{"id":6622,"date":"2024-09-01T19:02:48","date_gmt":"2024-09-01T19:02:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tornspacetheater.com\/home\/?page_id=5090"},"modified":"2026-05-26T21:40:50","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T21:40:50","slug":"commensality","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.tornspacetheater.com\/home\/original-productions\/commensality\/","title":{"rendered":"Commensality"},"content":{"rendered":"<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t#builder-section-1673037722235 .builder-banner-slide {\n\t\tpadding-bottom: 600px;\n\t}\n\t@media screen and (min-width: 600px) and (max-width: 960px) {\n\t\t#builder-section-1673037722235 .builder-banner-slide {\n\t\t\tpadding-bottom: 62.5%;\n\t\t}\n\t}\n\t<\/style>\n<section id=\"builder-section-1673037722235\" class=\"builder-section  builder-section-first builder-section-banner builder-section-next-text\">\n<div class=\"builder-section-content cycle-slideshow\" data-cycle-log=\"false\" data-cycle-slides=\"div.builder-banner-slide\" data-cycle-swipe=\"true\" data-cycle-timeout=\"6000\" data-cycle-fx=\"scrollHorz\">\n<div class=\"builder-banner-slide content-position-none\" style=\"background-image: url(&#039;https:\/\/www.tornspacetheater.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/comm3-thea.jpg&#039;);\">\n<div class=\"builder-banner-content\">\n<div class=\"builder-banner-inner-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"builder-banner-slide content-position-none\" style=\"background-image: url(&#039;https:\/\/www.tornspacetheater.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/commensality.jpg&#039;);\">\n<div class=\"builder-banner-content\">\n<div class=\"builder-banner-inner-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"builder-banner-slide content-position-none\" style=\"background-image: url(&#039;https:\/\/www.tornspacetheater.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/comm-nik.jpg&#039;);\">\n<div class=\"builder-banner-content\">\n<div class=\"builder-banner-inner-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"builder-banner-slide content-position-none\" style=\"background-image: url(&#039;https:\/\/www.tornspacetheater.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/comm4-cow.jpg&#039;);\">\n<div class=\"builder-banner-content\">\n<div class=\"builder-banner-inner-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"cycle-prev\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"cycle-next\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"cycle-pager\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"builder-section-1664304887263\" class=\"builder-section builder-section-prev-banner builder-section-text builder-section-last builder-text-columns-1\">\n<div class=\"builder-section-content\">\n<div class=\"builder-text-column builder-text-column-1\" id=\"builder-section-1664304887263-column-1\">\n<div class=\"builder-text-content\">\n<h1><strong>Commensality<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p><strong>Written and Directed by Dan Shanahan and Melissa Meola\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"_04xlpA direction-ltr align-center para-style-body\">August 9-11, 16-18, 2024<\/p>\n<p><b>About Commensality<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The August rituals at the silos are early harvest festivals.\u00a0 They represent what has been metaphorically sown and reaped; familially, locally and globally.\u00a0 They are also meditations on universal themes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><cite>\u201cCommensality (the act of eating together) is important for social communion, order, health and well-being.&#8221;<\/cite> (Johnson et al, 2021).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Torn Space Theater&#8217;s performances at the silos were early harvest festivals. Under the cottonwood tree, audiences celebrated the act of eating together to explore ideas of group identity, boundaries and borders in <em>Commensality<\/em>. An interactive performance, where you were seated created your experience.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What happens during a shared meal that contributes to the intangible bonds that form within a family, group, or nation-state that create a sense of belonging?\u00a0 While seated together, we immerse ourselves in the experience of group formation, reflecting on our shared history of integration and separation, of borders and boundaries and what it means to cross or protect them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While there has been some improvement in peacefulness throughout the world, 2023 was the deadliest year for armed conflict in the history of the Global Peace Index founded in 2008.\u00a0 At the time of this production, there were 92 countries engaged in conflict, the most since World War II. In addition, the likelihood of peaceful resolution had decreased from an average of 24% to less than 4% leading to what is known as &#8220;forever wars\u201d (GPI, 2023).This performance hopes that we can continue to commit to the 8 pillars of positive peace that is thought to provide a safer and more prosperous future for all.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this collaborative performance in partnership with Always Something Farm, the dinner table is the performance. Four courses of tastings bring an intimate audience together in the epic landscape of Silo City.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not only are these early harvest festivals a ritual performance &#8211; they are also a gathering together of the community.\u00a0 Torn Space offers a space to come back to each year and to be part of an ongoing celebration.\u00a0 You are the ceremony &#8211; this is the ritual.