East End Special Players Benefit
04:00 pm - 07:00 pm
Van de Bovenkamp Residence, 93 Merchan, Sagaponack,
Renowned artist Han Van de Bovenkamp is opening his studio and sculpture gardens to benefit the East End Special Players, a troupe of learning-challenged actors who have performed extensively on the East End since 1985.
At the benefit the actors will showcase their work in a series of tableau vivant against a backdrop of whimsical paintings by costume and set designer, Gabrielle Raacke. This style of theater, tableau vivant, was initially popularized in the French court of the “sun king,” Louis XIV.
Ms. Raacke’s works will be projected behind the Players, who will “strike the pose” as life imitates art, and then perform the skit that has been honed and written after several weeks of improv workshops held on Saturdays at the Bridgehampton Community Center. “I’ve always liked the idea,” said artistic director Jacqui Leader. “The pictures tell such a fascinating story, I left it up to the Players to think outside the box, and see how they could stretch themselves.”
The Players are well versed is creating their own work out of improvisation. After years of performing scripted plays they began to tell their own stories. Audiences perhaps ignorant of the thoughts, dreams and daily lives of the learning challenged were treated to a series of improvisational skits – both funny and poignant – in which the players told what it was like to be them.
Last year’s production Kokrobite took the players and the audience on a virtual journey through Ghana.
The benefit is on June 16th from 4-7. In addition to the workshop performance, Murphy Davis (Artistic Director of Bay Street Theater) will take the auctioneers stand with a Dutch Auction to help raise much needed funds to keep this lively, multi-talent trope going. $50 admission,
93 Merchants Path, Sagaponak, NY.
For tickets and directions please visit the web site
www.eastendspecialplayers.com
Or call: 631-678-7560
