Media
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ottawa – May 2, 2018
A dance of undress and distress: Ultraviolet Life debuts at the Ottawa Fringe Fest.
A medical setting, a flirtation with death, an encounter with an oracle, an elusive three-way love story, Ultraviolet Life is a dark burlesque-infused fantasy of illness and resilience that promises its audiences an exploration of choreography, time, space and skin.
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First-time playwright, producer and director Maria-Hélèna Pacelli knew she was onto something when her story resonated with other people who suffered chronic health issues. Pacelli has struggled with a serious skin condition since childhood. Writing this piece was therapeutic for her and gave her a way to reach out to others with medical conditions.
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“If you ever experienced a piece of art that changed your life, you know how important it is to create art. Someone out there is desperately waiting to be touched by you,” she said.
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Pacelli wanted her story to be an invitation for others to see themselves reflected in the work. She is working with a cast and crew that includes many emerging artists who connected with the story because of their own ailments and alienation from the medical industry.
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“Never did I anticipate 16 months ago that the seed of a story would become such an amazing adventure of collective creation” said Pacelli, who is experienced in forum theatre, working with art collectives and consensus-based settings.
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“You know there’s something magical about a production when synergy starts to build and everyone becomes a stitch in the collective vision. I am very humbled by the feedback I’ve received on the importance of this work.”
Beginning with a general idea to write about her experience with her health, Pacelli developed the script through the Ottawa Acting Company’s Emerging Creators’ Unit in January 2017, and it was further developed into a short workshop through University of Ottawa-based Theatre 4.669’ Creator Labs in 2017.
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This production is completely independently produced and will be on stage for the first time at the upcoming Ottawa Fringe Festival from June 16 to 23, 2018, in the Academic Hall at 135 Séraphin-Marion, at the University of Ottawa.
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The production is being produced by Photomirage Productions, an outfit founded by Pacelli to produce Ultraviolet Life as its first production.
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Contact information:
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Maria-Hélèna Pacelli
Producer, Director – Photomirage Productions
(819) 775-0602
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web: https://photomirage.wixsite.com/photomirage
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/photomirageproductions/
twitter: @PhotomirageProd
Instagram: @PhotomirageProductions