Open Theater Workshop

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  • “Light, Shadow, & Mysticism” Theater Workshop Series at First Unitarian: 4/19-6/10

    WHEN: ALTERNATING TUESDAYS: 4/29, 5/13, 5/27, 6/10 from 7pm-10pm

    WHERE: The First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia, 2125 Chestnut Street (in the Sanctuary)

    WHAT: A series of four theater workshops exploring “Light, Shadow, & Mysticism” in The Dybbuk by S. Ansky.

    Join Open Theater Workshop artists Sarah Billings, Sophie Koester, and Madeline Shuron in an exploration of the classic but now rarely performed Yiddish play “The Dybbuk” by S. Ansky through a series of four collaborative theater workshops.

    Throughout the four-workshop series, we will explore the actor’s body and voice as tools of composition, create unique shadow puppets and projected scenery, and collaborate on new, multifaceted interpretations of this fascinating text.

    We will examine light and shadow as key elements in staging scenes of magic, ritual, and mysticism, as well as engaging with the mysticism of the theater itself.

    Actors, dancers, musicians, writers, designers, artists of all disciplines, and all community members are invited to join this free workshop series. No experience is necessary. Beginners are encouraged to join.

    SUPPLIES: Supplies necessary for participation will be provided. You are welcome to bring additional art supplies, musical instruments, etc. as you wish.

    ATTENDANCE: Although the contents of the workshops will progress as a series, you are welcome to participate in one, two, or three of the workshops if you are not able to join us for the full set.

    RSVP: Email sarah@opentheaterworkshop.org to RSVP or ask questions!

    This workshop is presented as part of Spirit+Ed adult education programming at the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia. We are grateful to First Unitarian and especially Reverend Alexandre da Silva Souto for their support of Open Theater Workshop.

  • Upcoming Workshop on April 24th: “The Alchemist’s Comedy–or Tragedy”

    WHEN: April 24th, 2025 7pm-10pm (venue opens at 5pm with non-alcoholic drinks and snacks available)

    WHERE: Nutmeg Non-Alcoholic Bar and Market (1835 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19148)*

    *Please note that our space for the event is only accessible via one flight of stairs.

    WHAT: We will be reading the first draft of THE ALCHEMIST’S COMEDY…OR TRAGEDY by Evelyn Richardson, a new play in verse with two endings that will be voted on by the audience, leading the story to a comic or tragic conclusion based on the outcome of one character’s fateful choice. 

    This will be a reading in Open Theater Workshop style, meaning that anyone who attends can volunteer to read. We will change casts throughout the reading if there are more participants than characters. We will explore physical staging and design ideas even in this mostly cold reading, and we will pause to respond at intermission and after the play. You are welcome to bring art supplies and musical instruments as you like.

    The non-alcoholic bar will be open before and during our event. Our space for the event is only accessible via a flight of stairs. The reading is free to attend and participate in.

    A $10 donation will help us cover our space rental if you’re able to contribute.

    RSVP: Email sarah@opentheaterworkshop to RSVP or just come!

  • “The Dybbuk” by S. Ansky: First Workshop – December 17th, 2024

    On December 17th, 2024, the Open Theater Workshop convened for the first time in the Louis Bluver Theatre at The Drake in Center City, Philadelphia. During this workshop, we began an exploration of the play “The Dybbuk, or, Between Two Worlds” by S. Ansky.

    Sixteen artists and community members gathered throughout the day to participate in a two-part workshop facilitated by Open Theater Workshop founder Sarah Billings, organized by Daniel Korn and featuring dramaturgical presentations by Sophie Koester. The workshop consisted of a full reading of the play in the morning with an introduction by Sophie, followed by exploration through experimental scene work, music, and visual art (shadow puppet-making and projected scenery) in the evening.

    Work Share

    At the end of the night, we presented work in four sections: scene work led by Sean Begane with text from Act I, text work led by Sarah Billings using a speech from Act II, shadow puppets by Madeline Shuron, and scene work with text from Act IV led by Asia Mieleszko and Max Temnogorod. Music and projected scenery created for the workshop were incorporated throughout.

    More photos and video from the workshop can be found on our Instagram @opentheaterworkshop!

    Reflection

    What questions emerged during our first exploration of The Dybbuk? Why read and perform The Dybbuk at this moment?

    The Dybbuk is a play that deals with the relationship between good and evil, tradition and self-determination, class differences and tension between the rich and the poor. One idea the play explores is that each one of us has the capacity for both good and evil at every moment of our lives. Actually, it contains the idea that every single one of us has the power to destroy the world if we choose evil actions or even evil thoughts.

    Bearing those ideas in mind, the play invites us to work through questions like:

    • What is my personal relationship to good and evil?
    • To whom or what do I have a responsibility to do good?
    • What happens when I push the boundaries of what’s accepted in my community and seek knowledge on my own terms?
    • Can I recognize my own power in the world and act accordingly?
    • What happens when I act against the desires of my elders or my community’s leaders?
    • How will I define what is “good” and what is “evil” in the first place? Whose judgments will I accept, and which judgments will I protest?

    These are big, human questions that have the potential to shape our values and guide our actions if we make the time to explore them. And intertwined with these big questions is a love story and a story of mysticism and magic.

    This workshop was a tremendous beginning for our project–both our investigation of The Dybbuk and the Open Theater Workshop as a whole. Thanks to all who participated in this first workshop, we are on our way to establishing a community-grounded, collaborative, interdisciplinary theater practice that is open to all who are interested, regardless of their prior theater experience and training. Theater is one of our ancient, human art forms, and there is no end to the ways we can learn, change, and develop through its practice.

    Sarah Billings

    Founder and Director,

    Open Theater Workshop