We Have Gone As Far As

We Can Together

A RITUAL OPERA 

Nov 1–9, 2024 
FringeArts Philadelphia, PA

We Have Gone As Far As We Can Together is a meeting, a ritual release organized in and around a circle. We are together to make our peace, grief and joy possible by communally letting go of old concepts or versions of ourselves. Rooted in a collective ritual ending, the work occupies the various ways we put dead things to rest as a point of departure while asking questions about the nature of individual and collective repair.

Welcome.
You are invited to engage with this work in whatever ways you feel moved to.
Be welcome to listen, make noise, sing, move, dance, change seats or just be present.
Sitting is optional.

Opening

WE BEGIN IN THE DARK 

AND BIRTH IS THE DEATH OF US  

Invocation

TIME STANDS STILL.

Connection to the spirits

I WHO AM NOT ONE

Planting A Seed/Funeral

WE AFFIRM ALL YOU ARE NOT

Transformation

YOUR WAY IN IS YOUR WAY OUT

YOUR WAY OUT IS YOUR WAY IN

Liberation

I DIE NOW I’M ALIVE 

COMMIT MY SOUL TO THE RIVER

Joshua Allen (associate lighting design) is grateful and honored to be a part of “We Have Gone As Far As We Can Together”. Joshua lives in NYC where he is the production manager of Off Broadway’s Irish Repertory Theatre which he has been with since 2013. He would like to thank Kent and Charlotte for this great experience.

Katy Avery (choir): Multiple Grammy Award-winning Katy Avery, with her “beautifully pure tone” {Classical Voice of North Carolina}, is a soloist and ensemble singer based in Philadelphia. Regularly appearing at home and abroad, Avery most frequently performed as a core member of three-time Grammy winning new music choir, The Crossing. Katy has also enjoyed engagements with Roomful of Teeth, Conspirare, Variant 6, Choral Arts Philadelphia, Les Canards Chantants, The Thirteen, and Opera Philadelphia, among many others. Recordings of Ms. Avery have been featured on the ECM, Parma, Innova, and Albany labels. Katy received her Bachelor of Music degree from East Carolina University in 2009, where she studied jazz and classical vocal performance, and completed her Masters of Music in Vocal Pedagogy and Performance from Westminster Choir College under the tutelage of Dr. Christopher Arneson. She currently maintains a private voice studio in Philadelphia. When she’s not performing or teaching, you can find Katy sewing her own couture, dancing, cooking creative meals, and spending time in nature.

Jamel Baker (he/him) (Stage Manager) is a freelance stage manager based in Philadelphia. Jamel has worked both locally and nationally for theatre companies and festivals for over 10 years. Recently Jamel has led stage manager workshops in Philadelphia, Lawrenceville, Wyoming and is currently the Lead Producer for Passage Theatre (Trenton, NJ) and a board member of Directors Gathering (DG). 

Kent Barrett (collaborator, lighting and set design) is a multi-disciplinary theatrical designer and artist who has developed a wide-ranging body of work and established a presence on the performance scene. Kent currently teaches theatrical design and new technology at Dickinson College.  He is a former company member with The Wooster Group, an NEA Grant recipient and instructor at MIT.  A prolific technologist and designer, Kent’s work has been seen at venues such as The Park Avenue Armory, Harlem Stage, La MaMa, Signature, The Public, The Brooklyn Lyceum, and Lincoln Center as well as internationally.  In addition to his work in theater, dance and performance, Kent has also collaborated widely on independent films, art installations, and with architectural lighting firms.  Kent is one of the founding members and Co-Artistic Directors of Valley Traction Arts Collective – an experimental  performance group creating work in, for, and about the Cumberland Valley.  

