Neat

What Audiences Think of NEAT

"...I consistently am blown away by the quality and spirit of your offerings.  Very special and very talented.  Makes me think of the Japanese concept of art: that the collector and exhibitor is as much of an artist as the creator.  That the art wont be seen and can't be appreciated without the eye that presents it.  You all are museum curators-level artists. [My friend] made stabs at collective art (and was dismissed and made fun of for it..) -- but Renaissance is a whole deeper level of collective creation. I just enjoyed myself tremendously."

"You cannot imagine how powerful an impact "Neat" had on the women of Grand Ave Club. Our women's group is very large, but I promoted the play among our African-American women members who cannot/don't go to the theater. I thought this particular play might offer an opportunity for them to see something on the stage that related to their own lives.  I was not wrong.  They related to Marti Gobel directly and what they liked most about the play was the confidence that she conveyed. What [one member] just said to me was, " that woman could do anything" and she did a movement with her own body that reminded me so much of Marti on the stage."

"That was a wonderful event."

"...stellar performance..."

By Charlayne Woodard
January 13- February 5, 2012

Charlayne Woodard grew up in Albany, New York. And, according to her beloved Aunt Neat, that made her a city girl. Aunt Neat was a fearless country girl from Georgia. And back when Charlayne was five, that was the only distinction between them. You see, Aunt Neat was 12 years older than Charlayne, but a brain injury left her with the same child-like sense of adventure. All Neat wanted was to grow wings and fly. Throughout the 1960s, as these two African American girls became women, Neat held onto that dream. And as Charlayne embarks on this autobiographical journey amidst changing times and changing perspectives, she begins to realize it was her dream, too.

Run time: 1hr 45 min

 

Featuring:

Marti Gobel

 

Director: Suzan Fete

Stage Manager: Brandy Kline

Scenic Design: Lisa Schlenker

Lighting Design: Eric Appleton

Costume Design: Holly Payne

Sound Design: Chris Guse

NEAT Audience Guide (click to download pdf)