2014 ART: VIDEO: 'TRANSCENDING BORDERS' Aqua ponders? What if.. UWA entry 2014

'TRANSCENDING BORDERS' Aqua ponders? What if.. UWA entry 2014

This video uses the art of the UWA Art challenge for a video in the UWA Machinima challenge  

• Watch on YouTube
• UWA 3D Art & MachinimUWA VII - Last Day Surge

Special thanks to the 3d artists in the UWA contest this year: PaleIllusion, Spiral Silverstar, Soror Nishi, Ama Avro and to Nezzy/Imp Twilight's Edge sim designer for their wonderful artistry. Also thanks to UWA, Inspire Space Park, and Starfall's Twilight's Edge sim.

• Scroll down for News and Notes
• L$1 Mil+ UWA 3D ART & MACHINIMA GRAND FINALE 
• The 8th Annual VWBPE conference calls for proposals
• You judge: MACHINIMUWA VII: Top prize 20,000 Lindens
• The Machinima 48 Hour Film Project,  Details here 
• Univ. of Delaware NATIONAL AGENDA 2014 Speaker Series 
• THIS WEEK at Seanchai Library
• Psykopaint
• More news in my blog roll (column on the right)

2014 STAGE: The Drax Files: World Makers: MadameThespian Underhill

The Drax Files: World Makers: 

 MadameThespian Underhill

"The value for older people" she says, "is wonderful because of the ability to interact with other people from all over the world of other ages. You are being judged by what you say - the pure essence of who you are!"

• Watch on YouTube

By Draxtor Despres
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"Second Life levels the playing field when we interact with each other", says actress MadameThespian Underhill who directs the virtual reality theatre troupe Avatar Repertory Theatre in SL. 
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A.R.T has been performing live theatre in the virtual world since 2008 with a cast that spans all generations and [physical] locations. 
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Professional TV and stage actors mingle with dedicated hobbyists and community theatre buffs to dress up their colorful avatars in homemade sets to produce drama, comedy, musical and improvisational theatre for a global avatar audience.
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In addition to the creative possibilities that a digital universe such as Second Life holds, MadameThespian is enthusiastic about its social aspects as well:
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"The value for older people" she says, "is wonderful because of the ability to interact with other people from all over the world of other ages. You are being judged by what you say - the pure essence of who you are!"
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And so you can often see the likes of Thinkerer Melville, 85, well-known benefactor of the arts in Second Life enjoying inter-generational dialogue with Madame and Mike Denneny, who at 22 years old is already a veteran in the virtual realm, having started as an entrepreneur on the Teen Grid in 2005.
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The theatre a place to express a deeper kind of truth about the human condition? Certainly a tradition in physical "reality" but increasingly one that has impacted virtual reality just as much!

• Scroll down for News and Notes
• L$1 Mil+ UWA 3D ART & MACHINIMA GRAND FINALE 
• The 8th Annual VWBPE conference calls for proposals
• You judge: MACHINIMUWA VII: Top prize 20,000 Lindens
• The Machinima 48 Hour Film Project,  Details here 
• Univ. of Delaware NATIONAL AGENDA 2014 Speaker Series 
• THIS WEEK at Seanchai Library
• Psykopaint
• More news in my blog roll (column on the right)

2015 EDU: Learn English Network Academy: Kitely, Second Life. Free.

Learn English Network Academy: 
Kitely, Second Life.  Free.
Updated 1/10/2015

How we will learn languages in the future is not the way we learned them in the past.  And in virtual worlds, the future has arrived. 

Quick and easy starters: Skype and Google+

• Try these places to get started in LEN Academy 
• Learn English on Google+ community
• Learn English on Google Plus
• Learn English on Skype
• Then go on to Immersive learning (below)

• Scroll down for News and Notes
• The 8th Annual VWBPE conference calls for proposals
• You judge: MACHINIMUWA VII: Top prize 20,000 Lindens
• The Machinima 48 Hour Film Project,  Details here 
• Univ. of Delaware NATIONAL AGENDA 2014 Speaker Series 
• THIS WEEK at Seanchai Library
• Psykopaint
• More news in my blog roll (column on the right)

2014 TKR: Multiple intelligences. Where are your strengths?

Multiple intelligences.  Where are your strengths?

