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The Martha's Vineyard Times is a weekly publication.
March 10 - March 16, 2005 Edition
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THEATER Excitement in every breath March 10, 2005 By Anna Marie D'Addarie Jazz musician Stan Strickland (left) rehearses for his autobiographical theatre piece told in jazz with his writer and director Jon Lipsky (right). "Coming Up For Air" premieres at the Vineyard Playhouse this weekend. Photo by Sally Cohn Stan Strickland, the Boston-based jazz musician who has set the joint jumpin' at many Island venues over the years, will be bringing his unique sound to the Vineyard Playhouse this weekend in a one-man show, “Coming Up For Air: An Autojazzography.” Playing sax, flute, keyboards and an assortment of percussion, Strickland tells about his life and art through music and story telling. The play is a result of collaboration between Strickland and playhouse artistic associate, Jon Lipsky. Based on a true-life near-death experience, the show relates how Strickland almost drowned off the coast of Hawaii and, literally, had his life flash before his eyes. In the course of the play, he explores many instruments and musical forms, searching for the sources of his music. Lipsky and Strickland have been working on the play off and on for over two years, exploring the interface between music and narrative. The two first started brainstorming ideas after Strickland performed as Dr. Sax in the Playhouse production of Lipsky's play “Maggie's Riff.” To develop the piece, Lipsky would interview Strickland about his life; Strickland would then find the music that expressed or underscored those events. “Stan is an amazing performer to work with,” said Lipsky. “He brings the danger and excitement of jazz to everything he says and does. It can be dramatic just watching him breathe.” “Coming Up For Air” will be performed in a workshop production at the Vineyard Playhouse on March 11 and 12. The play-making team intends to continue working on the piece after that in preparation for a second workshop production in Boston two weeks later. That show will take place on March 25 and 26 at the Boston Playwrights' Theater. “Stan's music is so connected to the audience,” says Lipsky, “it is inconceivable to finalize the script without testing it first in front of a crowd.” Strickland and Lipsky hope these workshops will lead to a full professional run of the play in the near future. “Coming Up For Air: An Autojazzography” at the Vineyard Haven Playhouse, Church Street, Vineyard Haven on Friday, March 11 and Saturday, March 12, 7:30 pm. Tickets: $15 general admission; $10 for students. For more information, call 508-696-6300 or visit www.vineyardplayhouse.org. For information on the Boston Playwrights' Theatre production on March 25 and 26, call 617-358-7529.

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