Education Internship

Education and Outreach Intern at an Up-And-Coming Dynamic Theatre Company With a Mission in Social Justice

Are you passionate about arts and literature? Are you equally passionate about social issues? Have you considered a career in teaching? Do you often draw connections between social inequalities in literature and those in current society? Arouet is a Seattle based theatre company that produces works that speak of civil rights, tolerance, freedom of and from religion, social justice, and the celebration of differences.

Arouet is a new production company with growing exposure. This spring we will produce the North American premiere of Hen Night Epiphany and the Northwest premiere of The Temperamentals. As an education and outreach intern you will get an opportunity to create meaningful lesson plans that can be shared with our student audiences. Additionally, interns will be given the opportunity to assist with post-show discussions with the audience.

The education and outreach intern’s role is a vital one, with a mission to inspire our audience to ask a question that they have not yet thought to ask.

What You Will Learn:

  • How to create meaningful lesson plans that demonstrate educational connections between Arouet’s productions and Washington State Learning Standards
  • How to conduct effective and responsive post-show audience discussions
  • Much more – you will be regarded as a valued member of the company

What We Require:

  • Have completed English 101 or be enrolled
  • Organized and self-starter
  • Open minded and accepting of all people

This position has flexible hours. Hen Night Epiphany runs March 21 – April 6 with performances in Edmonds and Seattle. The Temperamentals runs May 9 – 25. Availability for the performances are not required but strongly encouraged. You will be expected to contribute a minimum of 15 hours per quarter.

This is an unpaid internship.

To apply please submit your resume and cover letter to Daniel Cords, the Director of Education and Outreach, by emailing Daniel@Arouet.us

“Our mission is to present works that speak of civil rights, tolerance, freedom of and from religion, social justice, and the celebration of our differences.”

-Arouet’s mission statement

Entrapment! The trials of Dale Jennings

Dale Jennings (1917-2000) was a writer, producing and stage director in Los Angeles and Pasadena. He studied dance with Lester Horton and Martha Graham, and served in the U.S. Army stationed in the Asiatic-Pacific theater. He was awarded a World War II Victory Medal, an American Campaign Medal, and Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and a Philippine Liberation Ribbon.

Dale DancingIn 1950 he was one of the original founders of the Mattachine Society.

In 1952 he was arrested for indecent behavior, and they decided to fight the charge in court under grounds of entrapment. After a dramatic court trial, Jennings was acquitted, which energized other persecuted homosexual people into action throughout the nation and brought respect to the Mattachine Society. Most states have removed the infamous “Crimes Against Nature” statutes, party due to the influence of Dale Jennings.

He went on to publish ONE Magazine, dedicated to speaking out for homosexuals and sold on newsstands and by mail subscription. In 1954, the mailing was confiscated by the Los Angeles Postmaster on the basis of obscenity. The Federal Court case that followed ended with a 1958 U.S. Supreme Court decision ruling that a magazine calling for equality for homosexuals is not obscene. This decision brought more freedom to all media and was the basis for all future growth of the gay and lesbian press.

Source: http://www.outhistory.org/wiki/Dale_Jennings

The Temperamentals

Justin Ison will portray Dale Jennings and others in Arouet’s upcoming production of The Temperamentals, which recalls the founding of the Mattachine Society. Contribute to our Kickstarter campaign to bring their story to the Seattle stage.

Harry Hay

Harry Hay
Photo of Harry Hay by LeRoy Robbins

Harry Hay (1912-2002) was a controversial labor advocate, teacher, actor, and early leader in the American LGBT rights movement. He was active in the Los Angeles avant-garde arts movement of the 1930s and fought against Fascism, racism, and anti-Semitism in 1940s. He is known for his roles in helping found several gay rights organizations, including the Mattachine Society, the first sustained gay rights group in the United States, and the Radical Faeries, a counter-cultural movement seeking to reject hetero-imitation and redefine queer identity through spirituality. His belief in the cultural minority status of homosexuals led him to take a stand against assimilationism, which led to his support to controversial groups and to criticize both the mainstream gay rights movement and some of the movement’s radical components.