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You have all of these intelligences.  You are above average on some.  And below average on some others.  Perhaps knowing about them will help you with some choices.

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• Multiple intelligences
• Location Link. Click to go or drag to the viewer screen: 
• http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Inspiration%20Island/51/46/23

Welcome to my interactive build of 8 of Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences.  -- Zotarah Shepherd.

• Use your head! They always tell you that. They never tell you how

• Scroll down for News and Notes
• The 8th Annual VWBPE conference calls for proposals
• You judge: MACHINIMUWA VII: Top prize 20,000 Lindens
• The Machinima 48 Hour Film Project,  Details here 
• Univ. of Delaware NATIONAL AGENDA 2014 Speaker Series 
• THIS WEEK at Seanchai Library
• Psykopaint
• More news in my blog roll (column on the right)

2014 EDU: BIZ: Need online courses for professional development or continuing education? A study

Need online courses for professional development
or continuing education? A study

The purpose of the study is to determine the efficacy of designing outcomes-based online professional development and continuing education courses for adult learners.

• Many professions require continuing education courses.
• To advance in a profession people may need professional development courses.
• Such people may find online courses attractive.  
• Study at home, on your own time schedule.
• People in virtual worlds would surely be interested in such online courses.  
• If the courses fit their needs.   

• If you need courses of this kind,
• Dr. Leticia De León, Associate Professor 
• in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction 
• at The University of Texas-Pan American 
• asks that you respond to a survey
• to tell about your needs.
• The survey should take no more than 5-10 minutes to complete.

• Scroll down for News and Notes
• The 8th Annual VWBPE conference calls for proposals
• You judge: MACHINIMUWA VII: Top prize 20,000 Lindens
• The Machinima 48 Hour Film Project,  Details here 
• Univ. of Delaware NATIONAL AGENDA 2014 Speaker Series 
• THIS WEEK at Seanchai Library
• Psykopaint
• More news in my blog roll (column on the right)

2014 OPENSIM: OSCC, OpenSimulator Community Conference, exhibits (2)

OpenSimulator Community Conference, 
exhibits and notes 

The OpenSimulator Community Conference is an annual conference that focuses on the developer and user community of OpenSimulator software. Organized as a joint production by AvaCon and the Overte Foundation, the virtual conference features two days of presentations, workshops, keynote sessions, and social events across diverse sectors of the OpenSimulator user base.

Click image to enlarge

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OSCC had so many interesting exhibits I had to break them up into two parts to report on them.  Here is part two.

2014 EDU: Immersive Teaching and Learning Environments. UT at El Paso

Immersive Teaching and Learning Environments.  
University of Texas at El Paso
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• Watch on YouTube

Academic Technologies (AT) at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is a client-centered, project-based department that creates, facilitates, and/or integrates technology solutions for teaching and learning at UTEP. 

This includes consulting with faculty about instructional design and curriculum development using technology, workshops and academies on all aspects of teaching and learning with technology, software programming, graphic design, digital media and database production, learner-centered online and face to face classroom design, and multimodal, multi-delivery (tech-enhanced, hybrid and fully online) teaching and learning.

• Scroll down for News and Notes
• The 8th Annual VWBPE conference calls for proposals
• You judge: MACHINIMUWA VII: Top prize 20,000 Lindens
• The Machinima 48 Hour Film Project,  Details here 
• Univ. of Delaware NATIONAL AGENDA 2014 Speaker Series 
• THIS WEEK at Seanchai Library
• Psykopaint
• More news in my blog roll (column on the right)

2014 HYPERGRID: EDU: Pirate's Atoll: Hypergrid hub? Travel for the hypergrid generation

Pirate's Atoll:  Hypergrid hub?  
About connections in the Hypergrid  
Updated 9/12/2015

Pirate's Atoll makes full use of the hypergrid.  Visitors are to arrive by Hypergrid.  And lots of hypergrid destinations are offered on signs.  There may be a direct arrival route for registered residents, but little reason for use by the Hypergrid generation. 

