Murri Lazaroff-Babin
Portland, OR
Camp Fire Stories is about how the idea of home changes over time, and the ways in which we fill in the gaps of blurred memories from childhood. It also explores how we experience loss, danger, adventure as children and allow(s) the audience to remember the unique things about their own individual homes.
Most of all, it’s an homage to the thousands who lost their homes in the 2018 Camp Fire in Northern California.
SwearingThe Buzz Intro Interview
Murri Lazaroff-Babin
1. Why should people see your show?
Because it's beautiful-
It's skilled, vulnerable, fun, silly, and allows for the audience to remember their own home. It's from the heart, but also fantastical, and even gross at times. A solo performance with embodied characters, storytelling, clown, dance, movement, and shadows.
Because it's timely-
Wildfires are raging, and they're not going to stop. Camp Fire Stories takes you on a tour of one such community in Northern California that has been decimated by recent wildfires. It reminds us that when 'home' is taken from us, even if we have mixed feelings about the place we grew up, the profound sense of loss we experience doesn't go away.
Because it's cathartic-
This piece allows the audience to remember the unique things about their own home. While watching the various characters interact with other people, and the landscape, audiences have experienced their own long forgotten memories rushing back to them. I think that's one of the greatest gifts you can give someone.
2. What about festivals intrigues you? And why the Atlanta Fringe?
They're so buzzy!
Festivals have an extraordinary build-in potential. You're exposed to so many people from all around the world. The opportunity to build community, network, find your people is so exciting.
You're also being exposed to some awesome theatre, ways to approach creation and performance, things you'd never experience somewhere else. I'm definitely an artistic stealer. If I can watch something that changes my perspective or sparks some juice, oh man - what a gift!
The care, communication, and organization of the Atlanta Fringe helps me feel a part, helps me feel a sense of community and belonging. It can be easy to get lost in the mix, and so far I've felt a good deal of support.
3. What inspired you to create this?
Honestly, it began as an exploration of the creative process itself. I was in grad school, taking a solo performance class, and learning how to self generate/self create. Many small bits, and small exercises grew and grew and grew overtime, and what you're seeing is Camp Fire Stories' latest iteration.
I knew I eventually wanted to make something about the Camp Fire, and about my home burning down, and my dad almost dying, but I didn't know what or how. It's such an intense thing to lose your home, to relocate, pick up the pieces, and find somewhere else to go. Somewhere that you could hopefully begin to rebuild a life, a community, friendships, etc. I knew I wouldn't be able to really actually process the depth of that in any traditional sort of way, so here we are.
