“When Wajcha Meets Pachamama” (Religion, Ecology, and Expressive Culture Initiative)

“When Wajcha Meets Pachamama” is a play that wrestles with issues about the future of our planet. It exposes our current climate disasters in a way that would be received by people without anxiety or the heaviness of scientific analysis. A clown named Wajcha, an orphan in Quechua played by Cláudio Carvalhaes, goes around the earth with Pachamama the rat, where together they experience several climate disasters. After the journey, Wajcha discovers he is hurting as much as Pachamama.

 

Cláudio Carvalhaes is an earth thinker, theologian, liturgist, performer and artist. He is a native Brazilian, hailing from from São Paulo. He completed his Ph.D. in Liturgy and Theology at Union Theological Seminary in New York City in 2007. He previously taught at McCormick Theological Seminary, Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, and Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Since 2016, he has been a professor of worship at Union Theological Seminary in New York.

 

Carvalhaes has authored five books in English and five in Portuguese, including “Inventory, Metamorphoses and Emergenc(i)es: How Do We Become Green People and Earth Communities.” (York: The Barber’s Son, 2023); “Ritual’s at World’s End: Essays on Eco-Liturgical Liberation Theology” (York: The Barber’s Son, Fall 2021); and “Praying With Every Heart – Orienting Our Lives to the Wholeness of the World” (Oregon: Cascade Books, 2021).

 

He has taught, performed and lectured around the world. He is a member of the American Academy of Religion, North American Academy of Liturgy, Academy of Homiletics, Societas Liturgica and the International Academy of Practical Theology; and recently he received the Honorary Degree of Sacrae Theologiae Doctor by the Board of Trustees of Starr King School for the Ministry. His new play, “When Wajcha Meets Pachamama”, will be part of the New York Theater Festival in the fall of 2023.

 

Luis Louis is a mime actor, teacher, director and playwriter, and the founder of “Luis Louis Studio: Center for Research and Creation of Total Mime” in Brazil. He graduated from the Desmond Jones School of Mime and Physical Theater in London and has the academic title of title of Notorious Saber and Master degree at PUC University of São Paulo. Author of the book “Total Mime”, he was professor of Mime at the Royal National Theatre, at The School of the Science of Acting, both in London, and at University of Body Art and Communication at PUC-São Paulo. He has directed and trained major names in national and international theatre. He prepared casts for theatre, film and television productions all over Brazil and abroad. Currently, he performs all over the country with his shows, teaching courses, giving lectures and promoting Total Mime and the Art of the Body Language.

 

Marco Scarassatti is an associate professor and researcher at the Department of General Theory of Music at the School of Music at UFMG in Brazil. A sound artist, improviser and composer, he develops research and construction of sculptures and installations, as well as field recordings and soundscapes. He conceived, created and directed the show, Villa-Lobos Landscape, held at CPFL Campinas, in March 2009 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the composer’s death. He is author of the book “Walter Smetak, o alquimista dos sons” (the sound alchemist) (Perspectiva, SESC, 2008). He has published multiple albums and participated in numerous festivals around the world.