Second Sight

CREATED AND PERFORMED BY LEA BENDER

Directed by Rich Szpigiel

New york City Premiere

Presented in Part by Groove Mama at Gene Frankel Underground Theatre

December 3rd, 2006 @ 4pm

After a successful opening in Berkeley, California (produced by San Francisco based Crowded Fire Theater Company, www.crowdedfire.org).  Second Sight made its East Coast premiere at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival in September 2005. It was later showcased in San Francisco in November 2005. Second Sight made  its New York City premiere in December 2006 at the Gene Frankel Underground Theatre. Second Sight is a solo show interweaving live performance with video and soundscape to tell the true story of Lea Bender's experiences living with spirit mediums in West Africa.

Eight years ago I found myself welcomed into a community of spirit mediums in Ghana. The experience was transformational; it has never left me. About a year ago I began to expand the story of my experiences into a solo performance.  I spent several months developing a short piece through the support of the Marsh Theater and Charlie Varon in San Francisco.  

After being accepted into the Crowded Fire Theater Company’s Matchbox Series, I began to create the full-length show. That was when I had a very clear but scary realization: I had to go back to Ghana. I spent January through mid-April '05 in Ghana re-visiting old haunts and reuniting with those who were still alive.  I began to gather images, video and stories… The show opened in June ’05 to enthusiastic audiences!  I am currently seeking grants, funding, producers and/or theaters interested in helping me to continue to tour and develop this piece.

--Lea Bender



Ghana Photos by Lea Bender. Copyright 2005. Second Sight Production Photos. Craig Moore. Copyright 2005.