Dr. James Manseau Sauceda,
Director
Multicultural Center, CSULB
Professor
Communication Studies, CSULB
An Interactive Approach for Cross Cultural
Communication
Multicultural Center
California State University, Long Beach
1250 Bellflower Boulevard
Long Beach, CA 90840-1005
(562) 985-8150
Biography of Dr. James Steven Manseau Sauceda
Performance Artist and Composer
California State University, Long Beach
James Steven Manseau Sauceda, a third generation Mexican American, is a native
son of Los Angeles. Born in 1952, he grew up and attended schools in Compton,
California. He received his B.A. Degree in Speech Communication from CSULB, being
honored as the department’s top graduate in 1974. His Masters Degree, also from CSULB,
included international study in London, Dublin, and Wales. Of particular note was the
production of James Joyce’s Ulysses In Nighttown studied at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin.
This was in preparation for his own Creative Thesis production of A Pretty Brick Story for
Childsize Heroes which he compiled and adapted from the complete works of James Joyce.
A Pretty Brick Story also featured a suite of original piano pieces which he composed
while in Dublin. He graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1976.
For his doctorate in Communication Arts and Sciences, he attended the University
of Southern California. The auspicious faculty and guest artists he studied under included
John Houseman, Edward Albee, and Eugene Ionesco. Also during this time, his first play
was written and produced at the Stop Gap Theatre. His Dissertation, “Performing James
Joyce’s Finnegans Wake" entailed a full length, one man show, and was under the tutelage
of world renowned Joycean, Jackson Cope. He graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1980.
Dr. Sauceda’s varied performance credits include: producing and directing a cable
television show called “Arts Alive!”, writing and performing in a one man show titled
Destino, as well as directing, and compiling the scripts for over a score of Readers Theater
productions on the CSULB campus.
Dr. Sauceda continues to pursue his creative writing projects. His play, Magic Kit,
recently took a top prize in the National Chicano Literary Competition. Furthermore, he has
just completed writing his second original screenplay, (a project in which he also composed
the musical score.) In addition, Dr. Sauceda is a poet who has performed his work
throughout the greater Los Angeles area. His poetry has been translated into Spanish and is
featured in an anthology published in Mexico; Nueva Poesia de Los Angeles, Universidad
De Guadalajara, 1994.
Dr. Sauceda is a Professor in Communication Studies and is the founding director
of the Multicultural Center at California State University, Long Beach. He is also the
founder and director of "The Rainbow Voices," a multicultural theater troupe which brings
issues of diversity to elementary, middle, high school, and college campuses. The Rainbow
Voices have brought their message of acceptance to over 60,000 students nationwide.
The 1995-1996 season included some landmark productions:
RIVER DANCING: Spills and Tides
This work had its debut at the Arneson River Theater in San Antonio Texas, on
November 19, 1995. River Dancing featured original music and drama written and
performed by James Manseau Sauceda as well as collaborations with the gifted artist
Analisa Ridenour. River Dancing was co-directed and performed by James Steven
Manseau Sauceda and Analisa Ridenour (this work was also accorded the honor of sharing
the stage with nationally known author Sandra Cisneros in a performance event titled On
Being Texas Bound.)
TSUNAMI IN TEXAS: The Baptism of Mexican America
This work premiered at the Hilton Palacio del Rio Hotel in San Antonio, Texas,
November 20, 1995. The performance featured original music, poetry and drama by James
Steven Manseau Sauceda and collaborations with Analisa Ridenour. “Tsunami in Texas”
was co-directed and performed by James Steven Manseau Sauceda and Analisa Ridenour.
SHATTER ME WITH DAWN: A Postmodern Musical of Letters and Poetry from
the Works of Emily Dickinson
This full length musical production brings us face to face with one of America’s
most influential and compelling poets. The show features rare writings by Emily Dickinson
as well as extraordinary personal reminiscences never before performed on stage. Scored,
Scripted, Produced, and Directed by James Steven Manseau Sauceda, this musical marked
the opening event for the Women’s Conference sponsored by the President’s Commission
on the Status of Women. Shatter Me With Dawn debuted on March 28, 1996, at 8:00 p.m.
in the Carpenter Performing Arts Center, on the CSULB campus. The production was also
honored to give a "command performance" in Amherst, Massachusetts, for the annual
meeting of The International Emily Dickinson Society, June 22, 1996.
BOLTS OF MELODY : REVISITING EMILY DICKINSON
This solo performance by James Steven Manseau Sauceda featured a preview of his
forthcoming sequel to “Shatter Me With Dawn”. The composer sang and played the piano
comprising highlights from the new work’s score. The event was held in the Jones Library
Performance Room, Amherst, Massachusetts, as part of the annual meeting of The
International Emily Dickinson Society, June 22, 1996.
TAKING BACK THE TRINITY: In the Name of the Mujer
This award winning production staged, for the first time, the poetry and prose of
Sandra Cisneros, Ana Castillo, Helena Viramontes as well as five other influential Chicana
writers. Scripted, Produced and Directed by Analisa Ridenour and James Steven Manseau
Sauceda, this show was presented in support of the Women’s Conference sponsored by the
President’s Commission on the Status of Women. “Taking Back the Trinity: In the Name
of the Mujer”, was featured in the Carpenter Performing Arts Center on March 30, 1996.