Click image to enlarge

Go there

• HG address: Paste the line below into the World Map next to Find.  Click Find. TP
• login.digiworldz.com:8002:Pirates Atoll
• If you are just entering the hypergrid generation, remember to press enter.
• Pirate’s Atoll grid moves to DigiWorldz
• Web page: Pirate’s Atoll on the hypergrid
• Tortuga (Haiti) 
• Scroll down for News and Notes

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• The 8th Annual VWBPE conference calls for proposals
• You judge: MACHINIMUWA VII: Top prize 20,000 Lindens
• The Machinima 48 Hour Film Project,  Details here 
• Univ. of Delaware NATIONAL AGENDA 2014 Speaker Series 
• THIS WEEK at Seanchai Library
• Psykopaint
• More news in my blog roll (column on the right)

2014 STAGE: SHAKESPEARE BY REQUEST-- A.R.T. Friday, Nov, 21stm 5pm SLT

SHAKESPEARE BY REQUEST

The people have spoken! Join us tonight and enjoy some inspiring command performances from the works of the Bard as presented by our Company members.  Works from the Shakespearean canon being represented include: TWELFTH NIGHT, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, HENRY V, HAMLET, and more.

• SHAKESPEARE BY REQUEST
• Friday Nov. 21. at 5 pm SLT
• Live theater, presented in voice
• Free.  Donations welcomed.

• At A.R.T.'s Theater on Cookie 

• Location Link. Click to go or drag to the viewer screen: 
• http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Cookie/198/205/21

Cast

• Ada Radius
• MadamThespian Underhill
• Corwyn Allen
• Kayden Oconnell
• Caledonia Skytower 

For announcements about Avatar Repertory Theater (ART) and ART Plays Around, Join  this Google+ Community: 

• Avatar Repertory Theater

• Scroll down for News and Notes
• The 8th Annual VWBPE conference calls for proposals
• You judge: MACHINIMUWA VII: Top prize 20,000 Lindens
• The Machinima 48 Hour Film Project,  Details here 
• Univ. of Delaware NATIONAL AGENDA 2014 Speaker Series 
• THIS WEEK at Seanchai Library
• Psykopaint
More news in my blog roll (column on the right)

2015 HELP: WRITE: NPCs (Non-Player Characters): for video and stage productions. AMP notes

NPCs (Non-Player Characters): 
for video and stage productions
AMP notes
Updated 5/26/2015
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These are not avatars

• They are Non-Player Characters (NPCs)
• The look like avatars.
• They animate and pose like avatars.
• They are made from avatars.
• They can be stand-ins for avatars.
• They can be body-doubles for avatars.
• The can even replace avatars if they don't have to talk or move a lot.
•  For video production, they can cut the number of real people needed by 50% or more
•  They use OSSL functions, only available in OpenSim Scripting Language.
•  Fun With NPC's Tutorial 1

If you are working in Opensim, this article tells you how to start using them

• Scroll down for News and Notes
• The 8th Annual VWBPE conference calls for proposals
• You judge: MACHINIMUWA VII: Top prize 20,000 Lindens
• The Machinima 48 Hour Film Project,  Details here 
• Univ. of Delaware NATIONAL AGENDA 2014 Speaker Series 
• THIS WEEK at Seanchai Library
• Psykopaint
• More news in my blog roll (column on the right)

2014 HELP: OPENSIM: OSSL adds functions to LSL: threat levels control misuse

OSSL adds functions to LSL: threat levels
in OpenSim Operating System control misuse

OpenSimulator uses Linden Scripting Language in the same way as does Second Life.   But the OpenSimulator devs have added more functions, creating a second language, OSSL.  OSSL allows some functions that could be harmful if used carelessly or with malicious intent.   OSSL manages such functions by limiting who can use them. Here is what you need to know to work with such functions. 

What does that mean to a user?

