Directed by Ellen Weed with creative collaboration by Mary Buckley.

“First Person Plural” is an original monologue series developed by Ellen Weed, and the Fire Survivor Ensemble event is a special presentation by Redwood Complex fire survivors who tell the same compelling story from various angles, with creative collaboration by Mary Buckley. This event will be a unique, powerful, and healing experience for participants and audience alike, as participants describe their harrowing escapes and poignant losses, their experiences of returning to their burnt-out homes, and the tremendous community support that is helping them rebuild their lives.

The fire survivors telling their stories are Nori Dolan, Clint Hudson, Cathy Monroe, Mary Monroe, Jaelin Mosscarille, Charlotte Scott, and Ross Walker. They will be accompanied by live musicians Kim Monroe, Bill Taylor, Mary Buckley, Clint Hudson, and Ross Walker, including some fire survivors and some original fire-related pieces.

There will be one performance at the Ukiah Senior Center on Wednesday, September 19 and another at the Redwood Valley Grange on Saturday, October 20. The performances are scheduled to occur near the one-year anniversary of the fire, and the Grange is hosting a fire-related art exhibit and mosaic mural incorporating fragments retrieved from burnt sites.

Both performances start at 7:00, and doors open at 6:30. Tickets are $10, with free admission to fire survivors. Half of ticket proceeds will be donated to the Community Foundation’s Disaster Fund.

LIMITED SEATING at both venues—NO tickets sold at the door

Sponsored by the Arts Council of Mendocino County and funded by the Community Foundation of Mendocino Countys Redwood Valley & Santa Rosa Community Recovery Fund, and Rotary 5130 Fire Relief Fund, with additional generous assistance from the Ukiah Saturday Afternoon Club and other local donors.

The October 2017 Redwood Complex Fire destroyed hundreds of homes and disrupted thousands of lives. In this unique and original ensemble event, those who lived through the fires describe their harrowing and poignant experiences of terror, loss, community kindness, and the slow rebirth of hope and homes – the chaos and confusion of fleeing the fire, staying at the shelter, getting support from friends and strangers, returning to their burnt homesites; how they are recovering now, and what they miss most – and least.

After 12 weeks of workshops to elicit and develop their stories into a compelling script, the survivors will present their stories in two events (Wed Sep 19 at the Ukiah Senior Center and Sat Oct 20 at the Redwood Valley Grange).