Rebirth! Romance! Recycling! The Dharma Players present "Tainted Love: Taming of the Trash Tricksters" for Earth Celebrations Hudson River Pageant

Spring is coming! It's a time for rebirth, renewal, transformation..and theater!

On May 21, 2011 The Dharma Players will perform a theatrical vignette, "Tainted Love: Taming of the Trash Tricksters" for the Earth Celebrations Hudson River Pageant, written and directed by Cindy Sibilsky. Earth Celebrations is an annual ecological art and performance project invloving the NYC's youth, creatives and community to restore our river's native species health and habitats, as well as to address climate change in NYC. www.earthcelebrations.com

The Little Mermaid meets Romeo and Juilette in our twisted tale. When the worlds of the River Maidens and the Trash Tricksters collide, mayhem could transpire! But with the compassionate power of the Recycling Rebels, tragedy becomes trasformation and rebirth!

We are looking for new Dharma Players to participate! We need River Maidens (3 women), Trash Tricksters(3 men), and Recycling Rebels (4 women). Please contact director, Cindy Sibilsky:cindysibilsky@gmail.com

Watch last year's "Taming of the Trash Tricksters" starring the Dharma Player's Director and Co-founder Cindy Sibilsky:

Tibetan Book of the Dead at the Marble Cemetery October 16, 2 and 5pm

On Saturday, October 16, 2010, at 2 and 5pm
The Dharma Players present their year end finale of the successful run of The Tibetan Book of the Dead, which throughout 2010 has played to sold-out audiences in places as diverse as museum galleries, Zendos, and Brooklyn warehouses.

This daytime performance shall be presented in the most exciting and appropriate venue yet, the famous and historic Marble Cemetery of the Lower East Side( 41 1/2 2nd ave, between 2nd and 3rd streets).

Two matinee performances, with a "Remembrance of Those Passed On" audience participation activity in between. Here those who have lost beloveds can imortalize their memory by writing their name on the sheet used to wrap the "Dead One" for the 5pm performance.

A portion of the $10 admission price will go to the Shantigar Foundation, of Theater, Meditation and Healing, founded by TB of the D playwright, Jean-Claude vanItallie, to help rebuild the converted-theater barn which was reconstructed in 1999 and tragically burned down three weeks later. http://www.shantigar.org/

This is a play about Death, but also of Rebirth, and the heroic journey from loss and confusion to liberation, clarity and renewal. As the seasons change, and we are reminded of the impermenance and fragility of our time here, please join The Dharma Players on October 16, at 2pm or 5pm, to celebrate Life and Death and the states in-between.

The Tibetan Book of the Dead at The Village Zendo

SOLD OUT!!!!!

The Dharma Players in collaboration with Village Zendo Arts proudly presents:

"THE TIBETAN BOOK OF THE DEAD"

by Jean-Claude Van Itallie, a full-length theatrical production

The Dharma Players invite you to take a journey through the Bardo, a state between Death and Rebirth, where the "Dead Ones" experience the sometimes dazzling, often nightmarish world of their own minds on their heroic voyage to the other side.

September 25, 2010

Doors: 8PM, Show: 8:30PM

@The Village Zendo

588 Broadway (south of Housten), 11th floor (Suite 1108)

Tickets: $20-$25

www.brownpapertickets.com/event/121140

Photos from "Rebirth" June 4, 2010, Rubin Museum of Art

The Dharma Players final installment in the Bardo Series, based on excerpts from "The Tibetan Book of the Dead: Or How Not To Do It Again", "REBIRTH" was another big success and a wonderful and uplifting way to end the series. Around 100 people attended the finale. Many thanks to all of you who have supported us in this increadible journey from Death to Rebirth!

Photographers Sandy Hectman and Goldie Rush took amazing photos that tell the story:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51805619@N06/sets/72157624429523954/

"REBIRTH" June 4th, 8pm

Friday, June 4th, 8PM:

The Dharma Players with Jean-Claude Van Itallie and the Rubin Museum presents:
"REBIRTH''

Rubin Museum of Art(17th street and 7th Ave)
5th floor: Bardo Exhibition

FREE

This is our 4th and final installment of the "Bardo Series", excerpts from the play The Tibetan Book of the Dead to Read Aloud by Jean-Claude Van Itallie, which has enjoyed a very successful 5 month run at the Rubin Museum since the preview show in February.

"REBIRTH" explores the end of this incredible journey through the Bardo (state of transition), in which the "Dead One", having experienced the various illusions and visions of their own mind, finally chooses a place to be reborn, and a new journey begins.

The playwright himself will be joining us for this performance and will be signing copies of The Tibetan Book of the Dead to Read Aloud, in the RMA giftshop after the performance, Q & A and Art Talk.

Wrathful Energies Revisited

The May 7th show of "The Wrathful Energies" at the Rubin Museum of Art was a HUGE success!!!

Over 100 people were in attendance to experience the ferocious intensity, and the transformation! Photographer Deanna Wallach captured the story beautifully(click on the link below to view more pictures).


We are now
working on the final in the BARDO
series at the Rubin Museum of Art:
Rebirth,
Friday
June 4,
8PM
http://www.flickr.com/photos/deannawallachphotography/sets/72157624028853410/

Making of Mask: Wrathful Energies

For the "Wrathful Energies" installment of the Tibetan Book of the Dead series (May 7th, 8pm Rubin Museum of Art), I knew that masks were going to be an essential part of creating the ferocious deities of the Buddhist pantheon. As one who has observed and studied Cham dances of Buddhist performing arts, and being a sculptor myself, this was a joyful experience!

For Yama, I was fortunate to find a cow's mask and transform it with paint, clay and leather into the fierce "Lord of Death".

For Mahakala, the wrathful emination of the Buddha of Compassion, Avalokiteshvara, I used paper mache from scratch, as is the traditional style. This mask also follows the tradition of the performer seeing through the nostrils.
Both masks I created in the traditional method of the eyes being the last detail, and an "opening of the eyes"ceremony to envoke the spirit into the creation.

Finally, when a performer wears the mask, the energy of the wrathful deitey in all of its power and ferociousness is truly brought to life "Each thundering in turn," to terrify and delight!