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1. <?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><rss xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:openSearch="http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/" xmlns:blogger="http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008" xmlns:georss="http://www.georss.org/georss" xmlns:gd="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005" xmlns:thr="http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0" version="2.0"><channel><atom:id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2314775859964913690</atom:id><lastBuildDate>Wed, 13 Mar 2024 02:08:52 +0000</lastBuildDate><title>AcquaTroupe</title><description></description><link>https://acquatroupe.blogspot.com/</link><managingEditor>noreply@blogger.com (Alisa)</managingEditor><generator>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>16</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>25</openSearch:itemsPerPage><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2314775859964913690.post-2166044961201111574</guid><pubDate>Sun, 06 Sep 2020 14:34:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2020-09-06T07:34:36.580-07:00</atom:updated><title>Labor Day, Honoring So Many, Keep Working</title><description>&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;Greetings! An official day off from work is just what most of us do NOT want right now. We need to get back to our jobs, our income, our opportunities, our colleagues and friends, our normal lives. I encourage all of you to have faith, to think positively and recognize that thousands of scientists and health care workers and many others are working tirelessly to get us past this pandemic.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Meanwhile, though this is Labor Day rather than Memorial Day, I invite everyone to join me in honoring those who have passed on....in particular, I am speaking of military heroes who have served this nation and our ideals. This week we had to endure an unimagineable slam against these heroes from the top of our government. I am a proud Army veteran myself, and I suffered the loss of many, many friends and colleagues in warfare. So did my father, a Navy officer in World War II. On top of that, of course, we are all suffering from the loss of enormous numbers of people who have died because of coronavirus. At times it may seem like too much for us to bear.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;But we are alive, we still have our talents and our values, our will to succeed and our love of country and of our fellow humans. So let&#39;s all do the best things we can do on Labor Day: first, &lt;i&gt;stay safe&lt;/i&gt;&amp;nbsp;and keep those around you safe, by wearing masks, by keeping your distance, by driving safely and using caution in whatever you are doing. Second, &lt;i&gt;treat others as you would have them treat you. &lt;/i&gt;We all have a job to do to achieve equality among all people in this country. We all could use a little extra patience, tenderness, forgiveness, kindness. So let&#39;s all try to extend those things to those around us.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Finally, let&#39;s not give up. Let&#39;s work as one nation, one society, one species.......we can and will survive. We can and will always keep making it better for everyone. Peace,&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;James Gibson&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;</description><link>https://acquatroupe.blogspot.com/2020/09/labor-day-honoring-so-many-keep-working.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (World Oceans)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2314775859964913690.post-4661173077744571427</guid><pubDate>Fri, 28 Aug 2020 13:38:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2020-08-28T06:38:12.939-07:00</atom:updated><title>The Big 102 is LAUNCHED !</title><description>&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;Okay, world....we have moaned and complained for six months, we are all tired of being quarantined, we are (hopefully) all distressed and horrified about the ugly prejudice and hatred that never quite seem to go away......but if I have learned one thing beyond doubt in my life, it is that positive thinking and faith and determination win the day. Those of us in the arts know that one cannot take great strides forward without taking risks. I could tell you a thousand stories about artists who built great careers because they took the risk of imagining something beautiful that did not yet exist, people who bragged about a great accomplishment before they had done anything --- and who then took their boast to a level of reality, made it come alive, and shone bright light on the lives around them.......&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;...All of which is a fancy way of saying that at AcquaTroupe, we are no longer going to mope or hide or complain because we are in quarantine, in a world where social equality and fairness and universal joy always seem to lie just beyond our reach. We are launching The Big 102 and we intend to change the world by doing so!!