Charlotte Brathwaite (collaborator, direction and words) is a creator and director of original genre-defying works that illuminate the realities and dreams of those whose stories have been marginalized, silenced and ignored. Her trans-disciplinary inquiry manifests as immersive gatherings of color and music in collaboration with artists such as Meshell Ndegeochello, Jacqueline Woodson, adrienne maree brown, Justin Hicks, Ayesha Jordan, June Cross, Peter Sellars, Kyle Abraham and Malick Welli amongst others. She has received grants, awards and fellowships including Doris Duke, United States Artists, Art Matters, Creative Capital, Map Fund and the Princess Grace. Her work has been presented at festivals and venues across the globe in North and South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. An educator in the arts, Charlotte has taught at MIT, NYU and other institutions of higher education. She holds an MFA from Yale University and is co-founder of Forgotten Paradise Projects based in Dakar, Senegal.  www.charlottebrathwaite.com 

Kenya “Kenny Bee” Bullock (performance, props and assistant lighting design) is an interdisciplinary Creative Director and community advocate from Trenton, NJ. Since 2018, Kenya has dedicated her studies and time to learning more about what it means to use art to advocate for equity in her community and communities alike. Through this mission, Kenny has been able to develop a love language that includes culture, theatre, community care and community building within the African Diaspora. Kenya’s work as a space-maker and community advocate includes breaking bread to build community while also providing a space of artistic exploration and healing.

Helga Davis (collaborator, performance and text) is a multidisciplinary artist known for her genre-defying performances that merge music, visual art, and theater. Her work explores the boundaries of form, inviting audiences into deeply resonant and transformative experiences. Davis has collaborated with leading creators around the world, including Robert Wilson, Philip Glass, and Shara Nova.

Geovanni Diaz (choir) is a Puerto Rican Philadelphia based Vocalist who has performed at venues such as the Kimmel Center for Performing Arts, Mann Center for Performing Arts, The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts and many more. His musical career began at Northeast High School where he studied with the amazing musician Dr. Jay Fluellen. He studied temporarily at the University of The Arts as a Vocal Performance Major before their untimely close. He has performed a variety of music and styles that range from Classical, Jazz, Salsa, Gospel and many more. As a young up and coming performer he hopes to continue to expand his musical vocabulary through various Choral and Solo shows and connections with other artists.

Damian Figueras (Associate Sound Design) is a 7-time Barrymore nominated Sound Designer, Composer and Music Director. Previous credits include: Party Face (Off-Broadway, NY City Center), Nichos (Teatro Esperanza), Intimate Apparel (Arden Theatre), Tick Tick Boom (Theatre Horizon), Peter and the Starcatcher (Delaware Theatre Company), Kiss (Wilma Theatre), Rose: You Are Who You Eat (Bearded Ladies Cabaret), Beehive (Walnut Street Theatre). In addition to his design work, Damien is the Production Manager for Wolf Performing Arts Center and is a founding member of Apartment 20 Theatre. Thanks to Larry for bringing him on to this project!

Larry Fowler (Sound Design) is a Philadelphia based theater sound designer, radio imaging producer, and music producer whose work spans 20+ years. He is proud to be working with this group on this project. Most recent designs  include The Color Purple (PA Shakespeare Festival), Moreno (Interact Theater) and The Wanderers (Lantern Theater). Other theater companies Larry has designed for are Azuka Theater, People’s Light, Theater Exile, Denver Center, Trinity Rep, Playmakers Rep,  Steppenwolf Theater, A Contemporary Theater (ACT), Roundhouse Theater Company, Camden Rep, Rennie Harris Puremovement (DJ for Rome And Jewels 2000-2005)), ELeon Dance, Danse4Nia, Duane Holland Dance, and Khaleah London Dance. He is a 4-time Barrymore Award nominee (2018, 2019, 2024) and 2023 winner for Azuka Theater’s A Hit Dog Will Holler.

Sunder Ganglani (collaborator and words) is an artist who works in collaboration between forms: music, theater, civil disobedience, pedagogy, performance. As former Co-Artistic Director of The Foundry Theater in NYC his works with W. David Hancock, Ariana Reines, Claudia Rankine, Melanie Joseph and many others have toured nationally and internationally, and won all kinds of awards. As a musician, composer, and organizer he’s grateful to have a creative home with The Stop Shopping Choir community in New York City where he works with Billy Talen, Savitri D, and the 45 member choir as chosen family. Also, and right now, he’s making music with Darius Jones, Samita Sinha, Ash Fure, and writing a musical with Kate Attwell. He’s received grants, fellowships and been awarded residencies, he studied Anthropology at UMass Amherst, and Dramaturgy at Yale, and he’s currently a Co-Artistic Director of Cornerstone Theater Company in Los Angeles.

