PMA Assistant Professor Jason Simms is the co-producer of a new play called Play of Delights, the culmination of a four-month theater project involving performers of all ages from Ithaca and Trumansburg. The production will take place on June 22 and June 23 at 4pm at the Youth Farm Project, 24 Nelson Road, Ithaca, NY. Tickets are free but it is strongly recommended to reserve before the performance due to venue capacity. The performance will feature essays inspired by The Book of Delights by award-winning author Ross Gay brought to life as dance theater and original work. Afterward, performers and guests will celebrate with a potluck and bonfire. We welcome you to dress with delight and bring something delicious to share!
Professor Simms shared that he is thrilled to produce this work alongside Story House Ithaca and Civic Ensemble with the support of a Humanities New York Action Grant and the Cornell Rural Humanities Initiative. “These grants make it possible to work on exciting projects for community engagement.”
Co-facilitators and directors of the project, G-Quan Booker and Sarah Plotkin shared some thoughts about Play of Delights ahead of the performances:
“Reading, discussing and creating work around the essays in The Book of Delights has helped ourselves and our collaborators to see and appreciate everyday delight in a new way. It has inspired us to want to be more present and to appreciate all of the little moments of delight that happen in a day, even on the bad days. We've also witnessed our collaborators becoming more comfortable with vulnerability, trusting their creative instincts, and enjoying the process of making and sharing with others without getting caught up in perfectionism.
We hope the audience will be inspired by our work to appreciate delight in their lives in a deeper way - to slow down and witness the small moments that connect us with each other, with nature, and with our memories. We also hope they will be inspired to read The Book of Delights, and maybe even create their own work in response!”
Play of Delights is supported by a Humanities New York Action Grant, the Cornell Rural Humanities Initiative from an award by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, a grant from Triad Foundation, Inc. , and rehearsal space funded by the New York State Council on the Arts.
Read more about Play of Delights.
