m+k::the sour thunder
<http://www.blacknetart.com/sour.html >
purchase the sour thunder cd from Amazon.com.
the sour thunder is an internet opera which was started in 1996 and staged with actors, website designer and a live web cast in 2002. it tells a double-sided story blending autobiography and speculative fiction. sesom travels from a land where scent is language to a land where language is spoken. mendi travels from atlanta (the u.s.) to santiago (the d.r.).
the project was commissioned to be the first webcast from the yale cabaret
and received additional support from the afro-american cultural center
and digital media center at yale university. the live video is no longer
available however all mp3s,and text are accessible at the site.
staged productions:
Yale Cabaret / Yale university Afro-American Cultural Center
concert readings:
Duke University
Studio Museum in Harlem
Neuberger Museum of Art
broadcasts:
93.9 FM (WNYC) New York
104.1 Fm (Reboot FM/ Juni Radio) Berlin (complete work)
exhibitions:
Carbonist School Study Hall at Eyedrum Art and Music Gallery (Atlanta)
songs/audio:
Blue Jasper from the album - The Sour Thunder
Interviews about race and culture in Santiago (República Dominicana) and Atlanta (U.S.A.) featured in a sound installation accompanying the performance.
credits for the yale production:
Concept, text and music: Mendi + Keith Obadike
Yale Cabaret Artistic Director: Tamilla Woodard
Performers: Peter Macon as Blue Jasper
Laurie Woodard as Mendi
Marcus Gardley as Elusive Black Presnece
Iona Rozeal Brown as the Warm Hearted Child
Mendi Obadike as Sesom
The Chorus : Susan Finque, Gia Forakis, Brendan Hughes, Shaunda Miles, Sallie Sanders, Marcella Smith and Marnye Young
Hypertext e-Mix: Houston Baker, Christian Campbell, Coco Fusco, Duriel Harris, Nalo Hopkinson, John Keene, Ferentz Lafargue, Wahneema Lubiano, Dawn Lundy Martin, Paul D. Miller aka DJ Spooky, and Ronaldo Wilson
Design Team:
Web Design and Programming: John Vega
Stage Direction: Marcus Gardley
Stage Management: Maddalena Deichmann
Set Design: Torkwase Dyson
Choreography: Tim Acito
Lighting Design: Tan Falkkowski
Costumes: Camille Assaf
Sound System Design: Keith Obadike
Live Sound Engineers: Daniel Baker and Philip Peglow
Scent Design: Iona Rozeal Brown
Streaming Video Technical Director: Dave Deitch
Streaming Video System Installation: George Dobuzinsky
Scenic Technical Design and Construction: Colin Buckhurst