Re-enacting the Response | Pick of the Week | Tucson Weekly

Re-enacting the Response | Pick of the Week | Tucson Weekly:
by Kellie Mejdrich

Just about everyone who was in Tucson on Jan. 8, 2011, had something to say about the shootings that day that killed six people and wounded 13, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

Michael Fenlason, of Beowulf Alley Theatre Company, decided to write down some of those responses—and the result is the play Word Clouds.

Beowulf Alley will perform its response to the Jan. 8 tragedy again this weekend with its second production of Word Clouds, with music by Tristyn Tucci. Written in the two weeks after the shooting, the play focuses on responses to the shootings in the immediate aftermath.

"We really wanted to time-capsule it," said Fenlason, who also directs the play. "These are really responses right after (it happened). There were a lot of things we didn't know about that came (out later)."

"Ultimately, we're celebrating a fantastic moment where people came together in Tucson in the wake of something awful. People were doing amazing things almost all the time. We don't need a tsunami or shots fired to do amazing things. Maybe we can just do them all the time."

Fenlason also hopes the performance will encourage playgoers to share their own responses with each other.

Ben Hoffman and Nicole Scott in Word Clouds.

Read the entire article here: Re-enacting the Response | Pick of the Week | Tucson Weekly

Local theater to perform play discussing the Tucson shooting

Local theater to perform play discussing the Tucson shooting:

Posted: Jan 05, 2012 1:24 AMUpdated: Jan 05, 2012 1:24 AM

By Sonu Wasu

KOLD TV

TUCSON, AZ (KOLD) -

A group of actors from the Beowulf Alley theater will be performing a play depicting the reactions of everyday community members, after the January 8th shooting at Safeway.

One year ago, Jared Loughner opened fire outside the Safeway Store on Oracle Road. . Six people were killed that day, and several others, including U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords.

"It's one of those things where you remember exactly where you were that day, what you were eating, what you were wearing, when you got the news," said Tristyn Tucci, a performer in the play.

Tucci was playing a singer-song writer in the play, a character similar to herself. The only way she knew to express her emotions about the tragedy was to put it in a song.

The play titled "Word Clouds" was written and directed by Michael Fenlason, the artistic director of Beowulf Alley.

The play featured about 8 actors, all depicting real life characters. A woman who was shopping at Safeway when the shooting took place, a UMC trauma nurse who decided not to have a child after the shooting, a man who believed in gun control, and a man who believed in gun regulation, all had voices in the play.

For Fenlason, the January 8th tragedy was also a day that Tucson stood out in front of the world.

"Admittedly, it began with something horrible, but it ended with a million love stories and fantastic moving stories," said Fenlason.

He was talking about the victims. A husband who shielded his wife from the bullets, an aide who performed CPR on his boss, victims who tried to take down the gunman even after they had been shot. Fenlason said the tragedy brought out stories of heroism, courage, sacrifice, and bravery.

One of the worst days in Tucson history was also one that brought out the best, in a community that showed the world they know how to come together.

A day when lives were torn apart, but Tucson came together.

A big city that was so spread out seemed like a small town.

Fenlason said they planned to donate about 25% of the proceeds raised from the play to the Community Food Bank.

"After the events happened that day, I believe it was Mark Kelly who said we would just like you to donate to the food bank. I'm going to honor that and do what Mr. Kelly says, and donate to the food bank," said Fenlason.

You can catch the "Word Clouds" performance at the Beowulf Alley theater downtown on Friday, January 6th and Saturday, January 7th at 7:30.

Tickets cost $12.

The audience will have a chance to share their emotions, ask questions, and express themselves after the performance.

Play is about reactions to Jan. 8

Play is about reactions to Jan. 8:
Kathleen Allen

Arizona Daily Star

About a year ago, some folks from Beowulf Alley Theatre got together to discuss plays.

But just days before, six people were killed and 13 wounded, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, in a shooting outside a northwest-side Safeway.

Discussing plays is not what this group wanted to do.

But writing one in response to the Jan. 8 tragedy - that was a different story.

The result was "Word Clouds," which Beowulf Alley will stage at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

"The play is about Tucson's reactions: the ordinary and extraordinary people that make up our city and how we came together with dignity and love in the face of terrible violence," wrote the company's artistic director, Michael Fenlason, in an email.

"In some ways, the play turned out to be prescient one year later. As a theatre guy, I can tell you that every tragedy has a love story. This one had about a million."

Tickets are $12. Beowulf is at 11 S. Sixth Ave. Call 882-0555 or go to Beowulf's website, beowulfalley.org for more information.

Read more: http://azstarnet.com/entertainment/arts-and-theatre/play-is-about-reactions-to-jan/article_4fdc6d08-fc99-5f09-bc2e-71b389b01f4f.html#ixzz1iaMcMFWZ