I love you. You are beautiful.

We put the last person on a plane. I have eaten several meals that did not consist of cheese or cookies. I slept 8 hours.

Revolutions must be over. 

And what a Revolutions it was. 

I'll be honest, this was a tough festival. Sometimes it was a series of events beyond our control. Sometimes it was human error. Sometimes it was the nature of producing a festival. It just seemed like a lot of "sometimes" all at once. On the same day. Storm delay? Check. Technical problem? Check. Money not coming in when it was supposed to come in? Check. 

Yet somehow the show goes on. As it always does. I confided to a few close friends (all bigwigs in the business) that is was a challenging festival and all of them said, "You can't tell from the outside." That is perhaps the best compliment ever. 

                                      Rwangyezi Stephen guest teaching African dance at UNM

We held the first Theatre Without Borders/Revolutions Symposium. Artists came from all over the world to engage in a series of discussions about how we make theatre in the world. Colombia, Uganda, Palestine, Ukraine, The US, India, Israel, Iran. It was pretty remarkable. Our dear friend Stephen from Ndere in Uganda was here for two weeks. Georgina came from New York. Brian was back from Princeton. It was such an electric time.

                                               Theatre in Communities in Conflict

A couple of standout festival moments for me:

Mariana Sadowska from Ukraine spoke in one of the symposium discussions. She spoke passionately about what is happening in Ukraine right now. The piano that artists had rolled out into the square in front of a line of army guards and how the artists would play the piano for them night and day. She showed a video from her friend with her music that showed someone walking by a bombed out building on fire with a flag that said, "I love you. You are beautiful."
When the lights came up after the video, Iman, a director from Palestine had tears streaming down her face. She leaned over to Mariana and they hugged.

During the Telling New Mexico discussuion I was struck by the tenacity and creativity that lives in the New Mexico artist. This rough and tumble little state we live in is vibrant with ferocious and brilliant imaginations. Got a barn and a stool and a drum? Let's make some theatre. Every day I love this place more and more.

                                                    Some string and a room. Magic. 

I loved all the shows in one way or another but I will write about Hamlet Prince of Grief from Iran.
A loose adaptation of Hamet with one performer and a suitcase full of toys and household objects.
Oh did I mention the show is under an hour? It. Was. Brilliant. Afshim was an INCREDIBLE performer. The object manipulation was lovely and hilarious. The script was poetic and rich. The English translation was beautiful, I can only imagine if I understood Farsi. This is my favorite kind of theatre. I was sad when it ended.

Over and over again the love and connection the festival exudes was reflected back to me by symposium participants and festival artists.
"Are you guys always this kind and generous or will it stop when we leave?"
"I've never experienced a festival like this."
"This community is amazing."
Over and over.
It really was a simply magical experience.
Neal was right. Revolutions is a series of narrowly averted disasters that ends in something beautiful.

          Beau and Aero performing free at the library as part of AMP Concerts library series

Now how to carry it over into everyday life. Into the year of work. Into the relationships I have everyday. How to create that work and feeling and level of open hearts in every single day I have. Let's give that a whirl, shall we?
I love you. You are beautiful.

                                                     This is what joy looks like