Four People, One Body:

An Artist’s Life Journey - Mare Akana for Arts Access

Natalia Manning, aka Star Crystal, chose a life in the arts over death. She credits Matheny Medical & Educational Center’s Arts Access Program with helping her discover and develop into the emerging multimedia artist she is today.

Natalia ManningOf her birth, Manning says, “I died five times.” This difficult delivery caused cerebral palsy, which has left her in a wheelchair using a speaking device to communicate. There were times when she was in such pain and so depressed that “I wanted to die.” Instead of taking the drugs the doctors suggested for her, she chose to explore the arts, specifically acting. She had some acting classes before coming to Matheny, but when the Arts Access Program began in 1993, she was one of the first to participate in both acting and painting classes and has remained an inspiration to facilitators and program participants alike. Acting took her out of herself, allowing her to explore new lives. “I like to dance, but I love acting because it is a vacation for me,” she says.

She is a dedicated performer and director who spends several days a week pursuing her dream of living a life devoted to the arts. She credits her drama/ playwriting facilitator, Mare Akana, with giving her life its direction. Now, following Manning’s detailed instructions and Arts Access’ policy of facilitator neutrality, Akana has become Manning’s assistant in an ambitious new work: 4 People, 1 Body.

This piece showcases Manning’s talents: acting, directing, playwriting, wheelchair dance, dance choreography, painting, musical composition, makeup and costume design. Manning plans to use dancers to convey her story and has already directed four program facilitators in the voiceover dialogue. This is the first time any participant in the Arts Access Program has created a multi-media piece.

The concept surfaced during a discussion in Drama/Playwriting Group, and Manning quickly wrote out the intricate relationships of various aspects of her personality and the order in which they developed. There is Nicole, about 13, who is innocent, yet sexual. SnuggVamp is 15 and an impulsive loose cannon who sometimes manipulates Nicole. Natalia, 17, is the weak one because her conservative ways make her very fearful of life. Last of all is Star Crystal, 29, the free spirited artist who unites them all. It is very much a play about selfacceptance, self-nurturing and overcoming fear. Of the piece, she says, “I think 4 People, 1 Body is about how art is my pill.” Manning has indeed come full circle.

4 People, 1 Body had its World Premiere on 6 November 2005 at Arts Access’ Full Circle: Between the Lines, the annual celebration of the arts held at Matheny Medical & Educational Center’s Robert Schonhorn Arts Center. For more information on the program, go to www.artsaccessprogram.org or contact Eileen Murray at 908-234-0011 ext 442.

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Audio Description Equipment Available!

Would you like to offer an audio-described performance or provide assistive listening equipment for a concert, conference or short run of a show? The New Jersey Theatre Alliance has multi-channel FM Equipment available for loan that can be used for assistive listening and audio-description events. For futher information call Robert Carr at the Alliance at: (973) 540-0515 ext 15
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The Cultural Access Network is a co-sponsored project of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts / Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.