CARLA BLANK: THE DIRECTOR

Carla Blank is a director, dramaturg, writer and editor. With Ishmael Reed, she edited the anthology, Powwow: Charting the Fault Lines in the American Experience, Short Fiction From Then to Now (Da Capo Press, 2009); she is author and editor of the 20th century timeline reference Rediscovering America (Three Rivers Press, 2003), which carries the imprimatur of Before Columbus Foundation; and is co-author, with Jody Roberts, of an anthology of performing arts techniques and styles, Live OnStage! (Dale Seymour Publications, a Pearson Education imprint, 1997, 2000), widely referenced in school districts throughout the U.S. and Canada. Her current research and writing projects include a study of American women who became architects in the 19th century and a 19th century timeline.

She is presently working with director and designer Robert Wilson to create Kool, a performance portrait inspired by legendary Japanese choreographer Suzushi Hanayagi, a long time collaborator and dear friend of both artists. Kool will premiere at the Peter B. Lewis Theater at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum April 17, 2009. Also in March, 2009, she is to direct three stage readings of one act plays for the PEN Oakland Playwrights' Series.

Ever since making her professional debut as a choreographer/dancer in 1963 as a participant in a Judson Dance Theater Workshop performance in New York City, she has especially devoted her attention to helping create youth and community arts collaborative performance projects, partially funded with grants from state and local governments and private foundations. Since 2003 she has served as artistic director of the Domestic Crusader Project, mounting staged readings and performances of The Domestic Crusaders, a two act play about a Muslim Pakistani-American family by northern California based playwright, Wajahat Ali, including 2005 showcase productions at the Thrust Theatre of Berkeley Repertory Theatre and the San Jose State University Theatre and a 2008 New York City reading at the festival, Performing the World. Carla Blank made her recording debut as a violinist with The Ishmael Reed Quintet, on the CD For All We Know, available through cdbaby, iTunes and Amazon.com.