A Very Virtual Christmas for the Winter Solstice

Three Christmas Plays by Avatar Repertory Theater
Michelle Fowler

Does your Christmas look less like Norman Rockwell and more like Norman Bates?  Does your family put the "Diss" in "Dysfunctional"?  Does your Uncle Fred use the Andy Williams' Christmas Albums for target practice?  Well, welcome home Buckaroo!  The actors of the Avatar Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) invite you to "The Real Christmas Story", starring Y.A.D.F. (your average dysfunctional family).  These original Christmas stories will premiere on Friday, December 11, at 5 pm California time (pst) at Rockcliffe’s Dove Theater.  Two other performances will be presented on Saturday, December 12 at 3 pm pst, and Sunday, December 13 at 2 pm pst.

Written by three members of the A.R.T., "The Real Christmas Story" presents three views of the pain and pleasure of the holiday season.  Sodovan Torok, Kayden Oconnell and Rowan Shamroy have googled their internal computers and found stories that embrace the past, endure the present and anticipate the future.   Scrooge may have survived the spirits, but Tiny Tim might need counseling after spending time with these ghosts.

In his "The Xmas I Met Santa", Sodovan Torok brings us a sweeter tale of how Santa made an unexpected entrance and a somewhat painful exit.  Rowan Shamroy shows us how old family dynamics are magnified and amplified during the requisite holiday gathering.  And Kayden Oconnell shatters some Christmas myths when a hotshot reporter visits a young old man who knew Santa before Santa was cool.

Directed by Em Jannings and produced by AvaJean Westland, the Christmas shows include A.R.T. actors Prospero Frobozz, Thundergas Menges, Mickie Nikolaidis, Kayden Oconnell, Persephone Phoenix, Ada Radius, Rowan Shamroy, MadameThespian Underhill and Dolgoruky Umarov.  The sets have been built by JubJub Forder, with costumes and animations assembled by Ada Radius, Joff Fassnacht and Rowan Shamroy.  We are also introducing the new A.R.T. English Sub-titler for the hearing impaired designed by Prospero Frobozz and managed by JudyArx Scribe.  Admission to the event is free

Live stream: http://livestream.com/avatarrepertorytheater

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Are You OK? by Waxakla Voom

On December 9th, 2009, Waxakla Voom, No Schridde and Mirra Fredriksson will present a preview of "Are You OK?" at Harvestworks in New York City.  Are You OK? is a blended reality art installation seeking to merge the physical and virtual spaces and present them as one and the same, such as they truly are.

Oberon Onmura and  Juria Yoshikawa have created immersive art especially created for the installation.
Thinkerer Studiost will host the art in-world at The Hobo Free Rezz zone on Cookie.

Harvestworks' mission is to support the creation and presentation of art works achieved through the use of new and evolving technologies.

Are You OK? was originally created for the opening of Brooklyn is Watching Best of Year One, a competition that attracted some of the best artists in Second Life. 
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