More or Less I Am, Episode 4: Gratitude

Inspired by Walt Whitman’s revolutionary poem “Song of Myself,” the international collective Compagnia de’ Colombari combines fiddle and flute, dance, sea shanties, opera, and poetry in a declaration of American independence and diversity that invokes the spirit of Whitman’s abiding masterpiece. Audiences consistently name the company’s 2016 production, The Merchant of Venice, as one of their favorite Festival performances of the last 25 years. This online performance of More Or Less I Am will be presented in four installations: Journey, The City, Nature + Democracy, and Gratitude, with a musical coda from the live performance at Greene Space in 2012.

My soul is itself and also everything that the friendly others have given me.

I Teach Straying: Dietrice Bolden

Letters from God: Sarah Heltzel, Giovanni Pucci, Frank Rodriguez, Carlton Terrence Taylor with Colin Jacobsen, Eric Jacobsen, Kyle Sanna, Alex Sopp

Immense: Michael Potts, Dietrice Bolden+ David Patrick Kelly and all the company humming, with Colin Jacobsen, Eric Jacobsen, Kyle Sanna, Alex Sopp

Musical Coda (from Greene Space Performance 2012): Sheldon Elcock, Colin Jacobsen, Eric Jacobsen, Kenny Rampton, Kyle Sanna, Alex Sopp