Miriam Giguere (producer): Miriam Giguere, PhD is the Department Head for Performing Arts at Drexel University, where she is on the dance faculty. She has created and produced several city-wide projects in dance and music featuring internationally renowned artists in collaboration with some of Philadelphia’s largest cultural institutions including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Barnes Foundation, and FringeArts among others. Her most recent projects include Dancing Dialogues (2016), Philadelphia Museum of Dance, (2018)  Rehearsing Philadelphia in collaboration with the Curtis Institute of Music (2022) and We Have Gone As Far As We Can Together (2024).

Kristen Ruthemeyer Hammer (she/her, Director of Production) has built her career upon a wealth of production experience across all performing arts disciplines. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, she was Resident Stage Manager for Know Theatre of Cincinnati and wore a variety of hats for the annual Cincinnati Fringe Festival for many years. She came to FringeArts from the Vilar Performing Arts Center (Beaver Creek, CO), where she worked with a broad variety of national and international artists as Production Manager. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Jade Hicks (collaborator) is an accomplished songwriter and performer with a dynamic career spanning multiple realms of music and theatre. As a key member of The Hawtplates, a vocal trio founded by her brother Justin and his wife Kenita, Jade brings her unique artistry to the forefront. Her contributions to the Grammy award-winning album The Omnichord Realbook include writing and performing the song “Good Good,” a standout duet with Meshell Ndegeocello. She also showcased her songwriting talents on Red Hot + Ra: The Magic City. Jade’s performance career is equally distinguished, with international tours that include starring roles in the Broadway production of Rent and performing alongside Queen Esther Marrow and The Harlem Gospel Singers. Her versatility and passion continue to elevate every project she undertakes.

Shakira Jackson (choir): When she’s not performing she spends her time as an Associate Pastor, Published Author, Entrepreneur, Inventor, and Business Coach where she helps men and women build businesses from scratch and maintain healthy relationships.

Veonous Jacques (choir) is a local singer/songwriter and worship leader in Philadelphia, PA. She hails from the Bronx, NY and has been in the industry for over 30 years. She has collaborated with groups such as the Intermezzo Choir Ministry and gospel artists, Treo. She has a unique sound that fuses gospel and R&B. She has been featured on albums such as Intermezzo Choir Ministry’s “Holy” and “Precious Jesus” by Treo

Santino Lo (Production Manager) is a producer and production manager for the performing arts. He is currently the Director of Production at Quintessence Theatre Group. Prior to this post, Santino produced and managed the presentation series at University of Pennsylvania as the Assistant Director of Presentations at Penn Live Arts; produced the Princeton Festival as Assistant Director of Operations at Princeton Symphony Orchestra; and managed projects for companies such as New Amsterdam Records, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, and Culturehub at La Ma Ma; and toured nationally and internationally with choreographers such as Jonah Bokaer, Okwui Okpokwasili, Marjani Forte, and others.

Alexis Marcelo (collaborator, piano, harmonium, vocals) is a New York City-based pianist whose musical journey began with classical training, providing a solid foundation for his diverse style. Influenced by the vibrant musical landscape of 1980s and 90s New York City and the rich sounds of the African diaspora, Alexis embraces his identity as a Black Latino artist. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in African Music/Jazz Piano from the University of Massachusetts, where he studied under Dr. Yusef Lateef, exploring composition and improvisation through the unique lens of audiophysiopsychic music. This approach fosters deep listening and the creation of new musical ideas that resonate with the essence of his heritage. Active in today’s improvised music scene, Alexis has performed extensively across Europe and the United States, collaborating with artists from various genres, including GZA of the Wu-Tang Clan and Abiodun Oyewole of the Last Poets. He released a record titled Nananom Xu in 2024, featuring JD Parran and Daniel Carter, and is preparing to release new material soon. He will also have his first solo concert in Europe at the Unerhoert festival in Zurich. Through his innovative performances and profound understanding of music, Alexis continues to explore the limitless possibilities of sound.

