Gualala Arts Lecture Series presents:
Theater, TV and the Resurrection of the Soul

with David Skibbins
Monday, February 28, 2011, 7:00 p.m.
Admission is $5

In our wired electronic age, David Skibbins takes a critical look at television and contrasts it with the living theater in his talk on Monday, February 28, 2011, at Gualala Arts Center. It is entitled "Theater, TV and the Resurrection of the Soul" and will explore the soporific effects of television in contrast to the vitality of live theater.

Using monologue and lecture he will present his argument that television has contributed to the numbing and slow death of the human soul, that attribute which makes us most human. In contrast, contemporary theater draws on a healing process that Aristotle once described as cathartic.

The talk will trace the origins of theater to its prehistoric roots, when acting out pivotal life events evoked spiritual roots and transformed both participants and audiences. These religious liturgies became part of Greek culture and moved to the stage only to be reborn in the medieval miracle and mystery plays.

To illustrate the complexity and mystery that exists in live theater as opposed to the simplicity of television, Skibbins will perform three dramatic monologues intended to stimulate thought on a deeper level than the familiar visual stimulation that viewers encounter daily in the popular electronic media solely used to sell products.

In a way listeners may not have previously considered, he will discuss the craft of acting as a means to distinguish what is real from what is false. He will challenge his audience and encourage then to unplug their TVs and participate more fully in the expanding local theater scene, which has two local companies that produce a wide variety of plays each year.

A Sea Ranch resident, Skibbins is well known for his performances in local theater productions. A multifaceted individual, he is also the author of The Tarot Card Mysteries, set in Berkeley, CA. The fourth and latest title is The Hanged Man. In addition, he is a licensed psychotherapist and a professional certified coach.

Not only will this presentation be informative and thought provoking, but it also will offer dramatic entertainment to convincingly illustrate the hypothesis Skibbins argues. A question and answer session follows immediately. The event starts at 7:00 p.m. A $5 admission will be collected at the door.

The Gualala Arts Center, located at 46501 Old State Highway in Gualala, CA,
is open weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and weekends from noon to 4:00 p.m.
Please call (707) 884-1138 for more information, or email info@gualalaarts.org.

Join us in celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Gualala Arts, 1961 - 2011

Serving the coastal communities of northern Sonoma & southern Mendocino Counties.