\u00a0 We create an open space for people to come together, to reflect on the past year: what was gained, what was lost?\u00a0 What has changed and what needs changing, Who has come into our lives and who has left? A space to prepare for the coming year.\u00a0 A time in mid-August &#8211; with the summer ending but not yet over.\u00a0 The days are still long and the nights still warm.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If this was your first time joining us, welcome and if you returned, welcome back. We wish you well in the year that lies ahead.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"cvGsUA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><b>Symbols<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Stag<\/strong> &#8211;<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">continuity, prosperity, longevity, and abundance<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Serpent<\/strong> &#8211;<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">rebirth, transformation, immortality, and healing<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Hawk<\/strong> &#8211;<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">determination, focus, leadership, and clarity<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Tiger <\/strong>&#8211; s<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">trength, cunning, majesty, and independence<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Cottonwood Tree<\/strong> &#8211; the sun; afterlife<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>8<\/strong> &#8211; <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">victory, prosperity and overcoming, the power of infinite possibility<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>12<\/strong> &#8211; perfection, entirety, or cosmic order<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>27<\/strong> &#8211; spiritual insight, intuition, and wisdom<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Fire<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211; Creation, Destruction, Transformation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Heart<\/strong> &#8211; Compassion and generosity<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b style=\"font-size: 1.4rem;\">Labyrinth <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211; A symbol that relates to wholeness. It combines the imagery of the circle and the spiral into a meandering but purposeful path.\u00a0 The labyrinth sculpture is a vertical representation of the three ritual spaces: The large cottonwood tree, the poison garden and the small cottonwood tree.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Texts used in this performance:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Global Peace Index 2023<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Us News and World Report, Deadliest Conflicts of 2023<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">J\u00f6nsson H, Michaud M, Neuman N. What Is Commensality? A Critical Discussion of an Expanding Research Field. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jun 9;18(12):6235. doi: 10.3390\/ijerph18126235. PMID: 34207626; PMCID: PMC8295993.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Music used in this performance:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Erik Satie; Ogives, Pi\u00e8ces froides, Trois Sarabande<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sister Rosetta Tharpe, This Train (is bound for Glory)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pops Staples, Nobody&#8217;s Fault But Mine<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Barbara Harris,\u00a0 It Don&#8217;t Worry Me<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ministry, NWO<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Performed by:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thea Duskin<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Justin Leis<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nikiya Garza<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Becky Globus<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Holly Kirkpatrick<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tim McPeek\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Matthew Rittler\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Carmen Swans<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kalub Thompson<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Christine Turturro<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Marisa Caruso<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Production Team<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Co-Directors\/Co-Writers<\/strong> &#8211; Dan Shanahan, Melissa Meola Shanahan<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Production Manager<\/strong> &#8211; Carly Weiser<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Stage Managers<\/strong> &#8211; Sarah Foote, Mary Margaret Keenan- Brown<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Managing Director<\/strong> &#8211; Marisa Caruso<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Technical Director<\/strong> &#8211; Daniel Toner<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Sound Design<\/strong> &#8211; Justin Rowland<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Prop Designer<\/strong> &#8211; Thea Duskin<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Carpenter<\/strong> &#8211; Sean Kulak<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Costume Designer<\/strong> &#8211; Geraldine Duskin<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>T-Shirt Design <\/strong>&#8211; Tim Stegner<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>T-Shirt Printing<\/strong> &#8211; Positive Approach Press<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Technical