&amp;nbsp; We want you to be part of it, no matter who you are or where you are, no matter whether you have any connection to the arts or not. In my opinion, the arts are an integral part of human life....no one is completely outside the sphere of the arts. No one.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;The Big 102 is a project to share...and discover...the arts in 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, and in 51 countries and dependencies in Europe.....and to tell the rest of the world about it. Before we jump onto that adventure, let us just be clear: we are not ignoring the pandemic...we are not pretending the nightmare is over. At AcquaTroupe we insist that you wear a mask, distance spatially, be sensible, wash your hands, remember that you are responsible for other people&#39;s lives wherever you go. We insist that you try to help others whenever you can.. &lt;i&gt;Those are our rules.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;But those rules are not going to keep us cooped up in isolation. We, the artists and friends of AcquaTroupe, have too much to offer. We are the lucky ones -- the ones who actually get to be actors and singers and models and instrumental musicians, who get to actually dance and write stories and make videos and display visual arts for others to enjoy. We are the lucky few on the planet who get to make every idea and every dream come alive. So here we go!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;The Big 102 will encompass more exciting things than I could describe in ten blogs. It begins TODAY,&amp;nbsp; the twenty-eighth day of August with planning, with auditions both online and in person, with rehearsals and decisions and filming and recording studios and thousands of emails and text messages. It begins this fall with LIVE (spatially distanced and masked) events in Atlanta and New York City. It begins January 1, 2021 in Los Angeles with a New Year&#39;s Day event, broadcast to countries around the world, an event that will make you forget how disappointed you are that the Rose Bowl is not happening.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;Why am I telling you all this? Because WE NEED YOU. Whether you are just some young person or grandparent quietly bored in Podunkville USA, or a hardworking factory laborer in Lostburg, Europe -- or just a college student who can&#39;t wait to hit the big stage in a few years -- at AcquaTroupe, we want you and we need you. We need artists of every stripe. We need people who can write and draw and dream. We need people with money to invest in a good cause. We need an audience! An audience who is eager to explore, to discover the arts in hidden corners, to share ideas with a company which will not mock or ignore those ideas. We need a world of hungry people with imagination, to help us launch this undertaking and to share it with the rest of the world. The followers of all the social media pages of all the people reading this blog probably total in the &lt;i&gt;millions..........so let&#39;s get the word out there! Let&#39;s all begin creating, responding, learning, singing, dancing, acting, applauding!&amp;nbsp;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;If you have no idea of what to do next, or if you barely understand what I am trying to tell you, send me an email......acquatroupe@gmail.com........just tell me you want to know more about The Big 102......I will respond to you personally, and I will show you exactly how you can be part of this. I feel sure that by &lt;i&gt;next&lt;/i&gt;&amp;nbsp;summer, you will be thanking me and us.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;Please be sensible, be safe, keep active, use your brain and the talent that every human has....don&#39;t let the quarantine keep you from expressing yourself....don&#39;t let it keep you from having fun, from learning, from creating.......... you were born with a talent. You have ideas and dreams. There are people in 102 states and countries who would like you to share those dreams and ideas with them. AcquaTroupe and our partners at World Oceans Arts are all about discovering and exploring the arts in hidden corners. We need your help and we want to share our discoveries with you!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Love and Peace,&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;James Gibson&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Artistic Director, AcquaTroupe&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description><link>https://acquatroupe.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-big-102-is-launched.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (World Oceans)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2314775859964913690.post-2794485349127763830</guid><pubDate>Sun, 26 Apr 2020 20:41:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2020-04-26T13:41:17.793-07:00</atom:updated><title>RANDOM THOUGHTS, RAVAGED PLANS, REAL SIGNS OF SUNSHINE </title><description>&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;I know each of us has our own experience of what it is like to suddenly be quarantined, isolated, forced into different schedules and home bases, cut off from so much and so many....but I am moving forward, we are moving forward, I hope you are moving forward too. Enough of frustration and the unfairness of it all, enough of tolerating some leaders who can&#39;t get their facts right, and painful empathy for those who try so hard but cannot find a quick way to end the damage.....&lt;br /&gt;
