Auroville Theatre Group
The Auroville Theatre Group has been performing in Auroville for about 10 years now. Many actors have come and gone: several have started their stage careers with the ATG. The theatre scene in Auroville being pretty f l u i d -- actors work with more than one company, move around from show to show. One thing has remained constant: Jill Navarre, ATG artistic director. Ever since the first performance of Waiting for Godot , Jill has directed the ATG in its performances of theLegend of the Kaliveli Siddha , The Greedy Man,Nishta, or the Strange Disappearance of Margaret Woodrow Wilson, Sacrifice , Milarepa -- to name a few.
The scripts are chosen for their beauty of language and depth of expression. We always ask the question, What does this story mean to us, here, now? So the plays that we choose should have some relevance to the Auroville experience, its multi-cultural, international aspect (actors and designers coming from different parts of the world) and should be connected in some way to what Auroville is all about - an expression of the search for human unity, its triumphs as well as its failures, man's aspiration for progress, the evolution of consciousness, unity in diversity, our connection with the Divine.
What does it mean to work with the Auroville Theatre Group? What is the credo of the group? Here's one idea.
"Theatre is about transformation. It is about finding yourself and touching the deepest part of yourself in order to offer it up to the Divine, to the audience. You are there for them -- you are enacting this miracle of transformation for them (some would say "we stand in their place"). And how do we open our hearts to allow this transformation to take place? We use the strongest power that we know -- the power of love.
What is this love? It is the love which can change you, open you, widen you, clean you, make you strong. It gives you a voice, two arms, two legs, a strong, flexible, responsive, energized, dynamic body and most of all, a heart. It opens your heart, yes, until you think it will break.
During this work, every obstacle comes up, every resistance. No NO NO, it's not possible. I can't say that. I can't do that. I can't be that. But we can. We contain multitudes. What is not possible is to do it alone. For this act of transformation we need some help. Some help! We need each other, for support, for encouragement, for a kind word, for a hug.
It's not a mysterious process. And yet, it contains the essential mysterious question of life -- how can love transform? What is this power? Every day we come and start again. And every day there is some progress, understanding, some laughter and even some tears. Because you cannot change without pain, and frustration and denial and resistance. Then the love has to be there, even stronger than the strongest resistance. Because it leads to a discovery of one's psychic being, to a feeling of connectedness, of light and great, great joy. And we are here for that. I don't mean only we here in Auroville, but, finally, all of us are here -- here on earth, to make it happen, to allow the spirit to work in the world and . . . we can do it. We must do it - together."
The scripts are chosen for their beauty of language and depth of expression. We always ask the question, What does this story mean to us, here, now? So the plays that we choose should have some relevance to the Auroville experience, its multi-cultural, international aspect (actors and designers coming from different parts of the world) and should be connected in some way to what Auroville is all about - an expression of the search for human unity, its triumphs as well as its failures, man's aspiration for progress, the evolution of consciousness, unity in diversity, our connection with the Divine.
What does it mean to work with the Auroville Theatre Group? What is the credo of the group? Here's one idea.
"Theatre is about transformation. It is about finding yourself and touching the deepest part of yourself in order to offer it up to the Divine, to the audience. You are there for them -- you are enacting this miracle of transformation for them (some would say "we stand in their place"). And how do we open our hearts to allow this transformation to take place? We use the strongest power that we know -- the power of love.
What is this love? It is the love which can change you, open you, widen you, clean you, make you strong. It gives you a voice, two arms, two legs, a strong, flexible, responsive, energized, dynamic body and most of all, a heart. It opens your heart, yes, until you think it will break.
During this work, every obstacle comes up, every resistance. No NO NO, it's not possible. I can't say that. I can't do that. I can't be that. But we can. We contain multitudes. What is not possible is to do it alone. For this act of transformation we need some help. Some help! We need each other, for support, for encouragement, for a kind word, for a hug.
