To mark the beginning of our third season, we start right where we left off, with a vernal equinox walk in the woods. As we make our way on the trail, we’ll discuss the meanings and histories of this threshold into spring, and feature a variety of ways that the equinox is celebrated around the world. 

Special thanks to David Brandon Ross for composing and performing the meditation featured at the end of the episode. 

David Brandon Ross (he/him) holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music Boston, MA as well as a degree in mechanical design from SUNY Corning, NY.  He studied theater with Charles Combs at Berklee and also trained at Dell'arte school of physical theater in Blue Lake California. Dave has been composing, performing and recording in the NYC avant garde music scene since 2002 releasing numerous albums as a leader and side man. He is the recipient of a Boston Music award and has played at Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center for the arts in Washington, DC and Vision Festival, NYC with artist Henry Grimes, William Hooker, JD Parran, Jason Hwang and many others. Dave is the author of a US patent and has designed and built many unique instruments including the patent pending Outar. He is a passionate music tinkerer. He instantly fell in love with the ability to combine sociological change with improvisational theater, acting and music through the live foley and on the spot scoring that is required in Playback theater. Dave is also owner and CEO of Gleefulwellness LLC which brings uplifting services to the community through art and wellness. Dave is honored to be a proud member of Big Apple Playback Theatre since 2019. You can find him on Spotify.

Tree Speech’s host, Dori Robinson (she/hers), is a director, playwright, dramaturg, and educator who seeks and develops projects that explore social consciousness, personal heritage, and the difference one individual can have on their own community. Some of her great loves include teaching, the Oxford comma, intersectional feminism, and traveling. With a Masters degree from NYU’s Educational Theatre program, she continues to share her love of Shakespeare, new play development, political theatre, and gender in performance. Dori’s original plays have been produced in New York, Chicago, and Boston. More information at https://www.dorirobinson.com

This week’s episode was recorded in Massachusetts on the native lands of the Wabanaki Confederacy, Pennacook, Massachusett, and Pawtucket people. Logo design by Mill Riot. Special thanks to the Western Avenue Lofts and Studios for all their support. 

Tree Speech is produced and co-written by Jonathan Zautner with Alight Theater Guild. The mission of the guild is to advance compelling theatrical endeavors that showcase the diversity of our ever-changing world in order to build strong artists whose work creates empathy, challenges the status quo and unites communities. For more information about our work and programs, please visit www.alighttheater.org. 

Learn more about the podcast at: www.treespeechpodcast.com, and IG: treespeechpodcast