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In less than a month, The Fisher School will open its doors to the public for the premier of artist Madeline Bugeau-Heartt’s latest theatrical endeavor “A Crack of Strange Light.” The first segment of this strangely spiritual performance series will be performed in the restored one-room school house on November 12 at 4 p.m.
“A Crack of Strange Light” is an otherworldly, theatrical exploration of faith, magic, and our shared hunger to feel less alone amidst the chaos. Set in suburbia and occurring over the course of three months, “A Crack of Strange Light” follows the journey of Richard, a fallen angel searching for his way back home. Richard will draw back the veil through three “spiritual exhibitions” to illuminate mystery in the seemingly mundane and teach the community how to listen for the strangely hopeful whistle on the wind.
“I’ve always wanted to bring this kind of work to a community who wouldn’t normally get to experience it,” says artist Madeline Bugeau-Heartt. “‘A Crack of Strange Light’ is an experiment in making art anywhere. My hope is that it will serve as an example of liberation: both for artists, who may find unexpected support and inspiration creating DIY work beyond the comfort of art hubs, and for the communities they serve, who will have a chance to experience live performance and the new perspective it has to offer.”
Westwood-homegrown, Madeline Bugeau-Heartt is a writer, director, and performer who participated in nearly every WHS production before attending NYU’s prestigious Tisch School of the Arts and graduating with honors and a BFA in Theater in 2013. Since then, Madeline has busied herself with everything from the conception and direction of two full-length, original works (“Homage,” 2014, and “Under God’s Tongue,” 2015), to serving as an associate artist and writer-in-residency with the Centrifuge Artistic Collaborative. She directed and performed in a wide-ranging slew of other productions including “Primer for a Failed SuperPower” with The TEAM and most recently completed a residency this summer at the Barn Arts Collective in Maine.
“A Crack of Strange Light” is an originally devised, immersive endeavor that explores spirituality from a fresh perspective. “The goal of the piece is not to provide answers, but to unlock the imagination of the community, share in the magic of storytelling, and find awe in the bittersweet experience of being human in an ever-changing word.”
This event is free and open to the public. The community is urged to reserve tickets online prior to each performance, as space is very limited. Donations can be made online or at the event itself. “A Crack of Strange Light: Part One” premiers Sunday Nov. 12, at 4 p.m.
For further information, visit www.acrackofstrangelight.com.