It's not a mysterious process. And yet, it contains the essential mysterious question of life -- how can love transform? What is this power? Every day we come and start again. And every day there is some progress, understanding, some laughter and even some tears. Because you cannot change without pain, and frustration and denial and resistance. Then the love has to be there, even stronger than the strongest resistance. Because it leads to a discovery of one's psychic being, to a feeling of connectedness, of light and great, great joy. And we are here for that. I don't mean only we here in Auroville, but, finally, all of us are here -- here on earth, to make it happen, to allow the spirit to work in the world and . . . we can do it. We must do it - together."
Jill D. Navarre, director, playwright, screenwriter
I was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. (The story of that unlikely journey is told in PORTRAIT OF ANNA, a screenplay which I am now writing.)
I started writing when I was 9 years old, and won a New York City-wide competition for best essay on the theme, WHY I LIKE TO READ . Graduating from essays, I wrote poetry (10 years' worth) and have had numerous poems published in the U.S. and Canada . While living in Toronto , a group of us started a coffee house called THE SOFT CELL , which presented some of Canada 's greatest poets for a solid evening of poetry and all the chocolate chip cookies you could eat.
Back in the U.S. , while working on my Master's degree in English, I took a playwriting class – for a lark – and got hooked on theatre. Well, I was always involved somehow. As a kid I loved to sing and in summer camp got a chance to do some great roles, like Ado Annie in OKLAHOMA ! Goodbye Master's degree, hello Broadway!
My first job in theatre was selling tickets for AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' at the Coconut Grove Playhouse in Miami, Florida.
Since then, some of the highlights of my career have been winning awards for directing - RIVERS OF BLOOD (First Prize, Source Theatre Festival, Washington, D.C.) and playwriting - THE CRADLE WILL FALL (First Prize, Washington, D.C. Arts Council Larry Neal Award).
I worked as Asst. Box Office Manager at the FOLGER THEATRE in D.C. for 3 years, and every night (well, almost every night) I would watch great actors performing Shakespeare. While working on a production of UNDER MILKWOOD , I met two other theatre artists who became my best friends and colleagues. We were crazy enough to think we could start a new theatre company in Washington which would present cross cultural, inter-racial, avant-garde theatre. And we did. So I became one of the founding members of the SANCTUARY THEATRE, managing the New Play series, and helping many young playwrights to present their work for the first time. I fell in love with directing, and have directed 22 plays in the U.S. and India .
The India connection started way back in 1987 when I made my first backpacking trip to “the East” and stumbled on a place called Auroville, an international community of people in Tamil Nadu, India, dedicated to human unity and peace. Sort of like a kibbutz, but with an Indian atmosphere. I knew something interesting and important was going on here, and although I returned to the U.S. , the place stayed with me, until I decided I had to check it out. Staying for one year in 1991 was enough to convince me that this was where I belonged, and I've lived here ever since. I've been Artistic Director of the AUROVILLE THEATRE GROUP since 1992. In 2003, I was awarded a Government of India Development Scheme grant for directing MILAREPA .
In 2002, I returned with my partner, Edgar Weinberger, to the States to hunker down and write our screenplay, SANNYASI , adapted from Satprem's novel, SANNYASIN: or BY THE BODY OF THE EARTH. The time was well spent. I even got a chance to work as acting coach on a short film in Portland, Oregon, called EXILE FROM THE SUN , written and directed by Michael Poitevin.
I am one of the project holders of a brand new performance space: CRIPA, (Centre for Research in the Performing Arts) in Kalabhumi, Auroville. It is a 500 sq. mtr. rehearsal space for music, theatre and dance, state of the art acoustic treatment, wooden floor, perfect for workshops, classes and performances. I do translations (French/English). Edgar and I have translated the play MILAREPA , by Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt, which the AUROVILLE THEATRE GROUP performed here in January, 2004, under my direction. Our most recent production was IBSEN, an opera-in-progress, music by Hartmut von Lieres, libretto by Ronald Rand.
PLAYWRIGHT :
PETER PAN: Lost and Found .. a rock musical
SAVITRI: A Soul for Any Age
ANANDA script in progress
THE CRADLE WILL FALL 1989, first prize, Washington D.C. Arts Council Larry Neal Award
MOMMY, I'M HOME produced 1986
Washington , D.C. Open Theatre Women's Festival
WOMEN IN HELL a collection of short plays
SCREENWRITER :
PORTRAIT OF ANNA script in progress.
