‘Cartography’ Explores Story of Migration with Multimedia Theatrical Production at Eisenhower Auditorium

Following the performance of “Fandango for Butterflies (and Coyotes)” at Eisenhower Auditorium last month, the Penn State Center for the Performing Arts is bringing another migration-focused story to State College audiences, with “Cartography,” set to hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 14. 

A multimedia production that blends visual arts, film, dance, sound and technology, along with a small cast of six actors, “Cartography” tells the story of migration — a story that technical director Cheyanne Williams notes all audience members can relate to.

“The piece is really a feast. It’s been prepared for a specific group of people, but it’s such a bountiful feast that anyone can find something that resonates, that makes them laugh, that makes them cry and that connects them to the people in the room and this greater story of our collective history of migration,” she says. “We literally all have personal histories of migration unless you’re indigenous to this land. I think that coming away with a sort of openness to that dialogue with one another, with the audience member next to us, with your parents… is one of the biggest takeaways [for audience members].” 

“Cartography” originally premiered in 2019 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., when the federal government was under shutdown in relation to the proposed U.S.-Mexico border wall. The coincidence in timing was one that deeply resonated with the “Cartography” team.

“At the time, we were like, ‘Wow, this is so meaningful. What a time to be doing this piece!’” Williams says. 

During the pandemic, the team took an 18-month hiatus, but when they came together once again to perform “Cartography” as live theater resumed, Williams says they realized the piece’s meaning remained just as powerful. 

“Everything has changed, but this piece is still relevant and that’s just a fact,” she says. “For us, having that 18 months means the piece has really marinated. It’s had a chance to breathe and transform into a deeper, more beautiful piece.”

As the technical director, Williams runs the show’s interactive media, working alongside the stage manager and lighting designer. While she might not be on stage, she recognizes the powerful and unique storytelling techniques that come together to create “Cartography”, and how those resulting stories wield their power in the real world, off-stage. 

“I  believe the stories we tell shape the world we live in, from policy to the most intimate human interactions. What drew me to Cartography was the chance to tell a story that felt so important and was, at the time of its developing, a global issue…” she says. “The piece speaks a lot of different languages. As a technical director, that’s exciting. The languages are formal, they’re poetry, they’re literal languages. I think, on stage, over the course of the show, the actors speak four different languages. The piece specifically, in speaking those languages, speaks to so many disparate audiences.”

Since its inception, “Cartography” has been performed for audiences ranging from refugee populations and high school students stateside to domestic workers in Abu Dhabi. Those high school students are some of the most important audience members for Williams.

“Young people are the future of this world, so when we talk about the stories we’re telling, they’re the most important people to engage on this story of migration and place and where you come from,” she saysCatch “Cartography” at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 14, at Eisenhower Auditorium. Tickets are available on the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State website at https://cpa.psu.edu/events/cartography2021.