Behind the Scenes: The Climate Monologues
As you may know, this year NES has expanded its interdisciplinary approach by inviting performers, eco-artists, and photographers to join in a discussion about the culture of climate change as well as share how they conceptualize climate change into art forms. We are very excited to have Sharon Abreu, a talented singer and performer, and executive director of Irthlingz Arts-Based Environmental Education, as part of the NES Colloquium this year. Sharon will be performing a one-woman musical show about climate change called, “The Climate Monologues” on Thursday, March 10 between 2-3pm. We were lucky enough to catch up with Sharon to ask her a few questions about her upcoming performance.
Sharon, what was the inspiration behind “The Climate Monologues”?
Sharon Abreu
The main inspiration was my concern about climate change and a desire to reach out to the public with a new educational theater piece that would engage people on a heart level. A lot of good information about why we need to respond to climate change and what we should be doing, but we’re not getting there. So “The Climate Monologues” brings the issue home with personal stories that help people visualize themselves as part of the solution to climate change. My passions are music and signing, so this is how I communicate most effectively.
How do you conceptualize or represent climate change into musical art forms?
Anything can be made into a musical art form if you challenge yourself and have fun with it. I enjoy singing about unlikely subjects and tackling a tough issue in a fun and educational way.
What do you hope people will learn from your performance?
My hopes for the audience are threefold. I hope that people will gain a deeper understanding of the climate issue and what needs to be done. Secondly, I hope they will inherit a new sense of empowerment in being part of the solution. And lastly, I hope attendees come away with a stronger sense of connection with humanity—the sense that they are not alone and that by working together as citizens and neighbors, we can and must solve this crisis.
Sharon during a performance
You can attend Sharon’s performance of “The Climate Monologues” in the Martin E. Segal Theatre on Thursday, March 10 from 2-3pm. Hope you can make it!
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