THE DOOR short film in post-production.
SANNYASI Co-author with Edgar Weinberger (adapted from the novel BY THE BODY OF THE EARTH or THE SANNYASIN by Satprem).
DIRECTOR, the AUROVILLE THEATRE GROUP:
2012 IBSEN (an opera-in-progress) music by Hartmut von Lieres, libretto by Ronald Rand
2012 LIKE SNOW MELTING IN WATER, by Cecile Pineda (with the Moradokmai Theatre Troupe, Thailand)
2011 (QUESTIONING) NAGA MANDALA, by Girish Karnad
2011 PETER PAN:LOST AND FOUND, by Jill Navarre (with the Moradokmai Theatre Troupe, Thailand)
2010 SAVITRI: A SOUL FOR ANY AGE, by Jill Navarre (with New Flame Theatre Company)
2010 OUR TOWN, by Thornton Wilder (with the Moradokmai Theatre Troupe, Thailand)
2009 THE CRUCIBLE, by Arthur Miller (with the Moradokmai Theatre Troupe, Thailand)
2008 THE PERFECT SANDCASTLE by Rachel Barnett
2008 BRIDE ON THE ROCKS, by David Weiner
2008 HAMLET, by Wm. Shakespeare
2006 THE RAINMAKER by N. Richard Nash
2006 THE WOOLGATHERER by Wm. Mastrosimone
2005 THE TEMPEST by Wm. Shakespeare
2004 MILAREPA by Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt
2003 SACRIFICE by Rabindranath Tagore
2001 NISHTA: OR THE STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE OF MARGARET WOODROW WILSON by Seyril Schochen
1999 BAY AT NICE by David Hare
1998 ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD by Tom Stoppard
1996 LEGEND OF THE KALIVELI SIDDHA by Bhavana Dee
1995 THE GREEDY MAN by Parthasarathy
1994 BLACK COMEDY by Peter Shaffer
1993 WAITING FOR GODOT by Samuel Beckett
1990 MOMMMY, I'M HOME, by Jill Navarre
,
PLAYS DIRECTED IN THE U.S. :
1990 RESIDENT ALIEN by Claire A. Nelson for the Montgomery County Council , Maryland , USA
1989 THE GREASY ENVELOPE by Henry Hubben for the Source Theatre, Washington , D.C. USA
1989 THE CRADLE WILL FALL by author (staged reading) for the Source Theatre,Washington , D.C. USA
1988 DECEIT (OR CRIME WITH CLASS) by Joe Martin for the Source Theatre, Washington , D.C. USA
1988 PSYCHOTIC BUSBOY BLUES by Stephen Belber for DC/AC, Washington , D.C. USA
1987 RIVERS OF BLOOD by Claire A. Nelson for the Source Theatre, Washington , D.C. USA
1986 EANY-MEANY by Mark Pizzato for the Source Theatre, Washington , D.C. USA
1986 MOMMY, I'M HOME by the author for the Open Theatre, Washington , D.C. USA
1985 BEHIND THE CURTAINS by Margaret Nash for the Sanctuary Theatre, Washington , D.C. USA
ADMINISTRATIVE :
Artistic Director, The Auroville Theatre Group
Director, New Play Series Sanctuary Theatre , DC
Box Office Manager Sanctuary theatre, DC
Publicity Director Sanctuary Theatre , DC
Publicity Director Open Studio, DC
Subscription/Group Sales the Folger Theatre, DC
Admin. Asst. Playwrights Horizon, NY
House Manager Light Opera of Manhattan NY
Ticket Sales Players State Theatre , FL
PRODUCTION/TECHNICAL :
Asst. to the Costumier American Folk Theatre , NY
Asst. Stage Manager Soho Rep Theatre , NY
Rehearsal Asst. Players State Theatre , FL
Tech Crew Players State Theatre , FL
Stage Manager The Little Prince Co., FL
EDUCATION :
Acting Studio Theatre , Washington , DC
Herbert Berghof Studio , New York
Playwriting New Playwright's Theatre, DC
with Terry Twyman, Florida International University , Miami , Florida
Writers/Directors Workshop with Gene Frankel
Gene Frankel Theatre , NY
B.A., English/Education Queens College of C.U.N.Y.
