Announcing the Winners of Synchronicity Theatre's New Arts Incubator Project, STRIPPED BARE

On January 30, 2017, Atlanta's Synchronicity Theatre launched a test-run of Stripped Bare, a new arts incubator project that gives artists a space to create and produce new work. Designed for early-career artists, Stripped Bare focuses on projects that emphasize words and ideas, with minimal technical elements. For this first year, the program was available by invitation only. Invitations were sent to Atlanta-based artists who had at least one paid professional credit, but had not originated or created more than five professional projects. They were asked to submit proposals. Two winning projects were selected:

Rebekah Suellau's Hannah Cremation + The Ash, a rock musical about two women coming together to find their "RAH!" - that inner core that turns disappointment and frustration into creative energy. Suellau says of the project: "Culturally, we are at a moment that is freeing up great reserves of energy in the form of frustration, disappointment, and anger. Many people do not know what to do with this energy, and many are uncomfortable with it. Women, in particular, have been taught or told that their anger is not socially acceptable; that they must be quiet, compliant and compromising; that they must play a game with no input as to the rules of that game."

About Rebekah Suellau

Rebekah is a director, playwright and producer with a primary focus in new play development. She is based in Atlanta, where she was a founding member of one-year producing collective The Seedling Project. Her play Kept Woman opens Off-Broadway this fall, under her direction, as part of the 2016 Araca Project. She has also directed and helped develop new works with Horizon Theatre Company, New Origins Theatre Company, Twinhead Theatre, Working Title Playwrights, and The Weird Sisters Theatre Project. She holds her M.F.A. in Writing for Stage and Screen from Florida State University, and has assisted directors at NYC's New Georges and Atlanta's ALLIANCE THEATRE.

Adrienne Reynolds's Bird, inspired by the short story "The Ugly Duckling," by Hans Christian Andersen. In Andersen's story, a young swan is born into a family of ducks and endures a series of traumatic events, which culminate in him discovering that he is the most beautiful swan in the pond. Reynolds says of the project: "Bird loosely follows Andersen's format. This piece is needed today because of the current attitude of fear, hatred, chauvinism, racism and xenophobia that has gripped our country. There is an environment that condemns anyone that is different from the status quo. There is a movement to take away the rights of women, people of color, non -Christians, and people with alternative lifestyles. It is imperative that artists fight against such hatred with love, activism and wisdom. Bird encourages love and acceptance, appreciation of uniqueness, individualism, community and the unity the results from these things."

About Adrienne Reynolds

Adrienne Reynolds is an Atlanta-based actor and singer. She starred as Bessie Smith in True Color Theatre's world premiere musical Gut Bucket Blues. Her other credits include Rejoice also with True Colors; Theatrical Outfit: Gifts of the Magi and Traveling Black; Atlanta Theatre: Sweat; Black Nativity, Soweto Soweto Soweto A Township is Calling, Purlie Victorious, and Keep The Faith. Off Broadway: Yo Alice directed by Maurice Hines. International Theatre: Diggydotcom, Amsterdam Holland. Vocal: background vocals for India Arie, Lauryn Hill, Bilal and Aslyn.

Stripped Bare encourages young artists to think about the essentials of theatre, "stripped of" intricate sets, lights, props, sound design, and costumes. While each project will use these devices minimally, the focus will be on actors, words, passion, and ideas. Each winner will get up to three days in Synchronicity Theatre's performance space. They will receive a technician, producer and/or facility manager, house manager, and a box office staffer for each performance. Each project will also receive marketing support and mention on Synchronicity's website.

Performance dates and times will be announced at a later date.

Next year, the Stripped Bare application process will be open to the public. Applications will be available online beginning in the summer at synchrotheatre.com.

ABOUT SYNCHRONICITY THEATRE

Synchronicity Theatre, led by Producing Artistic Director Rachel May and Managing Director & Artistic Associate Lee Nowell, produces smart, gutsy, high quality theatre that sparks community connections and uplifts the voices of women and girls. Synchronicity supports women artists, forges long-term and effective community partnerships and develops new work. Synchronicity was founded in 1997 by four women with a desire to work collaboratively and bring challenging, meaningful theatre to Atlanta audiences. We now reach nearly 8,000 patrons through our season of plays for adults (Bold Voices) and families (Family Series); community outreach; and educational programming, including our Playmaking for Kids (PFK) summer camps and after school programs and our award-winning Playmaking for Girls (PFG) program. Our intimate theatre in the heart of midtown at Peachtree Pointe became our home in the summer of 2014.

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