2020 2020-2021 2021 Season

The Human Ounce

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written by Nicole Parizeau
directed by Gary Graves
Produced in: 2020 2020-2021 2021

Listen to the The Human Ounce Audio Play!

Get your tickets here!

SF Chronicle Datebook Pick: “the show poses vital questions about artistic responsibility” -L. Janiak

“fascinating, lively, and well-acted” -E. Mendel, Berkeleyside

Read The New York Times article: “Is it time Gauguin got Canceled?”

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LISTEN TO THE HUMAN OUNCE INTERVIEW

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World Premiere #66: from the Central Works Writers Workshop

A fine old painting on the gallery wall.

Pride of place in the museum. The painter? An old master in his own right…admired worldwide, historically important, and an inspiration to thousands.  And revealed as a monster. What now?

“This is how you raise awareness and shift the identity of an institution… To rectify centuries of imbalance, you have to do something radical”—Christopher Bedford, Curator, Baltimore Museum of Art

“Demonizing art is not a rational response to it. There is no way that you should punish the art for the crimes of the artist”—Jonathan Pugh, Oxford University

 


Datebook Theater Pick!

Click to watch the trailer!

 

 

Champagne Hughes
Kimberly Ridgeway
Don Wood

Stage Management: Liora Jacob
Costume design: Tammy Berlin
Lighting design: Gary Graves
Prop design: Debbie Shelley
Sound design: Gregory Scharpen

A famous 19th century artist is discovered to have an unsavory history, causing two friends and colleagues to have a difference of opinion that calls their relationship into question.  Jory (Champagne Hughes, right) says his work must be canceled; Biz (Kimberly Ridgeway, left) says the art should not pay for the sins of the artist.

Central Works presents world premiere #66: The Human Ounce by Nicole Parizeau, Feb 15-Mar 15 at Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Avenue, Berkeley.

Photo by Jim Norrena

Jory (Champagne Hughes) has strong and inflexible views about how to deal with the product of a 19th century sexual predator.  How far will she go to get her way?

Central Works presents world premiere #66: The Human Ounce by Nicole Parizeau, Feb 15-Mar 15 at Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Avenue, Berkeley.

Photo by Jim Norrena

Biz (Kimberly Ridgeway, center) and Jory (Champagne Hughes, right) are colleagues who do not see eye to eye about the fate of a painting whose creator is revealed to have committed monstrous acts.  Their associate, Dodge (Don Wood, right) claims “Hey, I’m Switzerland here.”

Central Works presents world premiere #66: The Human Ounce by Nicole Parizeau, Feb 15-Mar 15 at Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Avenue, Berkeley.

Photo by Jim Norrena

All photos: ACT OUT Photography by Jim Norrena

SF Chronicle Datebook Pick: “the show poses vital questions about artistic responsibility” -L. Janiak

“fascinating, lively, and well-acted” -E. Mendel, Berkeleyside

“The Human Ounce…poses provocative questions [with a] charismatic, three-member cast” -Lou Fancher, East Bay Express

Human Ounce engagingly explores art and responsibility” -Jean Schiffman, SF Examiner

“a wild, escalating encounter that explodes in front of us” -Beau McGlasson, Theatrius

The Atlantic, November 2020: Shirley Li wrties about the new identity crisis that American museums are experiencing.

“The best way to diversify a museum’s collection is by any means necessary.” -B. Frye, Hyperallergic

Read The New York Times article: “Is it time Gauguin got Canceled?”

Find out more about:
The Art: The paintings and painters mentioned in the script
Behind the Scenes: A Note from the playwright & references for the play