Jill Navarre Prarthana Auroville 605101 Tamil Nadu India
Email: [email protected]
Tele:091-413-2622-840
Cell: 94864 16173
I started writing when I was 9 years old, and won a New York City-wide competition for best essay on the theme, WHY I LIKE TO READ . Graduating from essays, I wrote poetry (10 years' worth) and have had numerous poems published in the U.S. and Canada . While living in Toronto , a group of us started a coffee house called THE SOFT CELL , which presented some of Canada 's greatest poets for a solid evening of poetry and all the chocolate chip cookies you could eat.
Back in the U.S. , while working on my Master's degree in English, I took a playwriting class – for a lark – and got hooked on theatre. Well, I was always involved somehow. As a kid I loved to sing and in summer camp got a chance to do some great roles, like Ado Annie in OKLAHOMA ! Goodbye Master's degree, hello Broadway!
My first job in theatre was selling tickets for AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' at the Coconut Grove Playhouse in Miami, Florida.
Since then, some of the highlights of my career have been winning awards for directing - RIVERS OF BLOOD (First Prize, Source Theatre Festival, Washington, D.C.) and playwriting - THE CRADLE WILL FALL (First Prize, Washington, D.C. Arts Council Larry Neal Award).
I worked as Asst. Box Office Manager at the FOLGER THEATRE in D.C. for 3 years, and every night (well, almost every night) I would watch great actors performing Shakespeare. While working on a production of UNDER MILKWOOD , I met two other theatre artists who became my best friends and colleagues. We were crazy enough to think we could start a new theatre company in Washington which would present cross cultural, inter-racial, avant-garde theatre. And we did. So I became one of the founding members of the SANCTUARY THEATRE, managing the New Play series, and helping many young playwrights to present their work for the first time. I fell in love with directing, and have directed 22 plays in the U.S. and India .
The India connection started way back in 1987 when I made my first backpacking trip to “the East” and stumbled on a place called Auroville, an international community of people in Tamil Nadu, India, dedicated to human unity and peace. Sort of like a kibbutz, but with an Indian atmosphere. I knew something interesting and important was going on here, and although I returned to the U.S. , the place stayed with me, until I decided I had to check it out. Staying for one year in 1991 was enough to convince me that this was where I belonged, and I've lived here ever since. I've been Artistic Director of the AUROVILLE THEATRE GROUP since 1992. In 2003, I was awarded a Government of India Development Scheme grant for directing MILAREPA .
In 2002, I returned with my partner, Edgar Weinberger, to the States to hunker down and write our screenplay, SANNYASI , adapted from Satprem's novel, SANNYASIN: or BY THE BODY OF THE EARTH. The time was well spent. I even got a chance to work as acting coach on a short film in Portland, Oregon, called EXILE FROM THE SUN , written and directed by Michael Poitevin.
I am one of the project holders of a brand new performance space: CRIPA, (Centre for Research in the Performing Arts) in Kalabhumi, Auroville. It is a 500 sq. mtr. rehearsal space for music, theatre and dance, state of the art acoustic treatment, wooden floor, perfect for workshops, classes and performances. I do translations (French/English). Edgar and I have translated the play MILAREPA , by Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt, which the AUROVILLE THEATRE GROUP performed here in January, 2004, under my direction. Our most recent production was IBSEN, an opera-in-progress, music by Hartmut von Lieres, libretto by Ronald Rand.
PLAYWRIGHT :
PETER PAN: Lost and Found .. a rock musical
SAVITRI: A Soul for Any Age
ANANDA script in progress
THE CRADLE WILL FALL 1989, first prize, Washington D.C. Arts Council Larry Neal Award
MOMMY, I'M HOME produced 1986
Washington , D.C. Open Theatre Women's Festival
WOMEN IN HELL a collection of short plays
SCREENWRITER :
PORTRAIT OF ANNA script in progress.
THE DOOR short film in post-production.
SANNYASI Co-author with Edgar Weinberger (adapted from the novel BY THE BODY OF THE EARTH or THE SANNYASIN by Satprem).