• Your objects with threat functions may get error messages in some places.
• You may need to be a region or parcel owner to execute them in those places.
• Or you may just need to be in the parcel group or an estate manager.
• Threat function limits are controlled by grid operators, can vary across grids

• Scroll down for News and Notes
• The 8th Annual VWBPE conference calls for proposals
• You judge: MACHINIMUWA VII: Top prize 20,000 Lindens
• The Machinima 48 Hour Film Project,  Details here 
• Univ. of Delaware NATIONAL AGENDA 2014 Speaker Series 
• THIS WEEK at Seanchai Library
• Psykopaint
• More news in my blog roll (column on the right)

2014 OPENSIM: ART: Kitely places. Vector's Vortex. Visual poetry

Kitely places. Vector's Vortex. Visual poetry
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A poetic view of the Cosmos. By Karima Hoisan and Natascha Randt.
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• Watch on YouTube
• Vector's Vortex web page
• “Vector’s Vortex” The Movie by Natascha Randt and Karima Hoisan
• Hop address (use in Firestorm from inside Kitely):
• hop://osgrid.kitely.com:8002/Vector's Vortex/128/128/24
• Hypergrid address:  grid.kitely.com:8002:Vector's Vortex
• Taking The Plunge Into The Hypergrid
• Karima Hoisan

2914 BIZ: VIDEO: loz Hyde, 3D designer, The Drax Files

loz Hyde, 3D designer, The Drax Files

Although 3D designer loz Hyde has a creative day job - he is getting paid to breathe digital life into Hollywood blockbusters such as Terminator and Guardians of the Galaxy - the user-created universe of Second Life holds a special place in his heart: "People have tried to analyze why SL is so successful and yes, the environments are beautiful, but I am more touched by the people!"

• Watch on YouTube

Among his many contributions to the community of colorful avatars is the now iconic "Arcade" building, which is inspired by the Brighton Pier in loz' native England. The Arcade in SL serves as a beloved destination for many residents during the Gacha series of events. 

loz Hyde runs the "Meshworx" store in Second Life, where he sells his unique furniture and buildings to a global userbase.

• Meshworx in SL
• Location Link. Click to go or drag to the viewer screen: 
• http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Fresco/33/124/32

• Scroll down for News and Notes
• The 8th Annual VWBPE conference calls for proposals
• You judge: MACHINIMUWA VII: Top prize 20,000 Lindens
• The Machinima 48 Hour Film Project,  Details here 
• Univ. of Delaware NATIONAL AGENDA 2014 Speaker Series 
• THIS WEEK at Seanchai Library
• Psykopaint
• More news in my blog roll (column on the right)

2014 OPENSIM: OSCC, OpenSimulator Community Conference, exhibits (1)

OpenSimulator Community Conference, 
exhibits and notes 

The OpenSimulator Community Conference is an annual conference that focuses on the developer and user community of OpenSimulator software. Organized as a joint production by AvaCon and the Overte Foundation, the virtual conference features two days of presentations, workshops, keynote sessions, and social events across diverse sectors of the OpenSimulator user base.

Click image to enlarge

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OSCC had so many interesting exhibits I had to break them up into two parts to report on them.  Here is part one.

2014 STAGE: A.R.T. has Bright Ideas. Friday, November 14th at 5:00 PM

Bright Ideas by playwright Eric Coble
Presented by Avatar Repertory Theater

A familiar phrase, “attending the best schools” used to refer to high schools and colleges. Playwright Eric Coble carries this a step further in “Bright Ideas,” showing the hysterical, obsessive parental struggle to place children in the finest preschools because “whoever they are on their fourth birthday, that’s who they’ll be the rest of their lives.”  - Joel Hirschhorn

What happens when the story of Macbeth gets mixed with modern parenting and daycare centers?  ....Come see chaos, mayhem and hilarity ensue this Friday, November 14th at 5:00 pm SLT as MadameThespian Underhill directs Avatar Repertory Theater actors Avajean Westland, Kayden Oconnell, Caledonia Skytower, Breyda Adored, Corwyn Allen and Ada Radius in scenes from an American dark comedy by Eric Coble -- "Bright Ideas"

• Friday Nov. 14. at 5 pm SLT
• Live theater, presented in voice
• Free.  Donations welcomed.

