La Voce to Me is a powerful original play about love, sacrifice, death, and rebirth. And believe it or not, it all started with a mermaid.
“Since I was a child, I loved the story of The Little Mermaid, Playwright Jeremy Pace explains. “As I got older, I discovered the original fairytale by Hans Christian Andersen and learned more about his life. We had more in common than I realized. Even the life of the lyricist for the Disney film, Howard Ashman, seemed to overlap with my own developing story.”
Beyond the surface level parallels, the themes in all of their stories echo across time in the gay experience. The deeper (and darker) side of La Voce to Me speaks to struggles with identity, addiction, HIV and AIDS, and recovery. It is a true example of the infinite loop of art imitating life.
Director K.W. Kuchar shares his impression of Pace, “I’ve worked with a lot of actors, playwrights, and directors in the area and I can tell you – Jeremy is tearing open some very personal wounds and letting the audience in on some very real pieces of himself that I don’t think everyone has the courage to do. He is being brave here, really brave.”
“Rather than it feeling like a one-man personal essay,” Kuchar continues. “he has captured some imagery that is unique and compelling. It will be exciting to see how La Voce to Me develops over time. That’s part of the beauty of what Capital Fringe brings to the stage.”
“This experience has been by far the greatest challenge I have faced as an artist,” Pace admits. “Thankfully, it has been the most cathartic and rewarding as well.” He suggests that the intimate connection between fairy tales and real life is not only common, but universal, “I believe these stories are destined to become our own in some way.”
Brendan O’Connell, playing the role of Howard Ashman, says, “We have each rediscovered the magic behind the fairy tales we grew up with. I am inspired by the strength and courage from the entire cast and hope this story has the wonderful future it deserves.”
For Natalie Piegari, playing role of The Little Mermaid herself, “Working on La Voce to Me has been challenging and intense in the most wonderful way.”
George Tralka Jr., playing the role of Hans Christian Andersen, recognizes the entire cast for their hard work and the collective attempt to bring Pace’s script to life and to do it justice. Tralka Jr. shares, “La Voce To Me is leaving me with a clearer perspective on life.”
“When I started this production,” Pace describes, “I was so humbled by the gift I had been given in my inspiration that I was aiming low and trying to keep things simple. But thanks to one of the most gifted and dedicated cast and crew, I have watched this production soar to heights I never imagined.”
We hope that those who attend this production might discover their own story and reclaim their own voice. La Voce to Me. The voice to me.
La Voce to Me is part of the 8th Annual Capital Fringe Festival: July 11– 28, 2013.
Featuring: K.W. Kuchar (director), Jeremy Pace, Natalie Piegari, Brendan O’Connell, and George Tralka Jr.
PERFORMANCES at Goethe Institut – Gallery
812 7th St NW in Washington, DC
Corner of Eye St NW and 7th St NW
Nearest Metro: Gallery Place-Chinatown (Red Line)
Thursday, July 11th — 5:30-6:45pm
Sunday, July 14th — 5:15-6:30pm
Saturday, July 20th — 5:15-6:30pm
Wednesday, July 24th — 6:30-7:45pm
Saturday, July 27th — 3:45-5:00pm
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE.
This production is proudly endorsed by The DC Center for the LGBT Community.
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