Respondent: Melissa Simmons
Position in Company: Founder
Company: MerryCat Productions
Show Title: Wallpaper
“Fringe Festivals are great because artists are not beholden any type of regulatory body – no rules!”
- Why should people see your show?
Charlotte Perkins Gilman is often thought of as an early feminist icon. However, her brand of feminism was inequitable, and she in fact advocated for the use of eugenic law and science to breed a superior race. The author’s unsavory point of view is rarely mentioned in conjunction with her work – until now.
- What about festivals intrigues you? And why the Atlanta Fringe?
Fringe Festivals are great because artists are not beholden any type of regulatory body – no rules! Shows are picked randomly and not because they will sell well – this promotes innovation!
- What inspired you to create this?
Originally I was looking for a piece to adapt that would have no rights/ fees attached – They Yellow Wallpaper had recently entered the public domain, and that’s where our story begins.
- Life has been weird the last few years, to say the least. How has the “real world” affected the art you’re creating?
World spins, seasons waltz
Chaos whispers truth and life
Flowers bloom, then fade
- What have you learned from working on your show so far?
Be vulnerable and the art will make itself.
- A mysterious stranger asks to meet you and your cast and crew after loving your show. In your WILDEST DREAMS, who is it? (Bonus points if your mysterious stranger is an Atlanta celeb.)
Donald Glover
- Fringes are the place to really push the boundaries so we gotta ask: are you inviting your family to this show are “Hey, maybe sit this one out you guys…”
All are welcome!
- Will your show change the world?
Our show will interrupt the unmarked status of Charlotte Perkins Gilman and The Yellow Wallpaper as a foundational texts/ artifacts of 19th century literature.
We seek to mark and therefore expose Gilman’s white supremacy and eugenics campaign. This is also the first time Charles Chestnutt, a prolific author, essayist and contemporary of Gilman has been portrayed onstage.
- AI: the death of our art form or just a new tool to create?
AI should be regulated by lawmakers under the age of 40! AI is a tool for learning but should never be a substitute for the artist!
- We’re making an excellent Fringey Feelings playlist. Describe your show in two or three songs we can add to keep the jams flowing.
Private Eyes by Hall and Oates
Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor) by Robert Palmer
Sounds amazing, right? Click here to learn more and get your tickets to this show today.
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