Crew<\/strong> &#8211; Marcus Aiello, Brianne Peterson<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Griller\/Bar Manager<\/strong> &#8211; Matthew Beck<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Silo City Management<\/strong> &#8211; Kate Gorman<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Silo City Landscape Ecologist<\/strong> &#8211; Josh Smith<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Box Office\/Front of House Manager<\/strong> &#8211; Jenn Carter, Salem Browning<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Special Thanks: Rick Smith, Always Something Farm, Josh Smith, Kate Gorman and The Adam Mickiewicz Library and Dramatic Circle<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"cvGsUA direction-ltr align-center para-style-body\"><strong><span class=\"OYPEnA text-decoration-underline text-strikethrough-none\">11 Years of Torn Space <\/span><span class=\"OYPEnA text-decoration-underline text-strikethrough-none\">Productions at Silo City<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"cvGsUA direction-ltr align-center para-style-body\"><span class=\"OYPEnA text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Title \u2013 Year \u2013 Theme<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"cvGsUA direction-ltr align-center para-style-body\"><span class=\"OYPEnA text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Motion Picture \u2013 2013 \u2013 Quest<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"cvGsUA direction-ltr align-center para-style-body\"><span class=\"OYPEnA text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Storehouse \u2013 2014 \u2013 Identity<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"cvGsUA direction-ltr align-center para-style-body\"><span class=\"OYPEnA text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">They Kill Things \u2013 2015 \u2013 Slaughter<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"cvGsUA direction-ltr align-center para-style-body\"><span class=\"OYPEnA text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Burden \u2013 2016 \u2013 Burden<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"cvGsUA direction-ltr align-center para-style-body\"><span class=\"OYPEnA text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">The Gathering \u2013 2017 \u2013 Resistance<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"cvGsUA direction-ltr align-center para-style-body\"><span class=\"OYPEnA text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Stations \u2013 2018 \u2013 Transcendence<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"cvGsUA direction-ltr align-center para-style-body\"><span class=\"OYPEnA text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Feast \u2013 2019 \u2013 Transformation<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"cvGsUA direction-ltr align-center para-style-body\"><span class=\"OYPEnA text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Silence \u2013 2020 \u2013 Rumination<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"cvGsUA direction-ltr align-center para-style-body\"><span class=\"OYPEnA text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">\u2026And the Sun Sets in Golden Circles \u2013 2021 \u2013\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"OYPEnA text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Evolution<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"cvGsUA direction-ltr align-center para-style-body\"><span class=\"OYPEnA text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Ages \u2013 2022 \u2013 Heterotopia<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"cvGsUA direction-ltr align-center para-style-body\"><span class=\"OYPEnA text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Generation \u2013 2023 \u2013 Borders and Boundaries<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Commensality<span class=\"OYPEnA text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\"> \u2013 2024 \u2013\u00a0<\/span>Commensality<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Commensality Written and Directed by Dan Shanahan and Melissa Meola\u00a0 August 9-11, 16-18, 2024 About Commensality The August rituals at the silos are early harvest festivals.\u00a0 They represent what has been metaphorically sown and reaped; familially, locally and globally.\u00a0 They are also meditations on universal themes. \u201cCommensality (the act of eating together) is important for &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6629,"parent":1777,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-builder.php","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tornspacetheater.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6622"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tornspacetheater.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tornspacetheater.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tornspacetheater.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tornspacetheater.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6622"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.tornspacetheater.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6622\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6628,"href":"https:\/\/www.tornspacetheater.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6622\/revisions\/6628"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tornspacetheater.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1777"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tornspacetheater.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6629"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tornspacetheater.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6622"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}