FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 27, 2004
Contact: J.R. Teeter
Artistic Director
 info@breadandwatertheatre.org
www.breadandwatertheatre.org


Lambda Project tackles Two-Spirits
for Upcoming Rainbow Theater Festival


In 1978, Gilbert Baker, a San Francisco artist designed the Rainbow Flag so that the gay community could have a symbol. This original flag had eight stripes each representing a different facet of gay life. Pink (sexuality), red (life), orange (healing), yellow (sun), green (nature), turquoise (art), indigo (harmony) and violet (spirit) were part of the flag design. When the flag was later mass produced pink and turquoise were dropped and indigo was changed to blue due to production constraints.

Using the original color scheme as inspiration, The Lambda Project as part of the Rainbow Theater Festival searches far and wide to collect stories from the general public on one of the eight rainbow colors coinciding with the theme of that year's festival. The Rainbow Theater Festival for 2005 is a series of performances that will be dedicated to queer Spirit inspired by the rainbow flag color, violet.


Spirit as it is currently defined in the American Heritage Dictionary has fourteen different meanings that vary significantly in their interpretation. Spirit could refer to the soul, pride, or even alcoholic beverages. "This will make for a very compelling event," said J.R. Teeter the author of The Lambda Project and Artistic Director of Bread & Water Theatre. "In researching the use of spirit in gay life I came across the term 'two-spirit' which comes from Native American culture. It is how they describe homosexuality, bi-sexuality and transgenderism in their world. Two-Spirits were revered by their tribes, held sacred positions, and allowed to participate in both traditional male and female roles. The general term of two-spirit comes from the idea that a child could be born with both a man's and a woman's spirit." This year's project is tentatively titled Ode to Two-Spirits.

The Bread & Water Theatre is asking for queer and queer-friendly people to submit their stories of Spirit for this year's project. Their real life stories will be used to create a performance piece to be performed at 2005's Rainbow Theater Festival. To submit your stories visit www.breadandwatertheatre.org/RTF/ and fill out an online form or inquire at  rtf@breadandwatertheatre.org. Below is a complete definition of spirit as defined by the American Heritage Dictionary.

Founded in 2000, The Bread and Water Theatre, under the artistic direction of J.R. Teeter, develops theatre that speaks to our new and evolving world through new works of dramatic literature and adapted classics. BWT is a non-profit company and aspires to be a major force in American theatre, providing audiences with challenging contemporary drama and innovative community outreach programs.

spir·it
noun
1a. The vital principle or animating force within living beings. b. Incorporeal consciousness. 2. The soul, considered as departing from the body of a person at death. 3. Spirit The Holy Spirit. 4. A supernatural being, as: a. An angel or a demon. b. A being inhabiting or embodying a particular place, object, or natural phenomenon. c. A fairy or sprite. 5a. The part of a human associated with the mind, will, and feelings: Though unable to join us today, they are with us in spirit. b. The essential nature of a person or group. 6. A person as characterized by a stated quality: He is a proud spirit. 7a. An inclination or tendency of a specified kind: Her actions show a generous spirit. b. A causative, activating, or essential principle: The couple's engagement was announced in a joyous spirit. 8. spirits A mood or an emotional state: The guests were in high spirits. His sour spirits put a damper on the gathering. 9. A particular mood or an emotional state characterized by vigor and animation: sang with spirit. 10. Strong loyalty or dedication: team spirit. 11. The predominant mood of an occasion or a period: "The spirit of 1776 is not dead" (Thomas Jefferson). 12. The actual though unstated sense or significance of something: the spirit of the law. 13. An alcohol solution of an essential or volatile substance. Often used in the plural with a singular verb. 14. spirits An alcoholic beverage, especially distilled liquor.
verb
Inflected forms: spir·it·ed, spir·it·ing, spir·its
1. To carry off mysteriously or secretly: The documents had been spirited away. 2. To impart courage, animation, or determination to; inspirit.

etymology
Middle English, from Old French or Latin; Old French, from Latin spiritus,
literally, breath, from spirare to blow, breathe.