Read more about Harry Hay on Wikipedia and The San Francisco Public Library website.

The Temperamentals

Harry Hay will be portrayed by Daniel Wood in Arouet’s production of The Temperamentals in May 2013. Contribute to our Kickstarter campaign today to bring the story of The Temperamentals to the Seattle stage.

The Mattachine Society

The Mattachine Society
The Mattachine Society in a rare group photograph. (l-r) Harry Hay, Konrad Stevens, Dale Jennings, Rudi Gernreich, Stan Witt, Bob Hull, Chuck Rowland (in glasses), Paul Bernard. Photo by James Gruber.
[/caption]The Mattachine Society was the first sustained gay rights group in the United States. Founded in 1950 by Harry Hay, Rudi Gernreich, Dale Jennings, Bob Hull, Chuck Rowland, James Gruber, and Konrad Stevens. Referred to as “Society of Fools” at their first meeting, the group changed its name to “Mattachine Society” as suggested by Gruber and chosen by Hay. The name is inspired by a French medieval and renaissance masque group of masked men who, through anonymity, were empowered to criticize ruling monarchs with impunity. “So we took the name Mattachine because we felt that we 1950s Gays were also a masked people, unknown and anonymous, who might become engaged in morale building and helping ourselves and others, through struggle, to move toward total redress and change.”

Mattachine’s membership grew slowly at first but received a major boost in February 1952 when founder Jennings was arrested in a Los Angeles park and charged with lewd behavior. Often, men in Jennings’ situation would simply plead guilty to the charge and hope to quietly rebuild their lives. Jennings and the rest of the founders saw the charges as a means to address the issue of police entrapment of homosexual men. The group began publicizing the case (under the name “Citizens Committee to Outlaw Entrapment”) and the publicity it generated brought in financial support and volunteers. Jennings admitted during his trial to being a homosexual but insisted he was not guilty of the specific charge. The jury deadlocked (11-1 in favor of acquittal) and Mattachine declared victory.

Following the Jennings trial, the group expanded rapidly and diversified, with more women and people from a broader political spectrum becoming involved. With that growth came  concern about the radical left slant of the organization. In particular, Hal Call and others out of San Francisco along with Ken Burns from Los Angeles wanted Mattachine to amend its constitution to clarify its opposition to so-called “subversive elements” and to affirm that members were loyal to the United States and its laws, laws which declared homosexuality illegal. In an effort to preserve their vision of the organization, the founding members revealed their identities and resigned their leadership positions at Mattachine’s May 1953 convention. With the founders gone, Call, Burns and other like-minded individuals stepped into the leadership void, and Mattachine officially adopted non-confrontation as an organizational policy. The reduced effectiveness of this newly-organized Mattachine led to a precipitous drop in membership and participation. The Los Angeles branch of Mattachine shut down in 1961.

The Temperamentals

The Temperamentals is a play about the Mattachine Society and the complex relationships of its founding members. Contribute to our Kickstarter campaign today to bring the story of The Temperamentals to the Seattle stage.

Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mattachine_Society
http://www.outhistory.org/wiki/Harry_Hay:_Founding_the_Mattachine,_part_2

The Temperamentals

Arouet presents the Seattle Premiere of the Award Winning play,
The Temperamentals
A play by Jon Marans
Directed by Roy Arauz
May 10-25, 2013

The Temperamentals by Jon Marans (poster)The Temperamentals chronicles the founding of the Mattachine Society, the first sustained gay rights organization in the United States in the pre-Stonewall, McCarthy era. It is also the love story of two of its founding members, communist Harry Hay and Viennese fashion designer Rudi Gernreich. “Temperamental” comes from early 20th century as a slang for homosexual, and was used as a necessary code in the early 1950s as homosexuality was thoroughly prosecuted.

The New York Times called The Temperamentals an eminently likable docudrama about gay identity in the age of Eisenhower.” Backstage said “The Temperamentals is an exceedingly fine play – smart, passionate, focused, and satisfying.”

Jon Marans received the John Gassner Award for the The Temperamentals.

The Temperamentals” is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, New York, NY.