2. <br />
3. ....When I try to account for why I feel so healthy and refreshed, why I have enjoyed so much gratification from the arts in my career, why I am so optimistic when I wake up each day -- a lot of it simply has to do with thinking positively. Maybe one advantage of being older than many of my colleagues is that I had plenty of time to leave outrage and impatience and nervousness behind. There is a lot to be said for positive thinking and determination, a lot to recommend that one should never give up!<br />
4. <br />
5.      So at AcquaTroupe we are charging ahead, planning future tours and creating new art works, practicing our repertoire and making new connections with the left hand, while the right hand continues to raise funds for people who are suffering, to pray for those who are scared, to honor and remember those we have lost, and to relieve those who are exhausted. Doing two jobs at once is nothing for most artists, so we just do it!<br />
6. <br />
7.       Just imagine how the world will feel when we are truly and completely past the dangers of coronavirus, when adequate testing and a guaranteed vaccine allow us to stop being on edge....imagine how great it will feel for an audience to go to a concert, or watch a movie because they want to (not because they cannot leave the house), to go to dance class or a book reading or join in a flash mob. It will be awesome, and we plan to be there!<br />
8. <br />
9.        I would like whoever reads this to know that AcquaTroupe is all about inclusivity...all about teamwork...all about back and forth of ideas and dreams between us and our audiences. So no matter who you are, we welcome your ideas and questions and proposals. We'd love to know your story, to find common ground, to dream up something special for us to give to your community or to feed your own career. Please let us hear from you! If the pandemic proves nothing else, it proves that people really need each other, in every place and every situation. Go, team! Just find one little thing in your home or in your life that makes you smile, and get ready, because AcquaTroupe is bringing sunshine and hope to you!!<br />
10. <br />
11. James Gibson and the Team&amp;nbsp; </description><link>https://acquatroupe.blogspot.com/2020/04/random-thoughts-ravaged-plans-real.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (World Oceans)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2314775859964913690.post-2997709628837728038</guid><pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2020 19:01:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2020-03-31T12:01:43.237-07:00</atom:updated><title>GO AWAY, CORONA</title><description>I shudder to hear the number of deaths and positive tests;&lt;br /&gt;
12. <br />
13. My beloved Italia is dying under the weight of this mess.<br />
14. <br />
15. I try to contact someone important to me<br />
16. <br />
17. But a sad empty inbox is all my eyes can see...<br />
18. <br />
19. <br />
20. I pray for the victims and medical helpers and friends<br />
21. <br />
22. And like everyone else I just keep on asking "When?"<br />
23. <br />
24. No hugs, no concerts, and even the church is online,<br />
25. <br />
26. I wish I could give all the world the good health that is mine.<br />
27. <br />
28. <br />
29. We are filled to the brim with our gifts and good fortune and wealth<br />
30. <br />
31. So perhaps it's our wake-up call that approaches by stealth,<br />
32. <br />
33. When we think we have conquered the darkness and truly have won<br />
34. <br />
35. The corona burns hotly and threatens to blind our sun.<br />
36. <br />
37. <br />
38. I pray and I know better days lie ahead for us all<br />
39. <br />
40. But the loss of so many is casting a most dreadful pall<br />
41. <br />
42. Over life which is so rich and yet often so darkly sad....<br />
43. <br />
44. We dream of fresh breaths and remember the joy we have had...<br />
45. <br />
46. Wish away bad corona and bring back the purest bright sun<br />
47. <br />
48. 'Til we smile once again and pretend that we truly have won.<br />
49. <br />
50. <br />
51. ---Copyright 2020 by James Gibson</description><link>https://acquatroupe.blogspot.com/2020/03/go-away-corona.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (World Oceans)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2314775859964913690.post-5662394756131104913</guid><pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2020 01:56:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2020-03-23T18:56:30.885-07:00</atom:updated><title>TRUE HEROES</title><description>&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;Whenever terrible things happen, we all look -- consciously or automatically -- for a bright spot, a sign of hope. For me, recognizing heroism amid the fear and uncertainty is always a good antidote. As artists, we are not strangers to unexpected challenges and disappointment. Every artistic career is host to many such bumps. But when a global crisis is stealing hundreds or thousands of lives every day, it can be tough to find strength and bravery amid the rubble.&lt;br /&gt;
