Devised Initiative

Rules

The Devised Initiative accepts Group or Solo projects, and for time reasons we can only accept the first eight applications. Applications will open 12/1/2023 and remain open until 2/16/2024.

The 2025 Prompt:

I                      Science

Chaos Theory/Entropy, Newton’s Second Law

By Mark H. Blecher, Chief Medical Editor

Excerpts from: Musings on life, ophthalmology and the practice of medicine.

“Physics tells us that, from a very fundamental point of view, all properties and processes in this universe trend toward disorder, less energy, chaos. And a key process describing these systems is entropy, the degree of a system’s randomness or disorder. Entropy is a loss of useful energy and, unfortunately, it keeps increasing. This is the natural way of the universe—unless we push back.”

“It’s an endless process that really revolves around creating order out of chaos, evoking a more perfect state from a less perfect one, decreasing entropy. But why do we feel the need to bring order to things? We constantly work to make our lives and the environment around us more orderly. We create reason, logic, forward motion. It’s in our DNA.”

“I think bringing order to chaos is a basic drive of human beings. It’s how we make our mark on the world: Since chaos and disorder are the natural state of things, creating organization is a sign that we were here. (It also feels good.)

At the same time, we have to acknowledge that we’re pushing that rock up the hill time after time with no end in sight, and our achievement is only temporary. If we stopped pushing, as physics peskily reminds us, the universe would, on its own, move toward darkness and disorder—a very depressing realization. But what should we do with the rock, then? Stop pushing it? Just give up? Clearly not, although at times in our lives, and at various times in human history, it’s tough to acknowledge that. Often, it can be hard to see a way forward to a lighter, happier, more ordered life.”

“Over the many millennia of human history, humans overcame chaos and hopelessness. Terrible times always eventually yielded to better ones, and ultimately led to the advancement of civilization—although at the moment it was probably hard to see exactly how. With that perspective on history, we should all take heart: While we’ll never win the war on entropy, we can create windows of wonder and order—if we only try.”

I                      Poetry

Amanda Gorman’s Chorus of the Captains

“Today we honor our three captains For their actions and impact in A time of uncertainty and need. They’ve taken the lead, Exceeding all expectations and limitations Uplifting their communities and neighbors As leaders, healers, and educators.

James has felt the wounds of warfare, But this warrior still shares His home with at-risk kids. During Covid, he’s event lent a hand, Live-streaming football for family and fans.

Trimaine is an educator who works nonstop, Providing his community with hotspots, Laptops, and tech workshops, So his students have all the tools They need to succeed in life and school.

Suzie is the ICU nurse manager at a Tampa Hospital. Her chronicles prove that even in tragedy, hope is possible. She lost her grandmothers to the pandemic, And fights to save other lives in the ICU battle zone, Defining the frontline heroes risking their lives for our own.

Let us walk with these warriors, Charge on with these champions, And carry forth the call of our captains! We celebrate them by acting With courage and compassion, By doing what is right and just. For while we honor them today, It is them who every day honor us.”

I                      Art

Allen Smith’s Noumenon 16: Angel Island

• The Process:

  • In response to the prompt, the ensemble will select sources of inspiration as their creative container (examples: a photograph, a poem, a fictional or non-fictional short story, a memory, interviews, a question, etc.). Ensemble will be asked to clearly articulate how their sources informed process and product, form and content.

  • Each ensemble will create a unique performance vocabulary informed by their source materials. This vocabulary should include movement, voice, visual image, sonic landscape, text and scenic environment and communicate the piece’s style and aesthetic.

    Logistics/parameters:

    • o Pieces will be performed live

      o Time Limit: 15 minutes

    • This time frame must include set-up, performance and strike. Set up

      and strike can be incorporated into the performance.

      o Expect a 16x16 performance space

      o Contributions of the ensemble are to be balanced and evenly

      distributed

      o Not every member of the ensemble must perform, but all must

      be involved in some significant way (design, choreography,

      etc….)

      o Faculty advisors may provide outside-eye feedback, but

      students should drive the work

      o No live flame

      o No smoking

      o No functional weapons

    Please Note:

    o Each showing will be given a short response from regional devising guest artists. Each deviser will be expected to speak articulately about their work, displaying rigor of process and responsibility for form and content.

    o Devising isn’t an aesthetic; it’s a process. This approach to creating new work includes multiple aesthetics, production value spectrums, and performance styles.

    o Regions will only provide the performance space; ensembles must provide everything else.