The Skeleton Rep

In case you missed it... THE GREAT VANISHING is available for viewing & ... We're 5!

8/12/2020

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From late March through late June, The Skeleton Rep(resents) conceived of, developed, shot, and released the first three parts of their mega myth,
"The Great Vanishing."

In an alternate reality where CoVid hasn't happened, the world's most ancient monuments have started disappearing. No one seems to know what is happening to them. When people seem to start disappearing too, everyone becomes affected.
This is The Great Vanishing.

The project utilized the talents of 45 writers and actors, a team helmed by
-one universal script editor, Emily Claire Schmitt
-one universal film editor, Nora De Broder
-an original composition from Emily Rose Simons
-and creator/producer Ria T. DiLullo

All development, filming and editing took place during the initial isolation of the spring of 2020.

To learn more about the participating artists, click here and scroll about halfway down! (Below are a sample of stills from TGV.)

Also...

The Skeleton Rep(resents) is 5 years old this summer!

In August of 2015, we were in the midst of our first production, a reimagining of the biblical Song of Solomon featuring King Solomon's love interest - named Lilith - set on the LES of NYC in the late 1970s.
Footage from that performance can be viewed here.

Since then, we have continued to develop new works in adherence with our vision, to explore modern myth. This mission has taken us from a suburban teenager's living room where a minotaur becomes her boyfriend/father/friend to a team of dominatrixes just trying to do their job in the wake of the 2016 election. Not to mention the absolutely unbelievable, inevitable, and deeply explorable in-between.

I, Ria T. DiLullo, artistic director of The Skeleton Rep(resents), am beyond proud of the work accomplished by the scores of artists, witnessed by hundreds of audience members, in a dozen locations, over the last five years.

Thank you for traveling to each other's apartments, performing in unlikely corners, committing to great storytelling, being bold and believing in your size, scope, and capability. TSR wouldn't be what it is without you.

It is my hope that our 10-year anniversary may be celebrated with pomp and circumstance- in person, bold, and bright. But until then, I commit to creating new works, regardless of the limits imposed upon us. After all, every great creator need a boundary to push against, and I am excited to see what creations arise in the face of our near future.

With commitment, devotion, and a whole lot of love-
Ria T. DiLullo & the Mission to Explore Modern Myth

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BLM: A Letter from the Artistic Director

6/3/2020

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Black lives matter.
Black lives matter.
Black lives matter.

All lives will not matter until black lives matter.

To the black artists, friends, and community members within my reach and the reach of The Skeleton Rep(resents), I see you. I care about you. You matter to me. Your voice matters to me, your body matters to me, and your ability to succeed is important to me. The Skeleton Rep would not exist without your voice and the voice of people of color. I will continue to do everything in my power to advocate for your stories by amplifying your voice. If I can use this platform to help you reach more people, please let me know. I am happy to (re)publish your letters, photos, videos and stories on our website and then share them on our social media.

To the white artists, friends, and community members, I understand that many of you feel that you don’t know what to do, or how to do it. Physically being at protests may not be for you, and that’s ok, but if you are silent because you don’t know what to say, then now is the time to educate yourself, open your mind, and realize that you have a lot of difficult, uncomfortable conversations coming your way. It is imperative that you suffer through the discomfort of dismantling your understanding and educate yourself, and then your communities. Conversations won’t kill you, no matter how uncomfortable you get. This is the beginning of your active anti-racism.

A good place to start is racism educator Jane Elliot. Take an hour out of your day, today, get on YouTube and listen intently to what she has to say. Here are two links to two interviews with her - one from a couple days ago and then a link to her appearance on Oprah in 1992. Trust me, it’s still relevant.

Jane Elliot Interview (2020)

Jane Elliot on Oprah (1992)

After you’ve taken in some Jane, I recommend familiarizing yourself with these “Anti-Racism Resources.” Consider reading “The Myth of Race” by Robert Wald Sussman. Continue to educate yourself and then start to take action. This Medium post, “75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice” is a good list of a variety of actions you can take.

As you and I both go through this process of opening our mind to the realities of black and brown people throughout this country, you are going to get uncomfortable. You are going to feel angry. You are not going to “understand.” These are not reasons to abandon your efforts, but rather, reasons to begin practicing overt kindness and empathy, especially towards people whose skin color does not match yours. As Jon Batiste said on Stephen Colbert this week, this country is in deep need of a “moral awakening.” White folks, we must choose the path of moral awakening in order to change our society.

As this letter comes to an end, I wish to share a quotation from John F. Kennedy, delivered on October 26, 1963 during a speech at Amherst College:
“If sometimes our great artists have been the most critical of our society, it is because their sensitivity and their concern for justice, which must motivate any true artist, makes him aware that our Nation falls short of its highest potential.”

For the artists and art-appreciators in my community, if your skin is white, rise up to your potential so that our black and brown brethren may rise, and so too then our nation. If you are a black artist, I can promise that there is space here at The Skeleton Rep for you. I will offer you and your narratives the same platform, resources, and care I show my white colleagues. I will admit when I am wrong. I will listen, amplify, and advocate. We as artists must still create in the face of devastation - it is how we as a nation make sure that we still have a soul on the other side.

Thank you for taking the time to read my missive. White folks, if you have questions, reach out. I am happy to start you off on your uncomfortable conversations. Black and brown community members, I am here for you and ready. I know that in order to be true to my mission, to explore modern myth, I must be true to you.

