banished? productions is dedicated to the resurrection of forgotten theatrical forms, the re-creation of wonder, and the re-awakening of the senses. It is committed to producing quality work of multiple disciplines, particularly in theatrical experiments with text and form, to re-discover and re-invent the art of narration. banished? strives to inspire and collaborate with other artists in order to fuel its own artistic process.
banished? productions is headed by co-founders Carmen C. Wong and Niell DuVal.
It is honored to have Levia C. Lew as its resident set and lighting designer and Cort Smith as its resident videographer.
It has been a privilege to work with the following affiliated artists:
Danielle Mages Amato (Dramaturg/Graphics Designer)
Meisha Bosma (Choreographer)
Naomi Jacobson (Actor)
John Lescault (Actor)
Susie Pamudji (Stage Manager)
Otis C. Ramsey-Zöe (Dramaturg)
Carmen C. Wong is a German, Film
and Theatre graduate from the University of Notre Dame who hails from
Singapore. A self-confessed dilettante, Carmen’s directorial
dabblings have included the whimsical bobrauschenbergamerica by Charles L. Mee (DC, 2007), and a scatologically-inspired rendition of Pablo
Picasso’s Desire Caught by the Tail (DC, 2006). She has also stage managed Constanza Macras’ Back to the Present produced by Sophiensæle (Berlin, 2003) and Common Threads with Black Women Playwrights’ Group (DC, 2005).
In her spar(s)e time, Carmen runs an art salon for artists of all
mediums and is also the organizer of SketchDC – a figurative
drawing group in the Washington Metro area.
Niell DuVal is currently in his seventh
season at the Arena Stage as a full-time props artisan. Before his engagement
at the Arena Stage, Niell has also been a props artisan for the Shakespeare
Theatre and the Kennedy Center. His artwork has been commissioned by television
programs, museums and by other theatrical institutions in the Greater Washington and
Baltimore area. A selection of his work was featured in the exhibit Theatrical
Artisans: Props and Crafts from DC Theatre (2005) at the Montpelier Cultural Arts
Center.
Levia C. Lew design genius has graced the following works:
Washington D.C.: banished? productions: Charles L. Mee's bobrauschenbergamerica, and Pablo Picasso's
Desire Caught by the Tail.
(Lighting/Set.); Active Cultures: Hansel and Gretel Eat Crabs.
(Lighting/ Set).
Baltimore: Baltimore Theatre Project: Roxi in 3-D with
Elvis. (Lighting)
New York: LaMama ETC Siguiriya (Associate Lighting Design).
Normal, Illinois: Pentecost, Ain't Misbehavin', The Lonesome
West, (Lighting Design). Lysistrata,
Macbeth (Set Design).
Cort Smith has recently entered the world of art from a varied background, having worked as everything from a cryptologist, linguist and engineer to vaccuum cleaner salesman and ranchhand. Cort believes he has finally found his niche in filmmaking and is pleased to be a part of banished?'s creative team. Cort's work has been seen in banished?'s bobrauschenbergamerica and ballades mechanique ver1.0, as well as in DC's 2007 48-hour film project. Cort spends his free time keeping his wife, son and dogs happy and trying to think of something... anything... to write and direct.