*The Thursday, May 10th performance will be interpreted for the hearing impaired

Cast and Crew

For a detailed bios and photos, please visit Meet The Cast and Crew of The Temperamentals

  • Daniel Wood (Harry Hay)
  • Jaryl Draper (Rudi Gernreich)
  • Greg Brisendine (Chuck Rowland and others)
  • Will Halsey (Bob Hull and others)
  • Justin Ison (Dale Jennings and others)
  • Mariajose Barrera (Production Manager)
  • Dani Dodge (Stage Manager)
  • J.S. Epperson (Sound Design)
  • Keith Gehrig (Lighting Design)
  • Kristina Hestenes Stimson (Costume Design)
  • Kim Rosin (Set Design)

Take a look at the rehearsal and production galleries.

What the critics had to say: Review Roundup

My 2 Cents

In a board meeting over the winter, Danny brought up the work that he had been doing in school, research on gay relationships and most interestingly interviews he conducted with people on both sides of the argument. Immediately the idea came about to create some type of play that would showcase the stories, and he had my full support.

Arouet was started with the purpose of presenting works that speak of civil rights. Our company name comes from Voltaire’s last name after all, well known for his works on civil rights and freedom of and from religion.

Marriage equality does not deny anyone’s rights. It allows you to keep your beliefs, have your intimate relationship the way you want it, and deal with your god(s) however you see fit. On the other hand, the current laws openly discriminate against me. They tell me I cannot, if I chose, get married and have all the civil benefits afforded to me by the government, based mostly on religious teachings.

The irony is that I don’t actually believe in marriage, for anyone. I do believe, however, that your relationship status should be your choice, and not someone else’s. To paraphrase Voltaire: “I may not agree with your decision to get married, but I will defend to the death your right to do it.”

The process of creating Lawfully Wedded has been exhilarating. A creative process like none I’ve been a part of before, collaborating with writers, actors, and fellow directors in a very limited time frame has taken us to new heights. I have grown tremendously as an artist, producer, and most important, as a person.

During the next few weeks you will see here the experience of others on our team. Stay tuned!

Audition Notice: The Temperamentals

The Temperamentals by Jon Marans
Directed by Roy Arauz

The Temperamentals recounts the founding of The Mattachine Society, the first sustained gay rights organization in the United States, told through the love affair between Harry Hay and Rudi Gernreich. The Temperamentals takes place in the early 1950s

Audition time: Sunday, September 30, 2012, 5:00 pm
Location: Theatre Puget Sound (Seattle Center)
Callbacks immediately follow at 6:00 pm. Please be prepared to stay if called back.

All Roles Open:

Harry Hay:
39, pushy, gruff, blustery, and imperious

Rudi Gernreich:
29, interestingly handsome, wildly charming, speaks with a trace of a Viennese accent. Actor also plays a woman.

Three Men

  • Various ages, each to play multiple roles.
  • One man plays the ukulele
  • One man plays the clarinet (ideally, but not absolutely mandatory)
  • All three men play a woman

Rehearsals:
Rehearsals begin on April 1, 2013
Mon-Thu evenings, Saturday afternoons and/or Sunday evenings

Performances: May 10-25, 2013
Compensation: Arouet is a profit-sharing company. Once production costs are covered, the profits are shared with the cast and crew. The House of Bernarda Alba was our first production where we were able to make good on this goal.

Cast And Crew of Lawfully Wedded

Cast and Crew

Roy Arauz (Director)

Roy ArauzRoy is a director, producer, and Artistic Director of Arouet. He has been thrilled about the project from the moment Danny brought the idea of “the marriage play” to the company, and is ecstatic to see it come to fruition with such a talented group of writers and actors. Most recently he directed Anna in the Tropics for Latino Theatre projects and produced and assistant-directed Arouet’s The House of Bernarda Alba. Next he’s directing The Music Man for Driftwood Players, the American premiere of The Hen Night Epiphany, a co-production of the Driftwood Players’ Theatre of Intriguing Possibilities and Arouet, and the Northwest premiere of The Temperamentals.