The 1997 season has featured an ambitious new work:
BURIED MIRRORS: REFLECTIONS AND RESURRECTIONS
This one-man show features the original music, songs, poetry, prose, and drama of
James Steven Manseau Sauceda. Through the use of ritual and interactive elements, the
audience is invited to see cultural identity in new ways. With personal vulnerability,
humor and compassion “Buried Mirrors” forwards issues of diversity and “equal human
worth.” The performance role models strategies of inclusion by encouraging us all to
develop “cultural improvizations” that freely “crisscross” the borders of our experience.
“Buried Mirrors” had its debut, April 11, 1997 in the Multicultural Center Theater
on the University campus of California, Santa Barbara. It has subsequently been performed
at Chapman University and Harvey Mudd College (Claremont Consortium of Colleges).
WORKS IN PROGRESS
The following are theatrical projects currently in development:
1.
ATTENDING THE GOLDEN PILGRIMAGE
This instrumental musical work consists of a series of solo piano suites that offer a
journey of Soul. Each composition explores a different mode of light (i.e. sunset, twilight
etc.) Furthermore, each piece will be composed in a different part of the country (thus
creating a “pilgrimage” of the American landscape.) The overarching theme is derived
from Shakespeare’s Sonnet #7 which uses the image of the sun traveling across the sky as a
metaphor for the artist’s quest for Spiritual growth and Vision.
Attending the Golden Pilgrimage is nearly completed with 12 tracks having been
recorded, which together comprise the vast majority of the Compact Disc. All compositions
and performances are by James Manseau Sauceda.
2.
DIZZY WITH DREAMS
This full-length musical theater project is in its first draft stage. The book and
libretto for Act One has been written. Also, ten arias/duets have been composed for Act
One. The musical, Dizzy With Dreams features Book, Music and Lyrics by James Manseau
Sauceda.
3.
BOLTS OF MELODY
BURIED MIRRORS:
REFLECTIONS AND
RESURRECTIONS
This one-man show features the original music,
songs, poetry, prose, and drama of James Steven
Manseau Sauceda. Through the use of ritual and
interactive elements, the audience is invited to see
cultural identity in new ways. With personal
vulnerability, humor and compassion Buried Mirrors
forwards issues of diversity, as those of “equal human
worth.” The performance itself role models strategies of
inclusion by encouraging us all to develop “cultural
improvisations” that freely “crisscross” the borders of
our experience.
Buried Mirrors had its debut, April 11, 1997 in the
Multicultural Center Theater on the campus of the
University of California, Santa Barbara. That same year,
Buried Mirrors was also performed at Chapman
University (Memorial Auditorium) and Harvey Mudd
College (Galileo Hall).
In 1998 Buried Mirrors was a keynote event for: The
Child Abuse Prevention Council of Orange County's 10th
Annual Conference, The Cultural Competence and
Mental Health Summit VI (sponsored by the California
Institute of Mental Health), The Montana Education
Association Statewide Teachers Conference and The
Pride Conference on Youth Leadership (sponsored by
the Montana Human Rights Network).
BURIED
MIRRORS: REFLECTIONS
AND RESURRECTIONS
This workshop features the original music, songs,
poetry, prose, and drama of James Steven Manseau
Sauceda. Through the use of ritual and interactive
elements, the audience is invited to see cultural identity
in new ways. With personal vulnerability, humor and
compassion Buried Mirrors forwards issues of diversity,
as those of “equal human worth.” The performance itself
role models strategies of inclusion by encouraging us all
to develop “cultural improvisations” that freely
“crisscross” the borders of our experience.
Buried Mirrors had its debut, April 11, 1997 in the
Multicultural Center Theater on the campus of the
University of California, Santa Barbara. That same year,
Buried Mirrors was also performed at Chapman
University (Memorial Auditorium) and Harvey Mudd
College (Galileo Hall).
In 1998 Buried Mirrors was a keynote event for: The
Child Abuse Prevention Council of Orange County's 10th
Annual Conference, The Cultural Competence and
Mental Health Summit VI (sponsored by the California
Institute of Mental Health), The Montana Education
Association Statewide Teachers Conference and The
Pride Conference on Youth Leadership (sponsored by
the Montana Human Rights Network and PRIDE).
Buried Mirrors
Music Cues
1.
Immediately following the introduction
Cue Track 4
“Let Me Begin”
(I will open with ritual and a prose poem)
At conclusion I will nod to you to fade out
remainder of the track.
2.
I will set up the audience to travel back to
elementary school. I’ll call out: “One, Two,
Three”
Cue Track 5
“2+2”
3.
I will set up the audience to travel on the
freeway. I will nod to you to
Cue Track 1
“Song For Santa Ana”
4.
I will set up the audience to travel with me to
Memphis. I will say “Come with me and meet
Martin in Memphis”
Cue Track 10
5.
As I move to conclude my presentation I will
relate a story of meeting Maya Angelou.
I will say “Still I Rise, by Maya Angelou”
Cue Track 6