Tarus Mateen (collaborator, bass, flute + piano): Tarus’s creative genius and mastery of acoustic bass, electric bass, rhythm guitar, and piano make him one of the most sought-after musician/producers in hip-hop, house, blues, rock, reggae, soul, and straight ahead jazz. He is quite possibly the only musician to receive critical acclaim in all these musical genres at once. Known in the jazz world as a genius on bass, his first instrument was actually the piano. A consummate artist, Tarus isn’t afraid to explore any musical genre. Tarus has also made his mark on film with trumpeter/composer Terence Blanchard on the scores for Sugar Hill, and for the Spike Lee film Malcolm X, as well as the Grammy nominated Malcolm X Jazz Suite. Tarus performs and records regularly with pianist, Jason Moran. The bassist for 25 years to Date Tarus is due to release his second and long awaited artistic statement “Arising Saints vol.2 ”The Art of Solo, in January 2025 as well as his production on Tamika Love Jones upcoming CD. Riding on a grammy nomination, this year looks promising to say the least. Stay on board and enjoy the rise.

Anaïs Maviel (collaborator, voice, performance and percussion) is a composer, artist, vocalist & multi-instrumentalist dedicated to translating spiritual concepts to sensory experiences, using sound as medicine & alchemy. With traditional and experimental approaches, her works investigate the power of sound to shape reality, and emphasize the relevance of cultural hybridity. She navigates song, choral, instrumental, orchestral music and staging with a strong connection to cosmologies of sound and speech rooted in oral traditions such as mantra and ring shout. She strives to bridge the gaps between genres & to create a diverse, inclusive, yet sacred musical experience. Highlights in her collaborations include Alarm Will Sound, Meredith Monk, Craig Taborn, Meshell Ndegeocello, Chiquita Magic & William Parker. She writes, performs and facilitates collective vocal liberation in New York, throughout the Americas and Europe, in concert halls, museums and public spaces. Both solo albums hOULe & in the garden received international acclaim, and among the abundant press shout outs, Jazz Right Now has called her a “unique aesthetic visionary”. She is an awardee of the 2019 Van Lier Fellowship, 2020 American Composers Forum Create, 2021-2022 Jerome Hill Artist Fellowship, 2022 NYFA Artists Fellowship, 2023 New Music USA’s Next Jazz Legacy, and a 2023 Herb Alpert Award in Music nominee. Lastly, she holds a masters degree from Paris Diderot University in modern literature, aesthetics and contemporary thought, which led her to write about the stakes of music & utopia in the creolized world. One can read her poetic essays in the form of intimate newsletters she shares sporadically.

Brandi McLeod (choir) is a Soprano located in Mercer County New Jersey. She is a graduate of Westminster Choir College formerly located in Princeton New Jersey. She currently sings for the Capital Singers of Trenton in various ensembles as well as the Glassbrook Vocal Ensemble which performs throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania. She is also apart of a newly founded gospel choir for the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum, also known as SSAAM. She is a former collegiate member of NANM( National Association of Negro Musicians). Her favorite genres to perform include classical, jazz, musical theater and contemporary/pop genres.

Cybele Moon (Costumer) is a costume designer, educator and visual artist. She has designed costumes for over 160 dance and theater productions, across the United States, at a variety of venues. Her visual art has been exhibited at galleries, a museum, and several outdoor events. More info here: cybelemoondesign.com

Ben Perri (choir): Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, vocalist Ben Perri has been sing throughout eastern US for over a decade. Currently based in Philadelphia, he is often singing with ensembles such as the Philadelphia Opera Chorus, The Crossing, and the Philadelphia Chorale in venues such as Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and the Academy of Music. He is also cofounder of his own local artist collective, Vars Nexus. Ben will be performing throughout Pennsylvania and New York City this fall at Gettysburg College, Carnegie Hall, and the Academy of Music. He also enjoys occasionally performing and bartending at South Philly’s own Victor Cafe.

