I'm In Georgia (მე ვარ საქართველოში)

This is the blog that I have created to document my adventures in the Republic of Georgia.

For those who choose to follow this enjoy.  Hopefully there will be more pictures that writing.  And hopefully you will find some of the content stimulating and engaging.

I will start by giving you a little insight into why I am in Georgia to begin with...

Almost a year ago I was working for the Department of State and The Kennedy Center on an International Cultural Exchange Program.  I worked with 8 designers from all over the world on a two week visit to the States, we visited Kansas City, Vegas, and DC.  We met many other designers, did workshops, and saw shows.  In between all that we talked about theater in our respective countries.  We talked of the challenges, and the opportunities.  We talked about past productions and future possibilities.  Of the participants that year I really connected with Nino Maglakelidze from Georgia.  We have similar aesthetic tastes, and during one of the conversations about pieces that I would like to direct I told her about this new play by a friend and colleague of mine Augie Praley.  She thought it was a great idea for a story.  The visit went on.  

Over the following weeks, Nino and I stayed in touch and kept returning to the idea of working on a project together.  I talked with her more about euphoria and we discussed the possibilities of how to produce it.  Over the next few months we put a proposal together and submitted it to the U.S. Embassy in Georgia, and the Rustaveli Theatre.    

They both approved the project.  Our production of euphoria: something better is coming by Lee August Praley is being supported by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs office at the Department of State, The Rustaveli Theatre, and the U.S. Embassy in Georgia.

Now that we had the green light on the project we did a developmental workshop in Washington DC that was sponsored by the Kennedy Center, and the Washington Shakespeare Company.  This two day workshop, and one day showing gave us a great deal of information to develop the script further, and get us to a final working draft.  

Then we sent this draft to Georgia where it was translated by David Gabunia.  (He is a great playwright in his own right.  I just saw his play Others Children at the Royal District Theater.  It was rather dynamic, really well directed, well acted, and the design by Nino was spectacular.)

We now have a Georgian text:    ეიფორია: რაღაც უკეთესი მოხდება

So now I am on the ground in Georgia...  In an apartment.  Having meetings.  Eating great food.  Trying to get a handle on the language.  Casting.  Preparing for the five workshops I will be leading.  In intensive pre-production for the show.  Taking lots of pictures.  Seeing tons of theater.  And breathing.  

This is the sight I woke up to this morning...

Although I have not been taking a ton of pictures I will be taking a lot more and sharing how I see this beautiful country.

Tonight I am off to the Rustaveli where I will be seeing a show directed by Robert Sturua their Artistic Director.  More later tonight about the show, and about how their theaters are run.

-Colin.