Letter to the editor

Community Voices/OpEd
Philadelphia Inquirer
Walter Dallas
New Freedom Theatre



Philadelphia Needs Two Plans:
One To Win The Battle/One To Win The War

Generally, I am in agreement with many of the ideas being vigorously debated with regards to addressing our city’s insanely escalating murder rate: modified gun control laws; sophisticated, strategically positioned surveillance cameras and a fortified police presence in the neighborhoods. I applaud community groups no longer willing to tolerate the madness, and I support a curfew that will at least urge our children off the streets and out of harm’s way.

These ideas focus on immediate, short-term solutions. While these ideas, when put into practice, might slow the escalation of the violence, they will not to get to the root of the problem. We need a long-term plan that will do more than win the battle; we need to win the War.

I suggest, as part of a long-range strategic plan, that we revive the arts and humanities, music, theatre, dance, sports and other extracurricular activities in our schools. In order to win this war, we must strategically arm our children with disciplines that stress creativity, empathy, critical thinking, positive attitudes, teamwork, individual dignity and sociability as soon as they enter school. Since the arts were striped from most school curricula, the crime rate has steadily risen.

Let’s empower our children’s imaginations at an early age by presenting them with opportunities to discover their own unique talents. Let’s use the arts and humanities to inspire them make creative choices that will lead them to work in harmony with each other, let them know that they are beautiful, and that it’s their responsibility to add value to their community.

Let’s teach them a true American history that will make them proud to know that every culture here has contributed to the greatness of this country. Let’s help them appreciate the history of the road on which they are beginning their life-journeys. They need to know that those who traveled before them made great sacrifices in order for them to have the opportunity to journey to their authentic selves.

Let our children know, as soon as they are born, that we expect nothing less than greatness from them, then encourage and support them every step of the way. These positive, empowering forces: visual arts, humanities, theatre, dance, sports, and music have been virtually stripped from most school curricula. We’ve seen a distinct correlation between the dismantling of these enriching programs and the rise in crime and hopelessness over the last 15 years. We must reverse this downward spiral if we are to win the war.

Restoring these programs will be a costly proposition. Gaming is coming to Philadelphia. We should invest a portion of the billions in profits expected to flow into our economy into restoring these humanizing programs in our schools. Let’s learn from our mistakes; this generation is violently exhibiting the classical psychoses of our miscalculations of the past; let’s make a strategic, long-term investment in the next generation. Then, in the words of the old spiritual, “we won’t have to study no war no more.”



Walter Dallas
Artistic Director
New Freedom Theatre
1346 North Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19136

Me

I am an Actor, an Author, an Instructor and an Artist.

Rhythmog the Innovation;
Theater of the Rhythm of Gaia.

Everything has a beat
everything has a pulse
everything has a rhythm...
Will you or won't you?
You want to, don't you?
Come and dance with me...

Feel free to tag this blog with your art, I despise an imageless world.

"SIC GORGEAMUS ALLOS SUJICTATOS NUNC"

translation: we gladly feast on those who would subdue us

Rhythmog the Innovation

Theatre of the Rhythm of the Goddess

A word from

S. Elizabeth Evans, MFA

Rhythmog
is a word that came to me as a title one intense day in my studies in the art of Acting.
I remember that it was in the Summer, in New Mexico, in Portales, in the Theater at Eastern New Mexico University.
Old ENMU old enema-U.
It was The Boyfriend and ironically it was about that same time that I was realizing that I was just not going to have one because I did not need one.
I had that Theater dream, I don't know how else to explain it
but you know the one that dream when I sneak into a theater go through great pains to watch that play.
In danger for my life because someone does not want me to see that play.
It's a dream about that play.
And it is real and tangible, I used to come out of the rain to see this show that I somehow could not legally see it, but I'm there.

I am watching me onstage
I play different parts
including the director
and the playwright
and the lead
and the smallest bit part
and I'm also the tech crew and costume crew
designer for lights, sound and sets.
Not all at the same time it's a rotating, modulating me

The only constant me is the one in the audience
watching the show.

And the play begins... And the first thing I feel
in that rush when you have unexplainable anticipation
You know something is coming and
and yes it's a dream
so I'm experiencing that opening of the curtain
and what will happen
('cause it never worked in rehearsal)

And there's a drum
and a voice
and a movement
...and I heard myself (the Announcer) say:
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I bring you Rhythmog, the Innovation, Theater of the Rhythm of the Goddess"

And when I awoke I knew what it meant
And I became an actor...
and a student...
of the rhythm of Life.

- S. Elizabeth Evans, MFA

LAWS OF THE NATURAL UNIVERSE

Law of Mechanical Repair: After your hands become coated with grease your nose will begin to itch or you'll have to pee.

Law of the Workshop: Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.

Law of Probability: The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act.

Law of the Telephone: When you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal.

Law of the Alibi: If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tire, the very next morning you will have a flat tire.

Variation Law: If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will start to move faster than the one you are in now. (works every time) This also works at the supermarket!

Bath Theorem: When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone rings.

Law of Close Encounters: The probability of meeting someone you know increases when you are with someone you don't want to be seen with.

Law of the Result: When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't work, it will.

Law of Biomechanics: The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach.

Theater Rule: At any event, the people whose seats are furthest from the aisle arrive last.

Law of Coffee: As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.

Murphy's Law of Lockers: If there are only two people in a locker room, they will have adjacent lockers.

Law of Dirty Rugs/Carpets: The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich of landing face down on a floor covering are directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet/rug.

Law of Location: No matter where you go, there you are.

Law of Logical Argument: Anything is possible if you don 't know what you are talking about.

Brown's Law: If the shoe fits, it's ugly.

Oliver's Law: A closed mouth gathers no feet.

Wilson's Law: As soon as you find a product that you really like, they will stop making it.

Have a nice day.