PEP | Performers Exchange Project

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On Nov 11 and 12, Performers Exchange Project hosted director/performer Annika B. Lewis, founder of Kassandra Production in Denmark.

First a little background of our connection to Annika:  PEP’s method of training and creating performance came from our old friend B. Stanley of Theatre Du Jour in Washington D.C., via Sian and Martha, who studied and worked with TDJ.  B. met Annika when working with his mentor Ingemar Lindh in Italy. When she received a grant this year for her first US residency, B. arranged for Annika to perform her show and discuss her work at the District of Columbia Art Center (where he is Artistic and Executive Director), and asked PEP if we could put something together in our neck of the woods.

We had a lovely weekend together of performance, workshop and lots of talking and gathering.
Our friend Paul Menzer and Mary Baldwin College generously hosted Annika for a workshop, and provided the touring group with a beautiful place to stay. Doreen hosted the gang and our friends and colleagues from Staunton in her home for dinner and drinks and talking and laughing.

Early the next morning we headed over the mountain to The Hamner Theater in Nelson County and spent the day setting up Annika’s show for a one night engagement there. Here is where we must sing the praises of Boomie Pederson and Jay Taylor at The Hamner, our wonderful co-hosts for her performance. It is an absolute pleasure to collaborate with these warm, hardworking, risk-taking people. We are so fortunate to have such a resource for original work in our community.  And the audience at the Hamner was full, warm, supportive, and enthusiastic about her funny and smart show, Let’s Get Personal.

It was our pleasure to meet and host a kindred spirit, and to have an excuse to show off our home, our colleagues and our old friends here. We would like to thank all the people who helped us make it possible:

B Stanley
Dr Paul Menzer
Boomie Pederson
Jay Taylor
Peter Coy
Larry Hugo
Thadd McQuade
Tay Strauss
Corey Lloyd
Brett Santry

and we encourage you to support local businesses that support the arts:
The Hamner Theater
Mary Baldwin College -Shakespeare & Performance
Stuart Hall School
Ingrid Berger
Market Street Wineshop
DC Arts Center

Love, PEP