The Forest
Saturday, October 3, 2020
Sunday, October 4, 2020
Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve,
New Hope, PA
Entries between 4.30pm and 5.30pm.
*There are a limited number of entry slots per performance, see notes below
The Forest is The Crossing’s response to the time we live in. We cannot sing safely indoors, so we are going outdoors and rethinking how we do what we do: sing, listen, connect.
We have designed an amplification system (we call it Echoes) that allows singers to stand 30’ from each other and from the audience. Listeners will ‘walk through’ the performance, as speakers positioned close to their designated path create an intimate experience, reestablishing those currently-broken relationships between singers and audience members, and telling our story – the story of a planet in crisis, its people and its forests in peril, and yet, in that curiously human way, a story of hope and a way forward.
The Forest focuses on the symbiotic relationship between individual trees and the forest – a metaphor for the relationship between each singer and our ensemble. The libretto is formed of our singers’ reflection on their isolation during COVID-Time, overlaid with texts from Scott Russell Sanders’ essay “Mind in the Forest.” The music has been developed (maybe it’s more accurate to say, “found” within the words of the singers), by Kevin and Donald.
Some logistical notes:
- This performance is outside, along a well-worn, mostly flat path of approximately .3 mile. An additional walk of .4 mile along a paved path is required to return to parking.
- Performance length – approx. 20-25 minutes
- This is a non-seated event. Comfortable shoes appropriate to hiking or long walks is required.
- Note: the performance occurs along a forest path that cannot safely accommodate personal mobility devices.
- Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve is a 45-60 minute drive from Center City, Philadelphia
- There are ample restrooms at the Preserve. Overflow parking is available in the lot below the preserve.
- Plan to enjoy the adjacent pond at the Wildflower Preserve following the performance.
- Please wear masks at all times.
- Please maintain social distancing in the front of house area, and along the trail.
- In the event of rain, performances will be rescheduled for: Monday, October 5. In the case of inclement weather, notification will come via email by 2pm on the day of the performance.
Ticketing and Entry Information and Restriction.
Live performance during the pandemic is possible through strict observance of some procedures.
- All tickets must be purchased in advance. There will be no walk-up availability.
- Only purchase tickets with those in your shelter pod (up to 4 per pod). Please include ALL members of your pod on the same ticket order.
- Please plan to travel with your ticketed group - parking is limited and one car will be permitted per pod. (if in separate cars, you can park in the overflow lot below the Preserve and combine into one car to drive up past the gate).
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Upon arrival, staff will check-in, and your pod will queue (social-distanced) with the rest of the pods in your 15-minute group, for staggered entry into The Forest.
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Entry into The Forest, one pod at a time, is about every 2 minutes.
- Timed entry requires audience members arrive 10 minutes prior to the entry time.
- In order to maintain safe distancing, late arrivals cannot be guaranteed entry.
- Please wear masks at all times.
