JEANNE/JEAN/JOHN/JAWN
Warning: Jeanne/Jean/John/Jawn contains material that parents or guardians may find inappropriate for children under 14.
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Through our Harvest micro-residency, we learned from playwright L M Feldman about botanist Jeanne Baret and her story of crossdressing, abandonment, and unrecognized major accomplishments. We thought, "What a great story to retell through acrobatics and live music!" So we set to work, performing excerpts of a new piece at the Harvest in 2016, the Sowing in 2018, and the New York Botanical Gardens later that same year.
After spending nearly two years creating a historical docudrama, in June, 2018, we decided to throw everything away.
Instead, Almanac presented Jeanne/Jean/John/Jawn (JJJJ), an indoor-outdoor acrobatic extravaganza that represents a rebirth of Almanac, and grapples with the place of art and legacy in the contemporary moment. Collaborators Ben Grinberg, Nick Gillette, Lauren Johns, Desiree Hall, Jessica Adams and Aidan O'shea embody extreme physicality in this acrobatic ploy featuring themes of camouflage, camaraderie, and big fat lies. Philly favorite Martha Stuckey provides live original music.
CREDITS
Created and Performed by Jess Adams, Nick Gillette, Ben Grinberg, Desiree Navall, Lauren Johns, and Aidan O’Shea
Live Music Written and Performed by Martha Stuckey
Lighting by Amanda Jenson
Presented at The MAAS Building Garden and 5th Side
Pre-production photos by Tanner Wells
Production photo and video by Bob Sweeney
