Theater artist, writer and educator Nell Bang-Jensen believes that instead of staging big shows on a main stage, theater producers might better serve their communities by finding out what people in the community are interested in and engaging them in the artistic process. That's the idea behind a new work in development at the Pig Iron Theater Company, where Nell is the Associate Artistic Director. In today's show she talks about "The Caregiver Project," a performance piece being shaped by caregivers in the Philadelphia area who are collaborating with Pig Iron, sharing their experiences with care and helping to create a show that opens in June. Nell also talks about her first real exposure to end-of-life issues through the hospice journeys of her Danish grandparents, what she hopes the audience will take away from "The Caregiver Project" and how creating the work has challenged her to represent caregiving in an accurate way while also devising a compelling artistic piece.
For a transcript of this episode click here: Transcript
UPDATE: In September 2019, Nell became the Artistic Director of The Theatre Horizon in Norristown, PA. Theatre Horizon’s Autism Drama Program was featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show. Nell and Director of Community Investment Mydera Taliah Robinson were able to share the history of their Autism Drama Program and its impact on students on National Television. You can watch the segment here.
Learn more about The Caregiver Project
Mentioned in the show:
"The Commercialization of Intimate Life" by sociologist Arlie Hochschild
Music: "Always Late" by Ketsa | CC BY NC ND | Free Music Archive
