A Written Life:
Letters of Anton Chekhov
Composed by Stephen Houtz
The manner in which a writer negotiates the act of writing can give us insight into the creative process, a worldview and an inner life that is sometimes missed when we examine only the products of that writer. A montage of Chekhov's own words and letters about the act of writing set to music by Stephen Houtz and sung by baritone Mark Bauer will give a new impression of Chekhov's own thoughts on the actual act of writing, the act of recording and commenting on people and the world around him.
Mark Bauer is a singer, actor and composer. He currently sings with The Singers–Minnesota Choral Artists, (Mostly) Madrigals, and is the founder and director of Quadophony, a vocal quartet dedicated to performing a cappella vocal music of the 20th and 21st centuries. As an actor, he had been seen, mostly recently, as Wayne in “State Fair,” Sky Masterson in “Guys and Dolls,” Gideon in “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,” and John Jasper in “The Mystery of Edwin Drood.” His compositions have been performed through the state and for the Minnesota Music Educators Association convention.
Stephen Houtz is active as a composer, pianist, vocal coach and performer. He has been music director for, most recently, Morris Park Players, Actors Theatre, St. Croix Festival Theatre, and History Theatre. His compositions have been performed throughout the United States. Recent performances include the operas Tornado Dreams and There’s a Mastodon In My Backyard; Houtz’ song, The Enticing Lane, is part of the AIDS Quilt Songbook project and included on the Innova CD release Heartbeats. He is a recipient of a Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Assistance Fellowship for composition. As an actor, Houtz has been seen as most recently in Commonweal Theatre Company’s “Uncle Vanya,” and can be seen elsewhere during the Chekhov festival in “The Seagull.”
Islands of Chekhov
By Charles Campbell of Skewed Visions
As Chekhov's plays end, a violent revolution is born. Skewed Visions place Chekhov’s work and approaching death against the upsurge of the coming 1905 Revolution and the subsequent bloody repression, all within the confines of the Bryant-Lake Bowl. Prepare for the blood-dimmed tide.
Charles Campbell, a founder and co-Artistic/Managing Director of Skewed Visions, recently created Strange Love (performance) at a former coffin factory with Sean Kelley-Pegg’s simultaneous installation work Strange Love (device). In addition to performing in Skewed Visions’ works he has created A Quiet Ambition as part of Days and Nights (2006); Pipes (2003/4) in a theater; You Are Here (2002) on a rooftop; The Bicycle (1999) on Nicollet Mall. He wrote and performed in The House and The Car (The Taxi), parts of The City Itself trilogy. Charles took a PhD from the University of Minnesota in 1997.
