On the first day of Orientation, we were told we could do "workshops" in the evenings after our regular classes. There was a Film Workshop, Shakespeare Workshop, Tie Dye Workshop, Movement Workshop, etc. There was also BOAL. Now, first of all, it is not pronounced "bowl." It is Bow-ahl (like "one for ALL") or Bow-aaal (like the name "Al"). Depends on what you feel like. We got to watch BOAL in action on the first introductory meeting for the workshop. We walk into the room and sit down. We are immediately segregated by grade and gender. Jill (my acting teacher and instructor for BOAL) comes up to the front to give what we think is a spiel about the program. BUT NO. She begins to go on about the importance of men in theater and why they are stronger on stage than women. Of course, we are all a little confused with this because we came here ready to experience a social activism theatrical company at work... but whatever. It suddenly becomes clear that she was actually criticizing the work of women and giving all of the power to the men in the room. Some people (who
we later find out were planted in the audience) started to get angry and suddenly everyone was yelling and talking about oppression and why this is ridiculous. Some people left.
We later find out that this was "invisible theater," one of Augusto Boal's tecniques and exercises for his "theatre of the oppressed". If you want to know more about it, please go to http://www.theatreoftheoppressed.org/en/index.php?useFlash=0.
The workshop at Carnegie Mellon introduces and encourages young activists to speak up and raise awareness and social change through the art of theatre. For those of you who know, I had entered CMU just finishing a 30-minute documentary project on Gay Rights and Human Rights, so I was obviously fired up about this.
They showed us various "Image Pieces," which use only movement, music, and LIMITED speech to make a point. In the presentation, one was on Stereotyping, Child Soldiers, Sex Slaves, etc. We had to apply and audition for the company by creating our OWN image theater piece and going to a two-hour audition where we completed the BOAL-ian warm up, which is probably the most interesting and exhausting hour of your life. You are completely free and work with being the oppressed and being the oppressor and maintaining collectivism in a society of individuals, and visa versa.
Out of the 70 people that auditioned, I was picked to be in the 35-person company. And Let me tell you.... this opportunity completely changed my outlook in life and helped me to find my inner self and strengthen my bond with others around me. It developed me as an actress and as a.... person! :)
I'll write more later, but here's a picture of my piece on Gay Rights entitled "Words" that was shown at our closing performance for the entire Pre-College Student Body. :)