Mariajose Barrera (Production Assistant)

Mariajose BarreraI am a Guatemalan born and raised, have lived permanently in the U.S.A. for 12 years, a business manager and owner who came into theater by chance, when given the opportunity to write and perform a short monologue for the 2011 Latino Community fund.


Greg Bee (Poet)

Greg BeeGreg is a writer, performance poet and cat fancier who lives in Seattle. He has competed in five consecutive Seattle Poetry Slam Grand Slams, three consecutive Individual World Poetry Slams and was a member of the 2009 Seattle Poetry Slam team competing against teams from across North America. Greg has featured on stages across the U.S.A. and Canada and is the author of two chapbooks called One Lap Around and A Cautionary Tale, both of which he loves like precious kittens. When not on stage, Greg writes relationship advice through his alter ego: The Bitter Single Guy.


Jeremy Behrens (Actor)

Jeremy BehrensJeremy is thrilled to be a part of the Lawfully Wedded project. A Chicago native, Jeremy moved to Seattle in May 2011 to pursue a career as a teaching artist and actor. Currently, he works as a teaching artist for the Seattle Children’s Theatre. Previous Seattle credits include: Yellow Face (NWOAC, et al.) with ReAct Theatre; The Mormon Bird Play (Pipa) with Washington Ensemble Theatre; Trojan Women (Andromache) with quiet Productions. He also worked as properties designer for Bed Snake at Washington Ensemble Theatre. He would like to encourage everyone to vote “yes” on Referendum 74 this November in what will be a ground-breaking election, something Washingtonians should be proud of to say we are the first state to legally recognize marriage equality. Love to all his family and friends who have shown support in every decision he has made.


Everett Bowling (Director)

Everett returns to theater after an 8 year hiatus. He is pleased to be back working in theater, and to be working with such talented actors, directors, and writers. Prior to Everett’s self-imposed hiatus his work could be seen at local theater’s throughout the area. He was in Don’t Dress for Dinner and Hay Fever at Driftwood, Corpus Christi at NW Actor’s Studio, Torch Song Trilogy at Burien, The Philadelphia Story and Seven Keys to Baldpate at RCT, as well as stints at Lakewood, TLT, and New City Theater. When he was not acting he was busy running the after school drama program at Chief Sealth High School in West Seattle for 5 wonderful years. He is the Development Director for Arouet Theatre working with Daniel Cords, and Roy Aruaz to bring you new, and exciting works, as well as established pieces that have not seen the light of day in the Seattle area. He would like to thank the cast for their undying commitment to this piece! Without them, we would simply have words on pages. He would also like to give a huge shout out to Purr Cocktail Lounge, the entire staff of Purr (you now who you are!), and of course to Barbie Humphrey! Without the donation of the upstairs rehearsal space this piece would still be an idea in Danny’s head. One last shout out must go to all my friends who encouraged me to take the plunge, and get my ass back into theater! I love you all!!


Daniel Cords (Producer)

A native Seattle actor turned teacher, Daniel has a passion for education through the arts. He is excited to be a part of Arouet as it engages, challenges, and inspires audiences.


Alysha Curry (Actor)

Alysha CurryAlysha is honored to be working with Arouet for the first time. She was recently seen in Henry VIII with GreenStage, and in Amadeus and Tartuffe at SecondStory Rep. She can be seen next Spring performing in Stone Soup Theatre’s Festival of Tennessee Williams One-Act Plays. Alysha is enjoying her most exciting role to date: Bride-to-be! [Love to her fiancé, Geb.]


John Epperson (Sound Design)

John Epperson, SeattleJohn is a recording artist. His work appears on many albums, compilations and DVDs as well as television, film and video games. When not making weird noises with synthesizers, Epperson designs sound for theatre. He has previously worked with Arouet, ArtsWest, Driftwood Players, Latino Theatre Projects, Redwood Theatre and Theatre 9/12. John has a website.