• At A.R.T.'s Theater on Cookie 

• Location Link. Click to go or drag to the viewer screen: 
• http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Cookie/198/205/21

For announcements about Avatar Repertory Theater (ART) and ART Plays Around, Join  this Google+ Community: 

• Avatar Repertory Theater

*****

• Scroll down for News and Notes
• The 8th Annual VWBPE conference calls for proposals
• You judge: MACHINIMUWA VII: Top prize 20,000 Lindens
• The Machinima 48 Hour Film Project,  Details here 
• Univ. of Delaware NATIONAL AGENDA 2014 Speaker Series 
• THIS WEEK at Seanchai Library
• Psykopaint
• More news in my blog roll (column on the right)

2014 EDU: HG: Hypergrid University: a preliminary model

Hypergrid University: a preliminary model

A suggestion in a Kitely forum proposed the development of "Kitely Academy"  or "Kitely University."  That idea has been growing and expanding.  We now recognize that an academy university will not be limited to Kitely, even though it may be rooted in Kitely.  Here is my take on the current status of the activity and a suggested preliminary model for an expansion to university scope.  

Hypergrid University organization {preliminary model}

• School of Virtual Worlds
• School of Virtual World Applications
• School of Accredited Instruction in Virtual Worlds.
• TBD (To Be Determined)
• Note: we don't have to do all this at once.

The main academic responsibility of a university: 

• to aggregate learning opportunities
• to integrate those into meaningful (and possibly useful) curricula 
• to certify the quality of the instruction and of the graduates
• to maintain a master catalog executing these responsibilities.

Topics below

• Google+ community
• Possible interested parties (possibly affiliations)
• What a student can learn beyond the subject matter
• Possible instructional methods
• Virtual campus/catalog plan
• Funding for maintenance of the master catalog might come from:
• Services provided by the three schools mentioned above
• Additional services by Hypergrid University

• Scroll down for News and Notes
• The 8th Annual VWBPE conference calls for proposals
• You judge: MACHINIMUWA VII: Top prize 20,000 Lindens
• The Machinima 48 Hour Film Project,  Details here 
• Univ. of Delaware NATIONAL AGENDA 2014 Speaker Series 
• THIS WEEK at Seanchai Library
• More news in my blog roll (column on the right)

2014 EDU: PROMO: Inworld whiteboards. Sticky notes. Opensim only.

Inworld whiteboards. Sticky notes. 
Opensim only
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Making a whiteboard to display text as for a class is awkward in Second Life.  You have to open Gimp or Photoshop and make a texture, then import it into SL, then put it on a prim.  If you want to change anything, you have to go through the same process again.  Not at all suited to a presentation to a class.   There I have often wished for a something like a blackboard or a whiteboard that would let me put text directly on a prim.  
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Now I find a solution.  Not in Second Life, but in OpenSim Scripting Language (OSSL).  Opensim uses LSL and LSL syntax, but it also has a set of added functions, OSSL, that offer features not available in Second Life.  One set of OSSL functions lets you write text onto the face of a prim. 

• Scroll down for News and Notes
• The 8th Annual VWBPE conference calls for proposals
• You judge: MACHINIMUWA VII: Top prize 20,000 Lindens
• Shakespeare: Actors on auction
• The Machinima 48 Hour Film Project,  Details here 
• Univ. of Delaware NATIONAL AGENDA 2014 Speaker Series 
• THIS WEEK at Seanchai Library
• More news in my blog roll (column on the right)

2014 VIDEO: Virtual reality -- how the metaverse will change filmmaking. Get ready for an amazing ride

Get ready for an amazing ride:  Virtual reality: 
How the metaverse will change filmmaking 

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. In this talk, George introduces the concept of the “metaverse” and how it will change filmmaking in sets, crew, actors, and most importantly, the story.

• Watch on YouTube

Birth of a video series (from "Virtual Outworlding")

• Grow a team of comedy writers in SL, make the videos to prove it.
• Mama tells--but not all. Promotion 2 for: Flying Saucers Return
• Flying Saucers Return: Mama tells--but not all. Promo2 Shot List
• Letitia Meets the Press. Production details
• Letitia Meets the Press. Shooting plan
• Letitia meets the press. Promotion 1 for: Flying Saucers Return

• Voice centered shooting plan, not what you expect. AMP video notes
• Prep for a video shoot: the characters. AMP video notes
• Backup: Saving your video production set in Kitely. AMP video notes
• Flying Saucers Return: Lisa-Marie and the triplets. And tricks with sets.
• A set grows in Kitely. Flying Saucers Return
• Resources for video production in virtual worlds
• Coding for audio and visual files. AMP video notes

