The subsequent play, “Teena and the Alien,” features a girl who has suffered head trauma.
* Inspiration: The final play, “Dollhouse,” is about two men who want to adopt a child. One of them, a writer, writes the child into their lives. “Even the concept of a child sort of takes over,” Posey said. “The art becomes a character.
THIRD STEP
Four artists created pieces based upon each play. Those artists are Cat Collier, Matthew Dutton, Chandra Morgan and Joe Helseth.
FOURTH STEP
The combined components resulted in “Mixed Media,” featuring actors John Thomas Cecil, Christy Gallo, Ryan Laskowski and Mark Edward Murray.
AT A GLANCE
* “Strands” by Rob Smith; visual art by Joe Helseth; featuring actors John Thomas Cecil, Christy Gallo and Mark Edward Murray.
* “Pop” by Peter Macklin; visual art by Matthew Dutton; featuring actors John Thomas Cecil and Christy Gallo.
* “Teena and the Alien” by Anthony Garcia-Copian; visual art by Chandra Morgan; featuring actors Ryan Laskowski and Christy Gallo.
* “Dollhouse” by Derek Van Barham; visual art by Cat Collier; featuring actors John Thomas Cecil, Mark Edward Murray and Ryan Laskowski.