What is Theatre? By John Cardea
First and foremost, necessary
An integral piece of the human experience
Heavy or light, the messages vary.
From joyous laughs to the cruelest maleficence
And everything in between
A mirror to see ourselves, a window to see our neighbors
A portal that transcends time and space
A conduit for our thoughts to delve into new places, to new labors
Giving people we’ve never met a story, a face
For the worse, or for the better
Theatre is powerful, it is influential, is a tool
That can tear people apart, or bring them together
Create something wonderful, or essential, or cruel
That can darken people’s hearts, or make them birds of a feather
Depending on how it’s used
Theatre is complicated, just like its makers
Never simple, no black and white
Humans, playing God, becoming creators
Crafting symbols to attack, to have fright
When man confuses God with the devil
The cast of this play when thrown in the ghetto
Clutched desperately to it to keep them alive
Not only the body with bread, but to bellow
Into the darkness. To live, not just survive
A bit of joy to experience and share in a place full of fear, doubt, and despair
A flickering candle in a room with no light
No doors to open, no windows to climb through
A prison both physical and spiritual, where sight
Of a happy ending was withering. What could they do?
But cling on to this piece of magic
To use this portal that could bring them back
To happier days within their own minds
Days of freedom and laughter and love, instead of the black
That was all consuming. That does not let you find
A bit of peace for a moment. A bit of safety
For Lemml, theatre was a lifeline
For Hitler, a weapon to exploit
For Asch, a glimpse into a time now gone, too painful and sad to look upon
For Vogel theatre is a meaning. Greater than herself to dedicate her life to.
That inspires me to do the same
Whether it be a tie that binds us
Or a force tat separates us
It is up to us to decide
A light that blinds us
Or helps us find us
The torch has been passed, it’s time for us to provide
Our
lab
space
MEMORIAL
Margarita Gamarnik
2on voew in Gallery 1
MEMORIAL
Margarita Gamarnik
2on voew in Gallery 1
It's time we take up space.
OUR MISSION
ourspace lab
NYC
What is OURSPACE? Well, it's ours.
An art gallery, a live performance space, an education center: all centered around the expression and healing of marginalized communities.
A space for growth through the arts
Enter OURSPACE
Every visit begins with a tradition.
You will be prompted to answer two questions:
This week, what made you smile?
What was your biggest hassle this week?
Guests answer verbally, in whatever language feels most comfortable. These recorded answers will be mixed and played in common areas, creating an ever-changing performance art piece everyone is a part of, and stressing the importance of differing perspectives.
This week, what made you
smile?
Gallery 1: Taking up Space
FEB 2023
MEMORIAL
Margarita Gamarnik
FEB 2023
THE LARAMIE PROJECT
Julia O'Connor
MARCH 2023
UNDESIRABLE ELEMENTS
Lily Patracuolla
Gallery 2: Life and Color
MARCH 2023
THE AMEN CORNER
Danielle Strader
MARCH 2023
UNDESIRABLE ELEMENTS
Robert Pierno
MARCH 2023
THE DEATH OF THE LAST BLACK MAN IN THE WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD
Danielle Strader
Gallery 3: Through Another's Eyes
APRIL 2023
WHERE WE BELONG
Melina Walko
march 2023
THE DEATH OF THE LAST BLACK MAN IN THE WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD
Brooke Schalk
APRIL 2023
WOOD BONES
Alicia Villadiego
Upcoming Performances
NIGHT TIME
PERFORMED BY Mattea Occhino
WRITTEN BY: Miguel Pinero
"In the stream of solitude
who's
singing that blue tune?"
Moment: Home
WRITTEN BY: Ellen McGihon
"I feel like as you grow up and you mature and you move away from it, you kind of realize how much it has shaped you into who you are."
White Men Why?
WRITTEN BY: Haley Massey
"White men!
Why today?
We should be through here, there's another way"
Upcoming Performances
WHAT IS THeatre?
WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY: John Cardea
"A portal that transcends time and space
A conduit for our thoughts to delve into new places, to new labors
Giving people we’ve never met a story, a face"
I Stand accused
PRODUCED BY: Allison Joyce
"I stand accused
I refuse
To stand and lose"
The Eng Auditorium
Dialogue, Not Diatribes
Like its namesake, our industry-leading, ADA-accessible theatrical space champions performance art exploring issues of social justice. See our upcoming events page for cutting-edge lectures, booksignings, plays and more.
Connect with us!
FOR ARTISTS
hello@ourspacelab.com
FOR VISITORS
123 Anywhere St. Any City ST 12345
