Rest Stop Political Theatre (A #JoyofVoting Project)

Wandering Aesthetics is proud to announce a public performance of the grant-funded “REST STOP POLITICAL THEATRE” this Saturday in Downtown Akron.

Wandering Aesthetics will be taking a brief “REST STOP” in the parking lot outside of Summit Artspace this Saturday, October 1st at 6:30 PM as part of the Downtown Akron Artwalk. This mobile performance – devised to take place in the bed of a pickup truck – features live music, poetry and theatrical scenes.

****WE WILL ALSO BE REGISTERING VOTERS AT THIS EVENT.

“REST STOP” is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

LOCATION

Parking Lot • Summit Artspace
140 E. Market St.
Akron, OH 44308

(If it rains, we will be performing in Summit Artspace’s 2nd floor event space.)

THE ENSEMBLE

Katie Beck of Gum-Dip Theatre (Actor)
John Dayo-Aliya of Ma’Sue Productions (Actor)
Kyle Jozsa of Wandering Aesthetics (Actor)
Mercy Littell an Independent Artist (Actor)
Rick Feinberg of Kent State University (Musician)
Benjamin Rexroad of Wandering Aesthetics (Director)

REST STOP SCENES

THE JOY OF VOTING
By Gloria, Jose, Beti, Victor, Lulu, Beth, Gabriella, Juan, and Lupita (ESL students/migrant workers in Ohio)

VOTING ISN’T COOL
By Chad Weaver

SCHOOL OF THOUGHT
By Mark Harvey Levine

CHOICES
By Jillian Renee Seevers

THE TEA PARTY
By Shirley King

STRANGE AEONS AND FREE HOT DOGS
By John Weagly

I WRITE AMERICA
By Katie Beck, John Dayo-Aliya, Mercedes Littell & Kyle Jozsa

ABOUT “REST STOP POLITICAL THEATRE”

“REST STOP POLITICAL THEATRE” is a mobile performance– devised to take place in the bed of a pickup truck– that will travel to five Akron neighborhoods. Performances will take place outdoors in civic common spaces in the weeks leading up to the October 11 voter registration deadline. The goal: help get people registered while galvanizing an informed electoral to participate in this quintessential civic duty.

“REST STOP” builds on theatrical foundations established by Brecht, Boal, the Living Newspaper, Bread & Puppet and Teatro Campesino to use theatre to galvanize political discourse among everyday citizens.

Using a variety of tools (ex: puppetry, physical comedy, folk music) these live performances will be fun, educational, interactive AND encourage civic participation. Performing on the back of a beat-up truck allows us to challenge the notion that theatre (and voting) is a luxury only relevant to some.

ABOUT THE JOY OF VOTING

Through the Joy of Voting, Citizen University– a national nonprofit based in Seattle– aims to help address a growing trend of lower voter turnout in local elections. The project will create localized, action-oriented projects in four cities across the country to foster a stronger culture of voting.

In Akron, Citizen University is partnering with the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics at the University of Akron to help promote the project. In addition to Akron, Joy of Voting projects are launching in Miami, FL; Wichita, KS; and Philadelphia, PA. The Joy of Voting project derives its vision from an article in “The Atlantic” written by Citizen University founder and CEO Eric Liu, in which he asks that it’s possible to revive 18th and 19th century practices of raucous, participatory activity and pageantry around elections.

Winning organizations in Akron include: The Big Love Network, artist Megan Young, Wandering Aesthetics, Engaging to Excel with Excellence and the Akron Beacon Journal in collaboration with the Jefferson Center.