Three Theatre & Dance Faculty Win Award for Collaborative Art/Performance Piece with a Sustainability Message
Three associate professors from West Chester University’s Department of Theatre &
Dance were recently recognized with a Woman Warrior award from the West 
Chester Green Team and West Chester University’s Office of Sustainability. Constance
Case, Maria Urrutia, and Gretchen Studlien-Webb were recognized in a virtual award
ceremony on November 13th, along with seven other women from West Chester Borough.
The three are the collaborators behind CARNIVAL OF RUIN, an art installation and theatre/dance performance piece with a sustainability message. The show is based on the story of a careless carnival barker who is visited by a mystical fortune teller who convinces him to live a more sustainable existence. The moral of the story is to reduce, reuse and recycle. All of the show’s set, props, and costume pieces are made from post-consumer waste. A “big top” tent is made from thousands of plastic bags, and costumes are made from plastic bags, soda cans, hula hoops, bottle caps and repurposed clothing.
CARNIVAL OF RUIN will reveal the “big top,” costume pieces, and more during an immersive exhibit in West Chester University’s John H. Baker Gallery from March 6 – 26, 2021. On May 29, 2021, East Goshen Township Park will host a FREE performance of CARNIVAL OF RUIN. The park is located at 1661 Paoli Pike, West Chester, PA. For additional information visit www.carnivalofruin.com or on Facebook @carnivalofruin.
The West Chester Green Team formed in 2019 as an alliance of four local environment-related
citizen groups: Don’t Spray Me!, Chester County Citizens of Climate Protection (4CP),
Ready for 100 (100% renewable energy), and Plastic-Free Please Action Group PFP.)
The mission of the West Chester Green Team is to help citizens live their daily lives
in a green and sustainable manner.