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| Sid Arthur |
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Book and Lyrics by Tanya Shaffer
Music by Vienna Teng
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“Look to the thought, for thoughts lead to words
Look to the word, for words lead to actions
Look to the action, for actions lead to habits
Habit leads to character, and character becomes destiny.” |
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Tanya’s latest work-in-progress, a collaboration with composer Vienna Teng, is a contemporary musical loosely inspired by the life of the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama. In this version, Sidney Arthur is a woman, a world-famous guru known to her followers as Mama Sid. Mama Sid has a secret, however, which she's kept hidden for many years, until a mysterious young woman arrives at her ashram in Northern Canada and starts asking questions. As their acquaintance deepens, Sid is forced to confront her long ago actions and their consequences. Funny, tender, and packed with gorgeous songs, “Sid Arthur” grapples with themes of responsibility, forgiveness, and whether it is possible to be both “enlightened” and flawed.
Sid Arthur has had three developmental readings, sponsored by Playwrights Foundation and directed by Amy Mueller, in 2007, 2008, and 2009. The third one, co-sponsored by TheatreWorks, featured a complete draft of the music (check out the sample tracks below!)
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| A twenty-minute excerpt of all new material from Sid Arthur will be presented at the San Francisco Theatre Festival on Sunday, July 26 at 2:15 pm in Goldman Hall in the Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission Street (between Third and Fourth streets) in San Francisco. |
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| Sid Arthur |
Home |
| Selected Songs |
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| All songs © Tanya Shaffer and
Vienna Teng. |
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| (Audio clips may take a moment to start playing as they download) |
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| "Bois Riche" |
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The sheltered community in which Sid was raised springs vividly to life in her memory.
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(Ensemble: Robert Brewer, Gwen Loeb, Anna Ishida, Stephan Smith Collins; Solo: Richard Frederick)
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| "You've Got a Glow" |
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Andy begs Sid to let him accompany her in her search for truth.
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(Andy: Mark Anderson Phillips, Sid: Cathleen Riddley)
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| "Rope Burn" |
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Sid teaches about the dangers of attachment.
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(Sid: Cathleen Riddley, Ensemble: Robert Brewer, Velina Brown, Stephan Smith Collins, Richard Frederick, Anna Ishida, Gwen Loeb, Mark Anderson Phillips, Mauricio Villa-Lobos)
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| "Temptations: Bread and Water" |
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A loaf of bread and a glass of water try to cajole Sid into giving up her quest for enlightenment.
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(Bread: Stephan Smith Collins, Water: Anna Ishida)
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| "Temptations: Come Back to Me" |
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Sid's former boyfriend Yasha tries to lure her back to the sensual world.
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(Yasha: Robert Brewer, Sid: Cathleen Riddley)
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| "Temptations: Sleep/Hundred Thousand Lifetimes" |
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Sid's deceased mother May, and a team of angels try to seduce her into abandoning herself to sleep.
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(Sid: Cathleen Riddley, May: Anna Ishida, Angels: Velina Brown, Gwen Loeb)
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| Piano: Vienna Teng Music Director: Sean Bart |
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Rehearsal photos from “Sid Arthur” Reading
Playwrights’ Foundation, January 2008 |
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| Directed by Amy Mueller |
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