In 2006 I was named Artist-in-Residence at ODC Theatre, San Francisco. The Residency Program is a comprehensive, three-year program including presentation, development, and advocacy support for emerging and mid-career artists of the San Francisco Bay Area. I’m especially thankful to mad-genius Theater Director Robert Bailis, for being a true believer, inspirational ODC founder Brenda Way, the ODC artistic and administrative staff, and my fellow artists, who are an amazing, provocative group.  My primary focus will be on the opera in early development, but plenty of other activity is planned, included performing and collaboration.  The first event I was involved in was the Instant Message Composer/Improviser Festival, where I performed with Sheldon Brown, Graeme Jennings & Dana Pandey.  Also on the festival were Paul Drescher, Ned Rothenberg, Fred Frith, and Matt Ingall’s SfSound.  More to come, stay tuned for details…

On a Train Heading South was commissioned by ODC/San Francisco as a collaboration with choreographer Brenda Way and lighting/stage designer Alex Nichols.  It is a dance theatre work exploring media saturation and human inattention to the environment and climate change.  The central character is Cassandra, and the piece is set in an iconic ballroom environment in which she struggles to gain the attention of the crowd of party-goers.  The set features an arc of twelve blocks of ice suspended over a silver floor – a double-edged vision of loveliness and self-absorption.  The ice blocks melt throughout the performance – an aural and visual component of the half hour piece.  On a Train Heading South is a cautionary tale about our own natures and the nature that sustains us. It was premiered in March 2005 as part of ODC’s 34th home season at the Yerba Buena Performing Arts Center in San Francisco, and toured the U.S. including performances at the Joyce Theater in New York.