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PANDEMIC ANTHOLOGY

Speaking From the Grave

In this day and age of  Covid 19, much seems to be put on pause. How does an artist stay invigorated and driven to keep evolving toward inspired truth? This was the challenge that Teacher Penny Templeton was dealing with.

Penny Templeton had an epiphany inspired by Edgar Lee’s Masters, “Spoon River Anthology”.  She guided her Master Class actors into exploring and creating contemporary characters that  died of COVID-19. The monologues bring back to life, a cross section of friends, neighbors, co-workers and family.

In times of trouble the arts have always come to the fore illuminating truth in ways that are compelling and help people understand the world they’re living in.

Each actor created their own monologue of a character that comes back from the grave to express their feelings of living, dying, loss, and things left undone.  Using anger, irony, insight, tragedy, humor, pain, and more, the result is a 1 hr. 12 min.  video with 20  emotionally charged monologues that will take you on a ride you will never forget.

The monologues were recorded on Zoom with the actors at home in front of a green screen with Ms. Templeton’s direction. Backgrounds and imagery were edited in by Hank Schob, to compliment the journey of each character.