Adventures in Poetry
Transforming poetry into memorable theatrical & performance art experiences is Jason Jenn's speciality. Here are some of the notable moments.
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Cavafy's Caress (2011) is a full-length production that tells the emotional life story of the Greek writer Constantine P. Cavafy through poetry.
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Cocteau & Colette at the Grand Véfour (2012) saw Jason transform into author Jean Cocteau in a play exploring his friendship with Colette (author of Gigi).
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Ecstasy For Everyone! (2013-2015, 2020) - a visually lush and whimsical show that celebrated the poetry of visionary filmmaker and poet James Broughton.
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Behold the Bridegrooms Revisited (2014) - a special event honoring marriage equality by restaging James Broughton's marriage to Joel Singer along with various poetic material by Broughton paired with live cello and dance.
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Recognition = Life (2015), a heartbreaking presentation of poetry by the gay rights activist Paul Monette, written during the depths of the AIDS crisis.
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Harold Norse Centennial Celebrations (2016), performances on tour to celebrate the 100th birthday of the beat poet, sponsored by the SF Beat Museum.
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LET LOVE FLOURISH (2019), a historical dive into a wide range of love poems from a vast pantheon of LGBTQ poets from Sappho to Mary Oliver, Whitman to Auden.
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The Wonders of Many Sunsets (2022) honored the botanist and author William Emboden as part of the art exhibition Memories of Tomorrow's Sunrise.
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Who Left the Poet On? (2024) is the latest work in development to honor the poetry of dear friend Robert Patrick Playwright (author: Kennedy's Children, Untold Decades).