Malcolm Richardson (choir): Malcolm S. Richardson, a native of Newark, New Jersey, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Vocal Performance from Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, our nation’s first historically black degree granting institution of higher learning. He also holds a Master of Arts degree and a Doctor of Music Education degree  from Liberty University. Malcolm recently made his international opera debut in Berlin, Germany, performing the role of Hexe in Hänsel und Gretel during OpernFest 2024. He has also performed in various local productions, including OperaDelaware’s production of Turandot, the Marian Anderson Historical Society’s production of Porgy and Bess, along with OperaDelaware & Opera Baltimore’s productions of La Bohème. Looking ahead, Malcolm will be joining Opera Magnifico for their 2025 season in the production of Die Fledermaus, as well as touring with the American Spirituals Ensemble in New York City. 

Kristen Ruthemeyer Hammer (she/her, Director of Production) has built her career upon a wealth of production experience across all performing arts disciplines. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, she was Resident Stage Manager for Know Theatre of Cincinnati and wore a variety of hats for the annual Cincinnati Fringe Festival for many years. She came to FringeArts from the Vilar Performing Arts Center (Beaver Creek, CO), where she worked with a broad variety of national and international artists as Production Manager. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Cauleen Smith (collaborator, banner artworks and words) was raised in Sacramento, California and lives in Los Angeles. Smith is faculty in the UCLA School of Arts and Architecture. Smith holds a BA in Creative Arts from San Francisco State University and an MFA from the University of California, Ps Angeles School of Theater Film and Television. Smith’s short films, feature film , an installation and performance were work showcased at International Film Festival Rotterdam 2019. Smith has had a solo exhibitions at The Whitney Museum of American Art,m MMassMoCA and LACMA.Smith is the recipient of the following awards: Rockefeller Media Arts Award, Creative Capital Film/Video, Chicago 3Arts Grant, and the Foundation for Contemporary Arts, Chicago Expo Artadia Award and Rauschenberg Residency, Herb Alpert Awards in the Arts in FIlm and Video 2016, United States Artists Award 2017, 2016 inaugural recipient of the Ellsworth Kelly Award, 2020 recipient of the Studio Museum Joyce Alexander Wein Artist Prize and 2021 Guggenheim Fellowship.

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Malick Welli (photography) is a Senegalese visual artist based in Dakar, exploring themes of spirituality, religion, and power through fine art, photography, and installation, examining their impact on visual culture, community, and ecology. His work has been widely exhibited, including at the Wereldmuseum in Leiden, Netherlands; Chazen Museum of Art in Wisconsin, USA; Chanel’s 19M in Paris, France; 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fairs in New York, USA, and Marrakech, Morocco; and the Blackstar Film Festival in Philadelphia, USA. Welli’s art is part of the Chazen Museum’s permanent collection, along with several private and institutional collections worldwide. He has collaborated with Forbes, Monocle, REVUE TRACÉS, and Exceptional Alien, with his work featured in NRC Newspaper, AramcoWorld, Vogue France, and Marie Claire France. Co-author of Les Gares de Dakar et de Rufisque, he also co-founded Forgotten Paradise Projects in Dakar. www.malickwelli.com

Deanda Wilson (choir) is a lifelong Philadelphian. She has only recently started to explore her love of singing. Currently, Deanda is a member of Mendelssohn Chorus and the Philadelphia Chorus.

Special thanks and acknowledgement to these individuals and organizations who traveled with us on the road to creating this experience:

Courtney Bryan
Sharan Strange
Matthew Morrison 
International Contemporary Ensemble
Ross Karre

Many, many thanks to Paul Thompson, Hannah Berson, Kayla Han and the students at Arts Hub/Arts Office at the New York City Department of Education. 

We Have Gone As Far As We Can Together is funded in part by a grant from the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.

FringeArts is Philadelphia’s home for contemporary performance, presenting progressive, world-class art that expands the imagination and boldly defies expectation. Our programming exposes audiences to genre-defying dance, theater, and music performances by accomplished and emerging innovators who push the boundaries of art-making and redefine the artistic landscape worldwide.