• Scroll down for News and Notes
Selections from Craig Wright’s “The Pavilion”-- A.R.T. 5 pm Friday, Nov. 7.
• The 8th Annual VWBPE conference calls for proposals
• You judge: MACHINIMUWA VII: Top prize 20,000 Lindens
• Shakespeare: Actors on auction
• The Machinima 48 Hour Film Project,  Details here 
• Univ. of Delaware NATIONAL AGENDA 2014 Speaker Series 
• THIS WEEK at Seanchai Library
• More news in my blog roll (column on the right)

2014 VIDEO: PEOPLE: PROMO: Unseen Transcended Borders Machinima UWA VII

Unseen Transcended Borders Machinima UWA VII

We hope this film will inform people of the tragedy in Human Trafficking. This is just to bring it to light. For more information please use the links found at the end of the film.-- Eric Takkar 

• Watch on YouTube

Comment: This video illustrates how people can use low cost video production in virtual worlds to promote ideas they feel are important.  

MachinimaUWA VII

• Scroll down for News and Notes
Selections from Craig Wright’s “The Pavilion”-- A.R.T. 5 pm Friday, Nov. 7.
• The 8th Annual VWBPE conference calls for proposals
• You judge: MACHINIMUWA VII: Top prize 20,000 Lindens
• Shakespeare: Actors on auction
• The Machinima 48 Hour Film Project,  Details here 
• Univ. of Delaware NATIONAL AGENDA 2014 Speaker Series 
• THIS WEEK at Seanchai Library
• More news in my blog roll (column on the right)

2014 ART: EDU: UWA 5th Grand Art Challenge: Art on display

University of Western Australia (UWA) 
5th Grand Art Challenge. Art on display.

Art and video challenge. By the University of Western Australia. Prizes totaling about $4,200 USD.   Art pieces: 60, Videos: 40

Click image to enlarge

Backstory

• Transcending Borders: Launch of UWA Art & Film Challenges with L$1.03 Mil in Prizes

Location

• Location Link. Click to go or drag to the viewer screen: 
• http://slurl.com/secondlife/UWA/64/131/249

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• Scroll down for News and Notes
Selections from Craig Wright’s “The Pavilion”-- A.R.T. 5 pm Friday, Nov. 7.
• The 8th Annual VWBPE conference calls for proposals
• You judge: MACHINIMUWA VII: Top prize 20,000 Lindens
• Shakespeare: Actors on auction
• The Machinima 48 Hour Film Project,  Details here 
• Univ. of Delaware NATIONAL AGENDA 2014 Speaker Series 
More news in my blog roll (column on the right)

2014 STAGE: Selections from Craig Wright’s “The Pavilion”-- A.R.T. 5 pm Friday, Nov. 7.

Selections from Craig Wright’s “The Pavilion” 
Avatar Repertory Theater, 5 pm Friday, Nov. 7.

High school class reunions are a minefield of discarded dreams, misplaced hopes and surprising twists.  And when the cutest couple in class shows up, their painful past blows up in a heated confrontation.  Actors from Avatar Repertory Theater explore scenes from Craig Wright's "The Pavilion".  Corwyn Allen, MadameThespian Underhill, Ada Radius and Kayden Oconnell will bring comedy, romance and a touch of philosophy to Friday's Plays Around at 5 pm on November 7.

• Friday Nov. 7. at 5 pm SLT
• Live theater, presented in voice
• Free.  Donations welcomed.

• At A.R.T.'s Theater on Cookie 

• Location Link. Click to go or drag to the viewer screen: 
• http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Cookie/198/205/21

For announcements about Avatar Repertory Theater (ART) and ART Plays Around, Join  this Google+ Community: 

• Avatar Repertory Theater

• Scroll down for News and Notes
• The 8th Annual VWBPE conference calls for proposals
• You judge: MACHINIMUWA VII: Top prize 20,000 Lindens
• Shakespeare: Actors on auction
• The Machinima 48 Hour Film Project,  Details here 
• Univ. of Delaware NATIONAL AGENDA 2014 Speaker Series 
• More news in my blog roll (column on the right)