With love, kindness, compassion, and hunger,
Ria T. DiLullo
Artistic Director of The Skeleton Rep(resents)

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THE GREAT VANISHING: PART I premiers today!

5/18/2020

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The Great Vanishing tracks the lives of a diverse group of citizens - scientists, teachers, artists, students, youtubers and more - who wake up one day to learn that the Great Pyramid at Giza has disappeared without a trace.

Premiering on YouTube

This is the first of three devised episodic indi films that marry the principles of theatrical script writing & performance with the tools and editing power of a low-budget film, all devised under quarantine. We were creative. We were communal. We were united, while distinctly separated.

We invite you to watch this with your feet up and mind open. Have a beverage nearby. Light some incense or wear your favorite perfume. Sit down. Breathe. Be with us. All 45 of us. We made something, and we want to share it with you.

With compassion, devotion, and persistence,
The Skeleton Rep(resents) &
The Great Vanishing Team

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TSR is Exploring New Formats of Creating!

4/27/2020

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First and foremost, we're a production company dedicated to new work.

So even though we can't produce in a theater, we can still create work, explore modern myth, and share that work with you!

So far, we've got two things in the works, and one is complete!

LUNCH: A DILEMMA (short film)
Lunch is serious and should never be interrupted. Alas, it always is.

Watch Lunch: A Dilemma

Directed & Shot by Ria T. DiLullo
Edited by & Featuring Barron B. Bass

This short is an official selection for Bigfooter's At-Home-Short-Film-Contest.
Vote for us by liking it on YouTube here!

THE GREAT VANISHING (a video project)
Imagine... you wake up one day and the Great Pyramid at Giza is gone. And then the Parthenon is gone. And then more ancient monuments, just disappeared. How would it effect your life?

Get an email when Ep 1 is Done

Created by Ria T. DiLullo | Story Editor Emily Claire Schmitt | Video Editor Nora DeBroder

About a week into quarantine in NYC, we put out a call on social media to our theater communities. We want to make something, and we want to make it with you, using the materials we've got. 45 submissions came in within days. We paired off writers and actors (many artists doing both), gave them their circumstances, guidelines, and deadlines, and set to work weaving together one big story, "The Great Vanishing."

We're still in the process of creating this multi-episodic quarantine project, but we intend to have episode 1 released in the coming weeks. Join our mailing list to find out when it drops and in the meantime, check out some of our participants!

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Creation in the Age of Quarantine

3/25/2020

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"Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears..."

THIS SHIT IT CRAZY?! RIGHT?
If you find yourself screaming this into a pillow, out loud, or in your head multiple times a day, you are not alone. Artists are also our gig workers, servers, bartenders, and sitters, all jobs which require us to be present & in person, at a particular point in time. Asking these folks to stay at home is a different kind of challenge and we know we have got the itch to create something amidst the uncertainty and anxiety.

Michelle Cage in the "All Hallow's Eve" Salon Series (Oct 2019)

So! Let's Create Something!

We'll be sending out a prompt by the end of the month, but it's going to be based on YOUR interest! If you're looking to write, act (which will involve self-filming on a smart phone or computer), or both write and act, then fill out our survey! We'll only be taking replies for a few more days, so please head over to our form
"Performance from the Quarantine - Intake Form."
Feel free to share this with folks who you think might be interested!

Looking forward to hearing from you. Go forth and create in the face on Chaos!
Explore our collectively Modern, Mythical Moment!

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In case you missed it... THE GREAT VANISHING is available for viewing & ... We're 5!

BLM: A Letter from the Artistic Director

Black lives matter.
Black lives matter.
Black lives matter.

All lives will not matter until black lives matter.

THE GREAT VANISHING: PART I premiers today!

The Great Vanishing tracks the lives of a diverse group of citizens - scientists, teachers, artists, students, youtubers and more - who wake up one day to learn that the Great Pyramid at Giza has disappeared without a trace.

TSR is Exploring New Formats of Creating!

First and foremost, we're a production company dedicated to new work.

So even though we can't produce in a theater, we can still create work, explore modern myth, and share that work with you!

Creation in the Age of Quarantine

Archives

Categories

​

In case you missed it... THE GREAT VANISHING is available for viewing & ... We're 5!

BLM: A Letter from the Artistic Director

Black lives matter.Black lives matter.Black lives matter. All lives will not matter until black lives matter.

THE GREAT VANISHING: PART I premiers today!

The Great Vanishing tracks the lives of a diverse group of citizens - scientists, teachers, artists, students, youtubers and more - who wake up one day to learn that the Great Pyramid at Giza has disappeared without a trace. ​

TSR is Exploring New Formats of Creating!

First and foremost, we're a production company dedicated to new work. So even though we can't produce in a theater, we can still create work, explore modern myth, and share that work with you!

Creation in the Age of Quarantine

Archives

Categories

Black lives matter.
Black lives matter.
Black lives matter.

All lives will not matter until black lives matter.

The Great Vanishing tracks the lives of a diverse group of citizens - scientists, teachers, artists, students, youtubers and more - who wake up one day to learn that the Great Pyramid at Giza has disappeared without a trace.

First and foremost, we're a production company dedicated to new work.

So even though we can't produce in a theater, we can still create work, explore modern myth, and share that work with you!