HOWLING…Four One Act Plays by One Woman [] Teatro Santa Ana

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HOWLING…Four One Act Plays by One Woman, Tasha Paley

One Night Only…March 27th, 5:00pm

Santa Ana Theater, 50A Relox, inside the Bibliotheca

Tickets are 250pesos

Available at the Box Office or TeatroSantaAna.org

By Mary Norquist

Purchase Tickets Online

The evening consists of Four short plays, written and performed by Tasha Paley. which bring to life four very  different characters. The first play, “Bernice” presents a 92 year old woman in a nursing home. The 2 nd piece,  “Eddie Parker” embodies a 22 year old autistic man who is very troubled. The third piece “Marina” is about a live- in housekeeper in the 1950s in NYC, and the 4 th piece, “Sarah and Man Man” features an 11 year old girl , very  feisty, and her relationship with her siblings. Sarah is from a poor area of Tennessee All four plays deal with folks  on the margins of society. This show attempts to bring a few such people to life, hopefully with respect and  authenticity.

Howling weaves through each of these stories as a deep expression of both anguish and yearning.

As with most fiction, there are smatterings of autobiographical elements which feed the stories much as seasoning  contributes to a meal.

She is a member of SMA Playwrights and has written and performed plays in their yearly “Playwright’s Showcase”  as well as written and performed solo pieces in NYC.

Tasha has studied Playback Theatre for decades.This form of theatre invites audience members to share real life stories which the ensemble enacts improvisationally ,on the spot ,through movement, spoken word and music. She  is a member of “Village Playback Theatre”, a performing ensemble in NYC and has taught Playback Theatre in  SMA, as well as in Guatemala, Tanzania, and NYC.

This interview was conducted prior to Tasha Paley’s one woman show, HOWLING.

Mary Norquist (MN): How long have you been writing and performing original material?

Tasha Paley (TP): I’ve been writing fiction, for most of my life– often in the form   of poetry, short stories, and plays. I’ve performed in San Miguel in various ways; storytelling festivals, the Playwright’s Showcase, with the Improv People, and other things here and there.

MN: What inspired you to write a one woman show?

 TP: About 12 years ago Rick Roberts, San Miguel’s unofficial Poet Laureate, who has since died, said “Wow, Tasha, you have so much material! Why not do a one woman show?” That conversation, and his encouragement, planted the seed which has been germinating ever since.

MN: And why did you choose these four pieces?

TP: What to choose for a one woman show was a challenge, helped along by my San Miguel Playwrights group, which has been invaluable in the shaping of these pieces. As I look at my choice of material, I see that all four pieces deal with folks on the margins of society. I have always been committed to bearing witness to, and shining light on, those people who are on the fringes, often unseen and unheard. This show attempts to bring a few such people to life, hopefully with respect and authenticity.

MN: Why Howling?

TP: As you will see, howling weaves through each of these stories as a deep expression of both anguish and yearning.

MN: Do these stories reflect aspects of your life?

TP: As with most fiction, there are smatterings of autobiographical elements which feed the stories much as seasoning contributes to a meal.

MN: Tell us more about you! Where are you from and what brought you to San Miguel?

TP: I came to San Miguel in the 1990s, first to visit a friend, and then to claim it as my own home. Before I retired I worked in NYC as an expressive arts therapist, in schools and other community centers. I have used drama, music, writing and art as healing tools with all my clients as well as for my own healing.

MN: What other projects might we see from you?

TP: A lifelong passion of mine has been Playback Theatre, which I have taught occasionally in SMA. This is a form of improv theatre which invites audience members to share real life stories which the ensemble then enacts on the spot through drama, movement, music, and spoken word. This form of theatre, now world-wide, is frequently offered to marginalized people who may feel their stories have never been heard or valued. The list of who we serve is endless but a few examples might be: Ukranian refugees; the homeless; people who are grieving losses from Covid; prisoners; emotionally disturbed kids; victims of natural disasters.

MN: Well, thank you Tasha and I look forward to seeing your upcoming show. Remind us about when it is.

TP: It’s at the Santa Ana Theater and will run two evenings, February 3rd and 4th, at 5:00. Tickets are 350 pesos and can be purchased online at teatrosantaana.org or at the box office.