The conceptual seed of the theLASTree formed from the urgency of bringing to our consciousness the science of environmental destruction and climate crisis, and our individual and collective ability and responsibility to alter human behavior to save life on/of our planet. By intention, the goal of the final product was not to entertain—although it would—but to bring through the voice and admonition of Mother Nature and through an array of puppets and props, the pending loss and the grieving that loss causes. Death of trees, polar bear cubs and bees needed to be included to not shield any viewer of any age from the reality that science has proven and that humans are experiencing.
theLASTree was first produced at the Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts Paul R. and Margery wolf Kuhn Theatre at Penn State University Altoona, PA on November 7 to 10, 2018. The performance was directed and puppets designed and construction by Laurencio Carlos Ruiz, Costume Design was by Elizabeth Wislar Powell, Music was by Kevin Mcleod and Steve Sherrill, Choreography was by KT Huckabee, Sound by David Villani. Lights Design and Sound Mix was by Joanna G. Ruhl and The Stage Manager was by Trinity Artis.
CAST
Mother Nature Voice
Naomi Baker
The Last Tree Voice
Victor Brunsden
Robust Tree
Ja Waun Monroe & John Kunig
Swing, Squirrel and Birds
Ja Waun Monroe & John Kunig
Thermometer
Lianna Male
Dense Mass of Trees
Sophia Girol, Raya Kenepp, Randy Sams, Marie Weaverling
Elizabeth Bender, Laurencio Ruiz, Yu-lin (Timmy) Liu, Alison Ward, Bailey Jasper, Amaryllis Aponte-lee, Joe Rabbitt, lianna Male
One Hundred and Forty-two Cars
Sophia Girol, Raya Kenepp, Randy Sams, Marie Weaverling
Elizabeth Bender, Laurencio Ruiz, Yu-lin (Timmy) Liu, Alison Ward, Bailey Jasper, Amaryllis Aponte-lee, Joe Rabbitt, lianna Male, Ja Waun Monroe, John Kunig
CO2 Cloud
Sophia Girol, Raya Kenepp, Randy Sams, Marie Weaverling
Arctic & Antarctic Sea
Raya Kenepp, Marie Weaverling.
Large Glacier
Bailey Jasper, John Kunig, Ja Waun Monroe, Randy Sams.
Harp Seal
Elizabeth Bender
Two Emperor Penguins
Amaryllis Aponte-lee
Family of Polar Bears
Joe Rabbitt
Small Size Blue Whale & Calf
Bailey Jasper & Amaryllis Aponte-lee
Large Size Blue Whale & Calf
Elizabeth Bender, Laurencio Ruiz, Yu-lin (Timmy) Liu, Alison Ward, Randy Sams, Bailey Jasper
Five Big Fat Lumberjack Flies
Laurencio Ruiz, Marie Weaverling, Amaryllis Aponte-lee, Raya Kenepp, Elizabeth Bender
Last Tree
Sophia Girol, Laurencio Ruiz, Joseph Rabbit
PRODUCTION TEAM
Directed by
Laurencio Carlos Ruiz
Text & Puppets by
Laurencio Carlos Ruiz
Costume Design by
Elizabeth Power-Wislar
Music by
Kevin Mcleod & Steve Sherill
Sound Design
David Villani
Choreography by
KT Huckabee and Laurencio Carlos Ruiz
Lighting Design & Sound Mix by
Joanna Ruhl
Puppets Construction
Laurencio Carlos Ruiz and THEA 282 Class:Trinity Artis, Gary Babcoke, Wenjie (Bruce) Ding, Sophia Girol, Brandon Hearn, Yu-lin (Timmy) Liu,Alisha Nicely, Yimin (Jerry) Zhong
Stage Manager
Trinity Artis
Assistant Stage Manger 1
John Kunig
Assistant Stage Manger 2
Lianna Male
Assistant Stage Manger 3
Ja Waun Monroe
Lighting Board Operator
Yimin (Jerry) Zhong
Sound Operator
Wenjie (Bruce) Ding
Projector Operator
Xiangxu Li
Photography by
Gary Baranec, Yu-lin (Timmy) Liu & Gary Babcoke
Video Recording and editing by
Mark A. Frederick
Brush Mountain Media
SCENES
NATURAL INTRODUCTION
MATURE ROBUST TREE
CO2 EMISSIONS JAM
IMBALANCE GLACIER DANCE
DEEP BLIND LOVE
LAST GRIEF TREE
FED UP WITH YOU
ECO-PILOGUE
CHARACTERS
MOTHER NATURE
ROBUST TREE
DENSE MASS OF TRESS
ONE HUNDRED FORTY-TWO CARS
A THERMOMETER
CO2 CLOUD
ARTIC & ANTARCTIC SEAS
A GLACIER
A HARP SEAL
TWO EMPEROR PENGUINS
A MOTHER AND TWO COPS POLAR BEARS
SMALL BLUE WHALE AND CALF
LARGE BLUE WHALE AND CALF
FIVE BIG FAT LUMBERJACK FLIES
LAST TREE
SPECIAL THANKS
The love of my life, my wife Roselyn and son Jordan
Heidi Manfred, Instructor in Human Development and Family Studies, and Abe Manfred her son
Erin C. Murphy, professor, English
Lisa A. Emili, associate professor, physical geography and environmental studies sustainability coordinator
Freyca Calderon-Berumen, assistant professor, elementary and early childhood education
Samuel Tanner, assistant professor, literacy education
Alessia Zanin-Yost, reference and instruction librarian, eiche library
Erin Nacthman, part time project coordinator, environmental studies and sustainability
Burgmeiers Hauling, Inc.
Acknowledgements
Dr. Lori J. Bechtel-Wherry, chancellor and dean
Dr. Karin Jordan, associate dean
Dr. Brian Black, division head, Arts and Humanities
Timothy Kershner, director, Strategic Communications
Marissa Carney, media and public relations coordinator, Strategic Communications Jonathan O’Harrow, webmaster, Strategic Communications
Sarah Gority, graphic designer and marketing coordinator, Strategic Communications Brenda Berry, faculty and program assistant, Misciagna Family Center
Deborah L. Flinn, part time faculty administrative assistant, Misciagna Family Center Karen Isenberg, part time faculty administrative assistant, Misciagna Family Center
Noel Feeley, theatre and gallery manager, Misciagna Family Center
Kylea Myers, theatre and gallery assistant, Misciagna Family Center
Diane Kilmer, theatre and gallery assistant, Misciagna Family Center
Joanna Ruhl, interim technical director, Misciagna Family Center
Ashley Bowmaster, assistant technical director, Misciagna Family Center
Copyright©2018 theLASTree
by Laurencio Carlos Ruiz All Rights Reserved