Pandora Scooter - rhymescape philopher / rhythmic ranter
WHO. Winner of the SpokenKnowledge 2008 DNC Contest for her anti-racism piece "Other." Cast in reality spoken word television show, RELE. In rotation on Women Of Substance radio. Endorsed by International Folk Poet Alix Olson and hailed as a Spoken Word Rock Star, Pandora Scooter has performed in NYC, Washington DC, Jackson, MI, Richmond, VA, Boston, San Francisco and, most recently, she brought down the house in Austin, TX. She also features at New Jersey Performing Arts Center every year in HIP HOP: Out, Loud and Proud. Writer of five solo-shows, hailed by nytheatre.com as a "masterful entertainer" and by Out in Jersey as "a Force of Nature." Pandora Scooter entertains, inspires and makes people laugh 'til it hurts. Pandora is also an unyielding advocate for peace amongst all people and carries this message throughout her work - both the hilarious and the sober. Pandora identifies as a QUEERMAMASAPIEN, and is pro-people, in all their glorious individualizations. She speaks fluidly and lucidly on behalf of misfits and 'fits,' of all walks and talks. Her hilarious spoken-word rhymes and rants thrill and inspire audiences up and down the East Coast. She's been put into categories including everything from stand-up comedy to hip-hop to folk poet to performance artist. Her work defies conventional labels, just as she does herself. And hands-down, she's the funniest Atheist/Amerasian/Dyke spoken word artist you've ever seen.
WHAT. She has performed at venues including: New Jersey Performing Arts Center (the sixth largest Performing Arts Center in the USA) for Planet Hip Hop 2 & 3, as well as for HIP HOP: OUT, LOUD & PROUD, a sold-out show she conceived of, curated and hosted. Baltimore Pride 2005, Mississipi's OUToberfest 2005, Capitol Rainbowfest (Trenton, NJ's Pride Celebration), Cornelia Street Cafe's Pink Pony Series (NYC), Nuyorican Youth Slam (NYC), Phase 1 (Washington DC), TruthSerum.Org at the Milky Way Lounge (Boston), Austin's M.A.L.I.'s Women's Festival, as well as featuring at numerous open-mics throughout New Jersey and Philadelphia. On the college/high school circuit, Pandora has performed at George Washington Univesrity, NYU, Farmingdale State College (NY), Rutgers, Newark; Rutgers, New Brunswick, Mercer County College, Brookdale Community College (all NJ), Millenium High School & Manhattan Marymount College (NYC), Solebury School (HS, New Hope, PA) Boston University, James Madison University (VA), and University of Connecticut. Pandora's two solo shows, FEAR JUNKIE and SAMURAIZATION have played to crtical and box office success. FEAR JUNKIE: An Exploration of Fear, Consumerism and Why I Sleep with the Lights On, was developed at New York Theatre Workshop's Larson Lab and then went on to short runs at Where Eagles Dare Theatre Company and Asbury Park Black Box Theatre. The show earned a star rating for being noteworthy from the editors of nytheatre.com. SAMURAIZATION: One Woman Learns to Have her Sushi and Eat It, Too was developed at Asbury Park Black Box Theatre, went on to an extended run in New York City's Stage Left Studios and then moved to Rahway, NJ where it was presented by Joe Mancuso in association with the Union County Arts Center at El Bodegon's Salon space. SAMURAIZATION won Pandora a grant to support its development and production from the Puffin Foundation.
Influences include Carol Burnett, Eddie Izzard, Margaret Cho, Dr. Seuss, Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner, Ellen Degeneres, Laurie Anderson, Arrested Development, Bertolt Brecht, Tracy Chapman, Caryl Churchill, Ani DiFranco, T.S. Eliot, Maggie Estep!, ICE-T, Quincy Jones, Charlie Mingus, Alanis Morrissette, N.W.A., Suzan Lori Parks, Prince, Reno, and Tennessee Williams.
WHY. I believe the world needs as much connection between people as possible. I'm out here to connect with as many people as I can - and to let people know it's ok to connect with each other. To let them know that it's ok to be everything they are and want to be - in all the complexities and confusions that make life what it is: one big, crazy, beautiful messy love storm. Power to the Peaceful and Love to All...
