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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>111 First St., makes its way into play! 'The Heist
Project' opening in Jersey City</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The Hudson Reporter</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>by: Diana Schwaeble Current Editor</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The Heist project is a new multi-media play opening
at Victory Hall Cultural Center, 186 Grand St., Jersey City, on Friday, Nov. 4
at 8 p.m. It is the convergence of two true stories: the largest unsolved art
theft in American history, and the recent displacement of artists from the 111
First St. building in Jersey City. The innovative play is an interpretation of
those stories of loss by visual and spoken word artists and
musicians.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The Idea</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>According to Christine Goodman, the director of Art
House Productions, she got the idea in 1999 when she traveled to Boston for
surgery. Between trips to the hospital, she and her mother went to the isabella
Stewart Gardner Museum to look at some art.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>"I was suprised by the intimacy of the space," said
Goodman. "Walking through the museum, I felt as if I was peering into a hidden
drawer that held all of Ms. Gardner's most private belongings."</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>When Goodman reached the second floor, she was
struck by the array of huge, empty frames hanging on the wall. Goodman found out
that 15 years ago, two men came into the museum after hours and stole over $500
million in paintings including work by Rembrandt, Degas, and Vermeer. Due to a
stipulation made in Gardner's will, nothing could be moved or changed in the
gallery after her death. Once the 13 pieces were stolen, there was no way to
cover up the loss by hanging new art on the walls.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Development</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>According to Goodman, Art House realized that the
idea of loss resonated in Jersy City with the displaced artists. After
discussions with other writers and artists, The Heist Project began to take on a
life of its own as they built on interpretations of stolen work.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>"The pieces of art in The Heist Project are not
reproductions," said Goodman. "They are living, breathing, reinventions of the
original artworks stolen from The Gardner Museum."</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The more they developed the project, the more they
realized that they couldn't perform a traditional play with a stage and the
audience sitting in front of the actors.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The Play</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The cast has 14 people who were directed by Jack
halpin. The play, which runs 90 minutes, combines theatre, spoken word, visual
art, music, and video all weaved together. The talent includes: Photographer Ed
Fausty; sculptor Steve Singer; creator and artistic director Christine
Goodman; composer David Amram; and many more. Amram wrote the music for the
piece and has collaborated with legendary artists: Dizzy Gilespie, Thelonious
Monk, Jack Kerouac, Arthur Miller, and many more. The musical score blends the
stories together into one seamless work of imagination. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>"We have gotten so much love and encouragement from
the local arts community," said Goodman. "The play is about honoring our
collective history. I feel it's important to remember and celebrate what 111
First St. was, so it can inform the future of art in Jersey City."</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The show dates are: Nov 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18,
at 8 p.m. Tickets are $12 for the general public and $10 for students and
artists. For more information please call: (201) 915-9911 or visit : <A
href="http://www.arthouseproductions.org">www.arthouseproductions.org</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
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