Project History/Synopsis

The Institute for Studies in the Arts has completed preliminary work on the stage adaptation of Jewell Parker Rhodes novel Voodoo Dreams. Based on the life of Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau in 19th century New Orleans, Ms. Rhodes paints a story driven by an intergenerational reaffirmation of faith, a woman's strength in the face of social forces weighing against her, and a magical journey into the African religious roots that reemerged in North America as Voodoo.

During the 2000-2001 season, the design team and production staff will revised the script, developed stage, technical and costume design, and created authentic source and incidental music. In February, the ISA with support from the Office of the Vice Provost for Research, ASU Public Events, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the English Department sponsored a two week workshop in which the various elements were melded into roundtable and workshop presentations.

Several aspects of the work demonstrate the ISA's mission directives:

1. Interdisciplinary collaboration between numerous artists including Jewell Parker Rhodes, director/dramaturg Joseph Megel of the Playwright's Theatre of New Jersey, Lois Wilcken and Frisner Augustin of La Troupe Makandal, and the Institute for Studies in the Arts.
2. Multi-cultural subject matter providing a foundation for a deeply meaningful artistic, historical and cultural experience.
3. Support of an art project at it's formative stages.
4. Development of groundbreaking art technologies.

Script development: Joseph Megel, artistic director of the Playwright's Theatre of New Jersey, was the director-dramaturg for the workshop and offered to work as a consultant with Ms. Rhodes during the script revision. Mr. Megel has extensive experience with script development. Following readings held at the Playwright's Theatre of New Jersey in March and July, 2000 script revisions were implemented which have led to the current draft which served as the working structure for the February readings. The design team and production staff built the staging and technology elements which brought the magic of voodoo and the story to life.

Music: Voodoo drumming is integral to both the story (a major character in the story is the drummer Ribaud) and incidental support of the production. Lois Wilcken and Frisner Augustin of Brooklyn, New York's La Troupe Makandal were involved in early discussions as well as rehearsals and performances to insure that Haitian, African and Vodoun traditions are authentically represented. Lois is one of the foremost scholars of Vodoun and Frisner Augustin is a Haitian master drummer. We utilized Mr. Augustin's talents as music co-director and music/dance coach. Ms. Wilcken served as a music and ritual consultant.

Stage design: Several aspects of the production required computer assisted-lighting and projection effects. The drama unfolds on several planes with players from the spirit world interacting with live characters. Furthermore, action takes place in a non-linear fashion with foreshadowing and reflection mixed with real-time elements. To aid in the transition from present to future and corporeal to spirit states, ARVID, an articulated video projector under development at the ISA, and other computer-assisted projection and lighting effects were used. Several scenes required special staging effects:

1. Three Guede spirits float in and out of the spirit world to interact with Marie and her Grandmere.
2. During a Vodoun ritual scene Marie is transformed into the snake spirit Damballah.
3. At the peak of the drama Marie walks on water.
4. Dancer's flowing white gowns are transformed using lighting effects and ARVID. ARVID is being developed by George Pawl (ISA Technical Director) and Telemetrics Corporation of New Jersey. The device allows for computer controlled movement of projected video images. Voodoo Dreams was the system's first full utilization.

Costume design: Costuming served an integral part in the projection system. Imagery and textures were projected onto the characters using ARVID and standard stage lighting effects. Historical as well as otherworldly associations were created using the projection system. Carol Simmons is a costume designer for ASU's Lyric Opera Theatre and is a dancer for Kawambe, an Arizona African drum and dance company.

Video imagery: Throughout the production video projections were used to transport the drama to Marie's past and into her dreams. During the Fall of 2001, video footage was shot and the scenes were edited together. Sheilah Britton, research administrator at the ISA with extensive experience in video, served as Producer/Director. Steve Snow was the director of photography. Patricia J. Clark of ISA was editor.

Workshop: Central to the second stage of development of Voodoo Dreams was a two week workshop hosted by the ISA at Arizona State University in Tempe February 12-24, 2001. A combination of professional actors from New York, Nevada and Arizona were brought together for two weeks of rehearsal after which informal performances were given on February 22, 23 and 24 in Drama City on the campus of ASU. During the workshop, script modifications, staging, technical experimentation, music sketches, and set ideas were implemented. Following the workshop, design and script modifications were be finalized and packaged for the full production.

Theater directors and producers were invited to a staged reading with the hope that production sponsorship for the 2002-2003 season will be offered. The creative staff believes that with the depth of the story, the colorful setting of the drama, the technical magic that was utilized, and adequate support at the developmental stage of the project, Voodoo Dreams will be a significant addition to the dramatic repertoire and to the technical language of American theater.

For more information, contact J. B. Smith.