Play of Delights
The Youth Farm Project
Produced by Story House Ithaca, Civic Ensemble and Jason B. Simms
Ithaca, NY
June 2024
Devised by the Ensemble, with text by Ross Gay
Co-directed by Sarah Plotkin and G-Quan Booker
Created and performed by Sea Bayer, G-Quan Booker, Ali Diemecke, Ritza Francois, Xanthe Matychak, McDonald (Mac) Morris, Stephen Nunley, Megan Omohundro, and Elissa Palmer.
Photography: Dove Williams
Videography: Shira Evergreen
Play of Delights was the culmination of a four-month community-based theater project involving performers of all ages from Ithaca, NY and Trumansburg, NY. The performance featured essays inspired by The Book of Delights by award-winning author Ross Gay brought to life as dance theater and original work. After the performance, we celebrated with a potluck and discussion.
Sponsored by a Humanities New York Action Grant, the Cornell Rural Humanities initiative from an award by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and Triad Foundation, Inc. This project was made possible in part with rehearsal space funded by the New York State Council on the Arts.
Produced by Story House Ithaca, Civic Ensemble and Jason B. Simms
Ithaca, NY
June 2024
Devised by the Ensemble, with text by Ross Gay
Co-directed by Sarah Plotkin and G-Quan Booker
Created and performed by Sea Bayer, G-Quan Booker, Ali Diemecke, Ritza Francois, Xanthe Matychak, McDonald (Mac) Morris, Stephen Nunley, Megan Omohundro, and Elissa Palmer.
Photography: Dove Williams
Videography: Shira Evergreen
Play of Delights was the culmination of a four-month community-based theater project involving performers of all ages from Ithaca, NY and Trumansburg, NY. The performance featured essays inspired by The Book of Delights by award-winning author Ross Gay brought to life as dance theater and original work. After the performance, we celebrated with a potluck and discussion.
Sponsored by a Humanities New York Action Grant, the Cornell Rural Humanities initiative from an award by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and Triad Foundation, Inc. This project was made possible in part with rehearsal space funded by the New York State Council on the Arts.
Audience responses:
"It was beautiful and poignant and unexpected"
"It was beautiful and poignant and unexpected"
"I feel more grateful to live here right now after gathering with the beautiful group of people that showed up last night.
So much tenderness in one room! What a rare and special experience.”
So much tenderness in one room! What a rare and special experience.”
"I appreciated the opportunity to be able to breathe"
"It felt like a hymn. It felt like a song of praise"