<div dir="ltr"><p class="gmail-MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Colin and I met while working for the Idaho
Shakespeare Festival in 2004, the summer before Colin joined the Army. I
remember him bringing in samples of MREs (Meals Ready to Eat), and discussing
his plans to become an Army Medic. <br>
<br>
We stayed in touch throughout Colin’s various deployments, but it wasn’t until
2013 that an idea to collaborate entered our minds. At the time, I was fleshing
out the background of Claudio in Shakespeare’s "Much Ado About
Nothing". This was a character who, at the start of the play, was
returning directly from combat. What challenges did this character face in his
reacquaintance with civilian life? I thought, who better to talk to than Colin?
He was incredibly generous and forthcoming with information and insight.
Hearing his stories and perspective helped me anchor my performance, and it
inspired me to continue exploring his story, his journey. And the more we
talked, the more we wanted to explore creating a project based solely on his
experiences. <br>
<br>
We set about recording weekly phone conversations in an informal interview
format. Once the initial recordings were made, written transcriptions and
editing began. One of the challenges was to articulate what was at the core of
Colin’s experiences and perspectives in a clear way. We had a tremendous amount
of raw material, but what cohesively linked everything together? And what was
our format? <br>
<br>
Around that time I had also been listening to radio interviews of WWI survivors
on a BBC podcast. They were recorded when many of them were in their eighties,
but the raw, candid storytelling nature of the recordings aligned with our
goal, keep it simple. Colin had said from the beginning he wanted it to be as
honest as possible, to get at what it’s really like.<br>
<br>
The result is a living document that we continue to tweak. The stories cover
Colin’s journey from fresh recruit to seasoned combat veteran. It explores how
war shaped his thinking and perspective on the world, and how his life has
changed since. The text is almost entirely from transcripts, sprinkled with
quotes from other writers, among them, Shakespeare. After all, that’s how we
met. This unique collaboration uses the best of what we have to offer: our
combined skills and experience. He lived it, we wrote it, I perform it. As we
continue to present Bent Compass to live audiences, we find it resonates with
both civilians and veterans in different but rewarding ways.<br>
<br>
“Bent Compass” will be presented for three performances only – Friday March 7
and Saturday March 8 at 7:30pm, and Sunday March 9 at 2:00pm – on Bridge Street
Theatre’s intimate “Priscilla” Mainstage, located at 44 West Bridge Street in
Catskill, NY, as part of BST's SoloFest 2025. For more details and ticketing
information, visit <a href="http://bridgest.org/solofest-2025-one/">bridgest.org/solofest-2025-one/</a>.<br></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><br><br>
<a name="_Hlk142388615">Bridge Street Theatre presents<br>
SoloFest 2025 Show #1<br>
</a></span><b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">BENT
COMPASS<br>
</span></b><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Written by Neil Brookshire and Colin Sesek<br>
Performed by Neil Brookshire<br>
Originally directed by Phil Darius Wallace<br>
Three Performances Only!<br>
Friday March 7 and Saturday March 8 at 7:30pm<br>
Sunday March 9 at 2:00pm<br>
Bridge Street Theatre’s “Priscilla” Mainstage<br>
44 West Bridge Street, Catskill, NY<br>
<b><br>
Tickets:<br>
</b>Online in advance: $27<br>
At the door: $29<br>
Ages 18 and under: $15<br>
Four-Show SoloFest Pass: $90<br>
2025 Season Super Value Pass: $200<br>
</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><a href="https://bridgest.org/solofest-2025/" style="color:rgb(5,99,193)">https://bridgest.org/solofest-2025/</a><br>
<br>
<b>Bios:<br>
</b><br>
<b>Neil Brookshire </b>is an actor, writer, and visual artist. He earned a BA
from Boise State University and an MFA in Acting from Northern Illinois
University. He has worked extensively in regional theater and independent film.
He lives in northern Wisconsin, where he is also a licensed Emergency Medical
Technician.<br>
<b><br>
Colin Sesek </b>is an educator and Special Forces Army Medic. He has deployed
to multiple locations in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. He currently
teaches Emergency Medicine to high school students, volunteers for Idaho
Mountain Search and Rescue, and continues to serve in the National Guard. He
lives in Boise.<br>
<b><br>
<br>
</b></span><i><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Events at Bridge Street Theatre are supported in part by the New York
State Council on the Arts with the support of the Governor of New York and the
New York State Legislature and by Public Funds from the Greene County
Legislature administered by CREATE Council on the Arts. Bridge Street Theatre’s
entire 2025 Season is dedicated to the memory of Mary E. Barrett. </span></i><b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"></span></b></p></div>