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Welcome to Conscious Voices: a devised ethnodrama created & directed by Sonia Pasqual
Conscious Voices is a collaborative performance piece, which promotes diversity, inclusivity, equity, representation and presents the challenges that come with the identities with which we associate. PAST PERFORMANCES April 2022 Valencia PAC performances - It's a wrap! UPCOMING PERFORMANCES
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SONIA PASQUAL
GET TO KNOW THE CREATOR
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Sonia is a trailblazer and tenure professor of Live Entertainment Design and Production at Valencia College, in the School of Arts and Entertainment. She enjoys all aspects of the industry, including, pedagogy, stage design, and the new play creation process. A native of Queens, New York and first-born American Sonia’s background hails from Trinidad & Tobago. Her master thesis evolved after falling in love with the philosophical Plato’s Allegory of the Cave in the Fall of 2016. Plato' s allegory highlights prisoners chained since birth to this cave watching images on a wall cast by a fire where manipulators show them who they are, unfortunately this ignorance and deception plagues us all in the real world as we are bound by our phones, social media and/or TVs. Anyone who knows Sonia will quickly realize she lives and functions in the metaphysical, esoteric, philosophical, ever-evolving practical world of existence. To no surprise, her master thesis turned into a creative staged performance art that speaks directly to theater for social justice. Her urgency to create awareness on different threads of racism and discrimination within American society gives these voices a platform of expression. At the crossroads of a global pandemic and Black Lives Matter protests a gravitational pull inspired the devising process, which manifested this ethnodrama Conscious Voices. A Master in Liberal Studies reconnected Sonia to philosophical truths and a renewed perspective on the power of theatre. As a professional stage lighting designer—her keen insights to paint the stage with light transitions to personal narratives on stage giving a platform to voices usually shunned by society. Her intent for Conscious Voices is to share narratives that extend from those deep caves some of us live in and give it freedom to express itself as we exit Plato's cave of ignorance--discrimination and racism. Valencia College article on Professor Pasqual Unveils New Play at Rollins College Theater |
EDUCATION
M.L.S in Humanities, 2021 Rollins College, FL B.A in Theatre Production & Visual Arts, 2001 Fordham University Lincoln Center, NYC A.S in Theatre & Entertainment Tech, 1998 Valencia College, FL |
Directors Note
As the director and creator of Conscious Voices, I have seen it grow from a thought, dream, idea, concept, and thesis into a devised ethnodrama with actors, singers, and dancers. This live art in formation is ever-evolving and this production triumph's the last three attempts over three years. Conscious Voices speaks to many people who dwell in circles that are unfortunately still struggling in today's society. They are either unaccepted, tormented, traumatized, murdered, raped, ignored or other as we see in the news. Fortunately, this 'theatre for social justice' project, we perform real life events, which is representation, equity, inclusive, and diverse narratives in which we associate. It is poured out onto the stage--using this foundation as a platform to be heard for once. I remain true to the themes as rhythms emerge weaving stories on racism, discrimination, colorism, privilege, fat phobia & body images. All are seen as a plague continuously divide our humanity, but there's hope! In this staging the blend of new actors and original devisers revisit to share words, dance, art in one play. It is a great honor to see this timely and relevant work, that begun in 2020 with an online performance, 2021 face-to-face performance at the Annie Russell Theatre, now in 2022 face-to-face performance with a set, lighting, costumes, makeup, and the love it so deserves at Valencia College. Thank you for enjoying this production of Conscious Voices.
Conscious Voices by Sonia .Art
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery. None but ourselves can free our minds. Bob Marley
Conscious Voices by Sonia .Art
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery. None but ourselves can free our minds. Bob Marley