Bruce Erickson (Actor)

Bruce EricksonBruce is pleased to once again be working with Roy, reunited together after his appearance in The Gene Pool for Arouet. Bruce has been most recently seen on the stage in Edmonds appearing in M*A*S*H 4077th, and Love, Sex and the IRS. He has appeared on stage in over 30 productions, up and down the I-5 corridor. “I am really pleased to be involved with this project. I believe keeping Marriage Equality front and center with help to educate and inform the voting public. It is important to stand up and be counted on such an important issue. I personally have been in a same-sex relationship going on 33 years.” Thank you to the cast and crew and eight little letters to Cliff and our son Noah!


Perry Fulfs (Musician)

Perry FulfsPerry has been playing and writing since college. Grew up in the Midwest & is founding member of Beef Curtans, which last performed at RAGBRAI bicycle rally in Omaha as the first local band (via Seattle) to play Omaha’s largest casino. In Seattle he kept writing and playing with friends just for fun. After a long hiatus, he was persuaded to return to his music for Lawfully Wedded as a songwriter/musician.


Caitlin Gilman (Playwright)

Caitlin GilmanCaitlin is delighted to be on the writing team for Lawfully Wedded. Productions include short plays J.D Salinger is My God, which won the audience favorite award at Stone Soup’s Outside the Box festival, and The Scottish Sketch, part of DramaQueen’s recent SWAN day performance. Full lengths include Pretty Girls (co-written with Opal Peachey and Elizabeth Tanner), and a staged reading of My Dear Miss Chancellor, with WET’s New Play Workshop. She is a graduate of Cornish College of the Arts, and a proud company member of Annex Theatre.


Addie Keller (Actor)

Addie KellerAddie is new to the Seattle theatre scene and is thrilled and grateful to be working with Arouet on Lawfully Wedded. She loves that she is able to pursue her passion of collaborative works of art with an amazing group of artists as well as delve into such a prevalent topic in our society today! Her previous experience includes the devised piece “US” with Western Washington U. and “The American Family” in conjunction with Tectonic Theatre Project. She also would like to thank her parents, her sister Katrina, and family and friends for their unlimited support and love in her creative endeavors.


Idalia Limón (Actor)

Idalia is grateful to be part of this project, loves to work again with Roy, Morgan and Addie. An artistic spiral. She studied drama at the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León in her native México, at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York and at Freehold Theatre in Seattle. Her recent projects (which she is very proud of) include: Anna in the Tropics and Timepieces. She also has participated on various projects with “eSe Teatro”, local commercials and independent movies. When not acting, Idalia enjoys contorting her body with yoga and old school roller skating. Idalia wants to thank the fabulous cast and crew for their support and trust.


Morgan Ludlow (Playwright)

Morgan is new to Seattle having moved here from San Francisco 2 years ago. His work was last seen at the Ethnic Cultural Center for the Seattle Playwrights’ Collective showcase Timepieces. Morgan founded Wily West Productions in 2008 and has produced more than 20 productions. Here in Seattle Morgan has founded the Pacific Play Company with Daniel Tarker which will be devoted to new plays by local writers. Morgan has had plays performed or read at the Eureka Theatre, the Phoenix Theatre, the Exit Theatre, Stage Werx, the Marsh in San Francisco, Berkeley Rep, Virago Theatre Company, Gaia Performing Arts Center in Berkeley, Ross Valley Players in Marin County, The Pegasus Theatre in Monte Rio, Theatre Works West, Center Stage and the University of Utah in Salt Lake City and at the Interborough Rep in New York City. Morgan’s play, Ruth and the Sea, was listed as one of the “top 10 Bay Area productions of 2010” by SF Bay Times and Bay Area Theatre Critics’ Circle chairman, Tom Kelly. His comedies, Nymph O’ Mania, Maidrid’s Bow and The Widow West have all received critical acclaim and played to sold-out houses in San Francisco. Morgan is a member of Theatre Bay Area, The Play Cafe, Theatre Puget Sound and The Dramatists Guild of America. He looks forward to seeing the Seattle premiere of Maidrid’s Bow in the spring of 2013!


