The Big Lowdown

premiered in the buildings and on the streets of Lowertown, St. Paul
in collaboration with the bedlam theater
August 23-25, 2013

Live Action Set and Bedlam Theatre joined forces to create a performative exploration through the architecture and hidden treasures of Saint Paul's Lowertown neighborhood. Featuring the creative leadership of a multitude of community artists, this Lowertown adventure is unlike any you've ever before walked!

The performance begins in the bustling hall of the newly renovated Saint Paul Union Depot where you, the audience member, are sorted into a group and set out for a guided adventure through activated landscapes in Lowertown. During the journey, you will encounter short pieces set against concrete walls, along green parks, smooshed in alleyways, stairwells, elevators, skyways, and huddled below underpasses. It’s an unique adventure with every footstep!

creative director's Notes

Noah Bremer, Artistic Director of Live Action Set

Good evening and welcome to the adventure. Whether this is your first time to Lowertown or 100th, we invite you to discover the nooks, crannies and hidden stories, dances, and intricacies waiting to unfold around each corner. My goal with this performance is to provide the individual audience member a unique experience that instigates curiosity not only along tonight's journey but in days following while walking the dog, sitting behind your desk at work or out dancing with friends. So often the familiarity of daily life can dull the senses. Tonight, we aim to awaken the senses and see the world with fresh eyes. Thank you for joining us!

Producer's Notes

John Bueche, Chief Artistic Officer of Bedlam Theatre

Over the past few decades, Lowertown has continued to prove itself as a solid foundation for passionate minds and creative bodies. As transit and investment add fuel to Lowertown's ambitions, we saw no better place for a next Bedlam: a platform to showcase and celebrate the talents and imagination of Minnesota's most ferocious artists. Thanks for joining this adventure, this working together to get to know the bricks and mortar viscerally, up close and personal. I hope you see in an amongst the action tonight a glimpse of the new level of daily bustle in this low down landing of our capitol city. Keep turning imagination into action to make an ever more just, humane, equitable and, let’s admit it, downright fun Minnesota.

Community Director's Notes

Irna Landrum, Community Director

As a community organizer, I've been delighted at just how much community has been involved in the making of the Big Lowdown. We have a vibrant cast and crew from many different Saint Paul neighborhoods, disciplines, art forms, and interests. Every person you will see tonight was a part of crafting and shaping this adventure. As collaborators and co-conspirators, we played together, were inspired by each other, and supported the team through the smooth and not-so-smooth moments. It's been a privilege to be a part of building relationships and partnerships as we make breaking-the-mold theater. It's been a pleasure to get to know this Lowertown landscape so much better.

about the individual pieces

RAGTAG ROAMERS

The Ragtag Roamers are your guides for the Big Lowdown adventure. Each Roamer will provide a unique path and perspective as they take you on a journey through the streets, alleys, parks and buildings of Lowertown stopping to take in the Lowdown's variety of performances and spontaneous experiences.

POP

A troubled parent and child visit a lively urban park and find themselves swept up in a fantastic neuroplastic encounter with its inhabitants. The past is not our destiny. Hope is the key.

TRANSPORTING GENERATIONS

Sing with us. Hold dear what you value most. Share it. Love. Avoidance. Moving. Memories. We are defined by our emotions and experiences. We learn from those who come before and after us. We connect and disconnect with family and strangers. We are shaped by what we remember. Music. Books. Painting. Cooking. Never forget, and pass it on. Sing with us.

THE STORY SPIRITS; AN ORIGINAL BY THE NEW AGE SALON

The New Age Salon presents The Story Spirits, a tale of a young boy named Dong-chin who loves stories so much he refuses to share them with anyone else. Come listen to the story spirits as they share this story as well as their own. But don't forget to share the stories you've heard, for each story will be different...

LOVE+

"LOVE+" is an exploration of love, commitment and getting to the aisle. It is also an exposition of weddingism and bride-ism: what is for show; what is for the self?

BETWEEN PLACE(S).

traveling. movement. tradition. understanding.

THE DEAD POST OFFICE

For generations, it has been unknown to the general populace where a letter goes when the writer dies before finishing it. For the first time ever, access has been granted for people to come to the post office of the dead.

THE VEIL

Follow along as we peer into the life of a lost soul who yearns to share with
you her whispers.

Dreambox

A young man falls asleep at a train stations and finds himself dancing along with a mine who carries with him a mystical music box.

ghosts on a crumble

Now What?

Mailbox

Mailboxes. Around Lowertown. A surprise experience in each one. Find them on the map, use them as you will. You’ve got mail.

Off Stage

Noah Bremer ....................... director
Irna Landrum ...................... community organizer
Birdie Freitag ....................... stage manager
Ian Knodl .............................. lighting director
Kevin Springer ..................... technical director
Joanna Harmon .................. creative consultant
with the administrative support team of Live Action Set and Bedlam Theatre

On "Stage"

Ragtag Roamers

Barry Madore ...................... lead creator, performer
Mark Benzel ......................... performer
Justin Caron .......................... performer
Jon Cole ................................. performer
William Erickson .................. performer
Meghan Kreidler ................. performer
Tom Lloyd ............................ performer
Lily Madore ......................... performer
Stella Madore ...................... performer
Martha Rigby ...................... performer
Matt Riggs ........................... performer
Amanda Snyder .................. performer
Hukkie Stoike ....................... performer
Nancy Waldoch .................. performer
Marcus Young ..................... performer

POP

Becky Dale ............................ lead creator, performer
Maria McNamara .............. lead creator, performer
Amber Corbett ..................... performer
Angie Courchaine ................ performer
Abe Levine ............................ performer
Thomas Lorendo ................. performer
Barb Rose ............................. performer
Chuck Rose ........................... performer

Transporting Generations

Ykatirina "Katia" Cardenas . lead creator, performer
Alex Yang ............................... performer
Astrid Mathison ..................... performer
Rebecca Mathison ................ performer
Jeremy Skagg ........................ performer
Emma Rainwater .................. performer

The Story Spirits; an original by The New Age Salon

New Age Salon .................... lead creator
Fidelis Odozi ......................... performer
Audrey Park .......................... performer
Naomi Ko .............................. performer
Michael Chergosky .............. performer
Adetomiwa Gdaebo ............ performer

LOVE+

Katie Ka Vang ..................... lead creator
Lisa Khang ........................... performer
Nhia Vang ............................ performer

between place(s).

Mohamed Samatar ............ lead creator, performer
Stephen Peyton .................... performer

The Dead Post Office

Tyler Olsen ............................ lead creator
O Sa Ma ............................... performer
Ba K Po .................................. performer
Say Po .................................... performer
Gili Po ..................................... performer
Duan Mu ............................... performer
Htoo Ku Wah ....................... performer
Julia Dapper .......................... performer
Heny Htoo ............................. performer
Paw Mu Shee ........................ performer
Eh Tha .................................... performer
Wah Loe ................................ performer

The Veil

Evelyn Mouacheupao ........ lead creator, performer
Sunshine Yang ..................... performer
Bunny Lee ............................. performer
Amy Tho ................................ performer
Pang Larson ......................... performer
KB Lor ................................... performer
Mang Khang ....................... performer