Written & performed by Michael McCamish
Directed and choreographed by Maria Lexa
Music created and performed live by Bob Stagner
In the unlikely location of a chicken factory in a small Tennessee town, a man unfolds his soul journey and finds himself. Twobird presents a unique blend of penetrating social commentary and rich visual poetry, with a sprinkling of humor and irony. Dance, movement, and mask play combine with narration and naturalism.
A solo performance written and performed by Michael McCamish, directed and choreographed by Maria Lexa, the main character conjures up vivid scenes portraying the various characters in his life.
Michael McCamish plays all the roles and Bob Stagner composed and performs the dynamic musical score for Twobird.
“The show is called Twobird. It is a "phoenix rising" story set here in the south which I spent three years creating and performed in the Berkeley, CA in 2009. I had dreamed of remounting it since I moved back to Chattanooga in 2011 but had put off because of the enormous work that it was going to take. There were many voids to performing it again. I needed the right context, space, light design, and musical accompaniment (to replace the two Bay Area underground legends who had built the soundscape performed live). The Chattanooga Fringe Festival (CFF) gave me the incentive, context, and support system to remount it. And I was particularly empowered to feel like it was possible when our own local legendary percussionist Bob Stagner committed to the 2nd rising of Twobird. He magically fills the void left behind by two wonderful musicians. Another challenge was to get the original 90 minute score to the CFF 60 minute length, which we did with the help of the storyteller, writer, and director- Gregory Garrison.
The warm reception and experience of performing the show for the Fringe Fest left me realizing I had to give Twobird another flight. So, Bob and I are back in rehearsals revisiting, improving, and polishing the telling of the Twobird. We will perform it three times over February 28th (8pm) and March 1st (2pm, 8pm) and are honored to have the amazing storytelling talent of Gregory Garrison to open up for us with a story of his own. (Greg is associated with Next Exit Productions https://www.nextexitproductions.com/ and the Cast Iron Storytellers https://www.castironstorytelling.com/).
So, I hope to see you back at Barking Legs and please, spread the word to your friends and family that Twobird flies again!” -Michael McCamish
Greg Garrison is a writer and producer from Savannah, GA who has been happy to call Chattanooga his home since 2021. A storyteller from a young age, Greg graduated from Kennesaw State University with a degree in Storytelling and has been weaving yarns ever since, most recently through Cast Iron Storytelling created and run by the inspiring Jason Tinney. As a member of Next Exit Productions, Greg has been actively engaged with a number of creators in Chattanooga, but is particularly proud to call Michael McCamish a collaborator and friend. Greg is fortunate enough to be opening tonight's production and would like to thank you personally for supporting local artists.
Twobird was an audience favorite at the 2024 Fringe Festival and we knew we had to bring it back for a solo run in 2025.
Friday, February 28 @ 8pm; Saturday, March 1 @ 2pm and 8pm
$15 Standard ticket with discounts for students, seniors and “starving artists”.