Press contact:
Smitty Amabilis, The Collective of Geniuses
Email: CoG.pdx (at) gmail.com
Phone: (971) 285-0834

As a commedia noir, Denial of Self will explore narcissism and using the Internet as means to express it.

October 7, 2008 – Portland Oregon – Today The Collective of Geniuses (CoG) announced the development of their upcoming play, Denial of Self. The play will be written by using a Wiki at http://narcissist.wetpaint.com/. It is a play written for you, by you and about you. Moreover, it will look at the creation of alter egos, or “better” versions of ourselves, and how the Internet is used to feed this narcissistic adoration and affirmation of self importance such as how many “friends” I have on MySpace.

Denial of Self will premiere at the International Firehouse Cultural Center December 4 - 27, 2008. Audiences will enjoy an odyssey of narcissism, war, corporations, bigotry, and consumerism, while dancing through with the joy and possibility of clowns and puppets.

CoG intends to accomplish this by using the very medium people use to hide behind. The Internet.

Do you want to be famous? The public is invited to explore their level narcissism and submit little pieces of themselves through interactive activities that are hosted on their wiki. CoG will then adapt the activities into a performance piece. Therefore, audience participation becomes theater for the people, by the people!

The Denial of Self wiki will continue to be available for participation, but only submissions received before November 15th, 2008 will be used to develop the play.

"Your so vain I bet you think this play is about you... and it is. Only you can prevent Narcissism!"

Tickets available at PDXtix.net, and then click on the CoG logo. You may also call 503–205–0715.

About The Collective of Geniuses
CoG’s mission is to create art that challenges the notions on which class, gender, privilege, etc. are based. Furthermore, we empower minority artists; especially those who identify as trans, queer and/or womyn, and help them create sustainable economic stability through educational programs and creative opportunities. Artistic highlights include: Jack Castle, PhD performed at CoCA (for ‘A Perfect Room’) and at Gallery 1412 (Seattle.) CoG was also featured several times at Seattle Spit. Or you might have seen them on a street corner trying to give you a piece of chalk for one of their interactive arts activities.