Carissa Meisner Smit (Actor)

Carissa is pleased to play a part for such an important social issue. An actor, singer, and dancer, her recent credits include Chicago (Velma, Second Story Rep.), Christmas Belles (Patsy, The Phoenix Theater), Enchanted April (Rose, Adagio Players), Fuddy Meers, and The Vagina Monologues. An upcoming revue of Tom Lehrer songs, Poisoning Pigeons in the Park with Hit and Run productions promises to be a hoot! By day Carissa produces the “Theatre of Intriguing Possibilities” at The Driftwood Players. Love to my knurfjes.


Christine Mosere (Director)

Christine is a writer, actor and director and is thrilled to be working with such a talented cast and crew. She is honored to be directing this meaningful show along side Roy Arauz – whom she first met while performing with Theatre 9/12. Before moving to the lovely Pacific Northwest, she worked consistently in the New York Off and Off-Off Broadway stage with such great companies as Primary Stages, LaMaMa, Woman Seeking… a theatre company and Peccadillo. Her direction of Rachel Crothers’ Expressing Willie at The West End Theatre earned her a Best Directing OOBR award. She is proud to say that her direction has received both pans and RAVES in The Village Voice and The New York Times (and ironically she loved the pans most as reviewer’s writing seems to get much more creative when panning a show). In Seattle, her direction has be seen at The Richard Hugo House (with Woman Seeking…) and at The Phoenix Theatre in Edmonds.


Eric Olson (Actor)

Eric is proud to be a part of his first Arouet production. He’s previously worked with Arouet’s Artistic Director, Roy Arauz in These Walls Can Talk. Other local plays include Suddenly Last Summer, Everything in the Garden, and The Cherry Orchard — all at Theatre 9/12. He can also be seen in the upcoming film The Dregs. When not acting, Eric loves spending time with his beautiful wife Mary and rabidly supporting anything related to Washington State Cougar athletics.


Gabriel Sedgemore (Actor)

Gabriel SedgemoreGabriel is excited to be a part of such an enlightening and profound play. He hopes this play will help change and open hearts and minds by allowing everyone to take a glimpse into the trials and tribulations of our fellow human beings. It is an honor for him to be part of what he feels is one of the best plays he has had the privilege of being a part of. A big thank you to a wonderful dichotomy of talented directors and actors and his ever constant support group made up of Sharon Lorenzen, his Uncle Greg and brother Joel.


Lawfully Wedded is sponsored by Purr Cocktail Lounge
Purr Cocktail Lounge Logo

Lawfully Wedded is presented as part of Arts Crush, the month-long arts festival in the Puget Sound area.
artscrush red orange stacked logo

Review Round-up

A compilation of the reviews for The House of Bernarda Alba.

“This production makes the most of the play’s opportunities for arresting tableaux and lyrical dramatic action. […] Ruth McRee’s dynamic performance as Bernarda is memorable. […] With support from an accomplished cast, she wields her spell over everyone, reminding us that tyranny exists on many levels.”

In local staging of ‘Bernarda Alba,’ tyranny begins at home.
Nancy Worssam, The Seattle Times.

The all-but-flawless Arouet production of The House of Bernarda Alba puts theory into practice with Lorca done right. […] Director Charles Waxberg understands this and lets the play leap into the symbolic at key moments that turn the satisfying into the sublime. […] The cast is solid across the board. This is a real ensemble piece for Bernarda, her maid (the charming Mary Murfin Bayley), mother and five daughters.”

Arouet’s House of Bernarda Alba is Lorca Done Right
StefanDW, The SunBreak

“… the acting was strong in The House of Bernarda Alba and aided by the confident direction, this is a production I can recommend for serious fans of classic theater.”

Arouet’s “The House of Bernarda Alba” is Well Worth aTrip to Ballard
Michael Strangeways, Seattle Gay Scene

Audience Reactions

We have been close to selling out most of the run, and last Saturday was the first official sold-out performance of the run, and closing weekend looks like a hot ticket. Audiences are impressed by the talent on our stage and the strength of the play. A few of the post-show comments:

“You captured the spirit of the play, I forgot I was watching it in English.”

“It was a pleasure to watch–some great stuff!”

“I’m continuingly impressed by your productions. Bravo!”

“I didn’t want it to end, I wanted to know more about their lives.”