DIRECTOR, the AUROVILLE THEATRE GROUP:
2012 IBSEN (an opera-in-progress) music by Hartmut von Lieres, libretto by Ronald Rand
2012 LIKE SNOW MELTING IN WATER, by Cecile Pineda (with the Moradokmai Theatre Troupe, Thailand)
2011 (QUESTIONING) NAGA MANDALA, by Girish Karnad
2011 PETER PAN:LOST AND FOUND, by Jill Navarre (with the Moradokmai Theatre Troupe, Thailand)
2010 SAVITRI: A SOUL FOR ANY AGE, by Jill Navarre (with New Flame Theatre Company)
2010 OUR TOWN, by Thornton Wilder (with the Moradokmai Theatre Troupe, Thailand)
2009 THE CRUCIBLE, by Arthur Miller (with the Moradokmai Theatre Troupe, Thailand)
2008 THE PERFECT SANDCASTLE by Rachel Barnett
2008 BRIDE ON THE ROCKS, by David Weiner
2008 HAMLET, by Wm. Shakespeare
2006 THE RAINMAKER by N. Richard Nash
2006 THE WOOLGATHERER by Wm. Mastrosimone
2005 THE TEMPEST by Wm. Shakespeare
2004 MILAREPA by Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt
2003 SACRIFICE by Rabindranath Tagore
2001 NISHTA: OR THE STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE OF MARGARET WOODROW WILSON by Seyril Schochen
1999 BAY AT NICE by David Hare
1998 ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD by Tom Stoppard
1996 LEGEND OF THE KALIVELI SIDDHA by Bhavana Dee
1995 THE GREEDY MAN by Parthasarathy
1994 BLACK COMEDY by Peter Shaffer
1993 WAITING FOR GODOT by Samuel Beckett
1990 MOMMMY, I'M HOME, by Jill Navarre
,
PLAYS DIRECTED IN THE U.S. :
1990 RESIDENT ALIEN by Claire A. Nelson for the Montgomery County Council , Maryland , USA
1989 THE GREASY ENVELOPE by Henry Hubben for the Source Theatre, Washington , D.C. USA
1989 THE CRADLE WILL FALL by author (staged reading) for the Source Theatre,Washington , D.C. USA
1988 DECEIT (OR CRIME WITH CLASS) by Joe Martin for the Source Theatre, Washington , D.C. USA
1988 PSYCHOTIC BUSBOY BLUES by Stephen Belber for DC/AC, Washington , D.C. USA
1987 RIVERS OF BLOOD by Claire A. Nelson for the Source Theatre, Washington , D.C. USA
1986 EANY-MEANY by Mark Pizzato for the Source Theatre, Washington , D.C. USA
1986 MOMMY, I'M HOME by the author for the Open Theatre, Washington , D.C. USA
1985 BEHIND THE CURTAINS by Margaret Nash for the Sanctuary Theatre, Washington , D.C. USA
ADMINISTRATIVE :
Artistic Director, The Auroville Theatre Group
Director, New Play Series Sanctuary Theatre , DC
Box Office Manager Sanctuary theatre, DC
Publicity Director Sanctuary Theatre , DC
Publicity Director Open Studio, DC
Subscription/Group Sales the Folger Theatre, DC
Admin. Asst. Playwrights Horizon, NY
House Manager Light Opera of Manhattan NY
Ticket Sales Players State Theatre , FL
PRODUCTION/TECHNICAL :
Asst. to the Costumier American Folk Theatre , NY
Asst. Stage Manager Soho Rep Theatre , NY
Rehearsal Asst. Players State Theatre , FL
Tech Crew Players State Theatre , FL
Stage Manager The Little Prince Co., FL
EDUCATION :
Acting Studio Theatre , Washington , DC
Herbert Berghof Studio , New York
Playwriting New Playwright's Theatre, DC
with Terry Twyman, Florida International University , Miami , Florida
Writers/Directors Workshop with Gene Frankel
Gene Frankel Theatre , NY
B.A., English/Education Queens College of C.U.N.Y.
Jill Navarre Prarthana Auroville 605101 Tamil Nadu India
Email: [email protected]
Tele:091-413-2622-840
Cell: 94864 16173