Artist in Residence: The Life of Galileo

Resident artist Ryan Conarro—a director, actor, and theatre educator— lead a two-week residency in collaboration with the teachers of Anvil City Science Academy.  Conarro guided Academy students’ discovery of the tools of the actor and the methods of performing.  The students rehearsed daily with Conarro, as well as participating in the creation of scenic and props designs for the performance, and academic studies of the scientific background for the play.

‘I’m very excited to tackle this play with the students and teachers at this school,’ Conarro said.  ‘When the school told me they have a science focus and were looking for a project that linked with the sciences, I knew this play would be a good fit.  It tells the story of Galileo’s discoveries and the ethical dilemmas he faced when authorities challenged his work.’

Like many plays by Bertolt Brecht, THE LIFE OF GALILEO features sections of verse that are meant to be set to music.  Nome singer-songwriter Sarah Hofstetter is composed original music for the songs of the play, and she accompanied the performance live on guitar, along with Phil Hofstetter on mandolin.

In addition to working with students at the Academy, Conarro provided a community workshop for actors

and performers, open to all Nome residents.  He also lead a course for educators in drama-in-the-classroom techniques. 

This course was open to any interested teachers in the district.

Conarro lives in Juneau, where he works as an actor and director with Perseverance Theatre, among other endeavors.  He earned his BFA in theatre and English from New York University in 2001.  He’s worked in various parts of Alaska over the past five years as an artist in the schools.  In 2007, he adapted and directed ARCTIC MAGIC FLUTE with Juneau’s Opera to Go, which toured to Nome in February and featured the Nome Community Chorus.  Conarro also served as a KNOM volunteer in 2001-2002, as public affairs reporter and morning show host.

A Special THANK YOU to Margaret Thomas for preparing the grant to make this all possible!

Artists in Schools is a program of the Alaska State Council on the Arts which receives support from the Alaska State Legislature, the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency, and the Rasmuson Foundation.