52. <br />
53.      We would like to recognize just a few among the many hopeful and bright threads of heroism out there today. (btw Did you know that <i>kudos</i> is singular, not plural?) So we extend kudos to every medical, emergency response and caregiving person in the world, in what may be their most trying time ever............to the students and faculty and staff of Chino Hills High School in California (a real battleground against coronavirus), who surmounted the disappointment of a cancelled concert by putting together an uplifting and beautiful virtual performance of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" which we just watched on CNN........to Dr. Anthony Fauci of NIAID who has the courage to correct false statements by the President in front of microphones and the world.........to Greta Thunberg, who stood in front of the United Nations and the world and challenged leaders to grow up and wake up, to stop pretending, to get their priorities straight and begin saving the planet from extinction.........to Meg Wheeler, who is running for a state Senate seat in Massachusetts, who could have given up when coronoavirus forced her campaign away from shaking hands and knocking on doors, and back to the computer instead, but whose commitment to better education and women's rights and caring for humanity took precedence over convenience..........to everyone in our military and diplomatic services who probably wish they could be back home to protect their loved ones from dying in the pandemic, but who instead are toughing it out in harsh environments in places like Yemen and Iraq and West Africa, in the name of freedom and human rights...........to Beth Reuss of Austria, who wrote a song while quarantined and enduring huge disappointment over cancelled plans, instinctively knowing that music and poetry are sometimes the best channel for responding to calamity.......to everyone on earth who refuses to give up or to succumb.........<br />
54. .<br />
55. We send blessings and wishes for good health and peace and joy to everyone, everywhere. The show must go on, and the music must never end.<br />
56. <br />
57. James and the AcquaTroupe team</description><link>https://acquatroupe.blogspot.com/2020/03/true-heroes.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (World Oceans)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2314775859964913690.post-9059639243424490131</guid><pubDate>Sun, 08 Mar 2020 03:07:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2020-03-07T19:07:58.433-08:00</atom:updated><title>Meet the AcquaTroupe Artists !</title><description>&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; Please welcome the artists of AcquaTroupe! As roster members and guests of a most unique and profound ensemble, we expect these people will shake up the world and brighten many lives in the days ahead. *In addition to those listed here, we will soon be welcoming new additions to the Troupe. We will also be sharing the stage with eminent guest artists to be announced soon! *&lt;br /&gt;
58. <br />
59.      With my own brief comments about each, here are the artists who are currently performing or under contract with us, in reverse alphabetical order by last name:<br />
60. <br />
61.        <b>ADAM JOHNSON   </b>A very bright, talented and charismatic actor in film and stage, based in Atlanta, with excellent credits and much to offer! His skills range from standup comedy to very dramatic roles; we look forward to showcasing those in upcoming performances. He has appeared in many top-level feature films. Adam is always (with Joe close behind) the first one to respond to my emails...the mark of a true professional!<br />
62. <br />
63.         <b>ELLENA HOGREFE   </b>I am proud to call this internationally acclaimed mezzo a dear friend. She is also a trusted colleague as key consultant for AcquaTroupe, and a composer's dream partner for art song and opera. Ellena has sung across Europe and North America, including world premieres, Carnegie Hall and more than a hundred other places. Her impressive repertoire ranges from sacred to jazz, from Baroque to the work of living composers. She and I are thrilled to be recording, as we speak, a premiere CD of contemporary classical art songs and arias!  <br />
64. <br />
65.          <b>JOE HATCHER </b> is a passionate Atlanta-based film and TV actor who is dedicated to what we do in every area. He was instrumental in helping us launch our fund to help artists struggling with dire circumstances. Not only is he a fine actor, but a brilliant creator of original film and a man who works easily with anyone, a true gem in this crazy arts world.<br />
66. <br />
67.          <b>JAMES GIBSON </b>enjoys being me (!), especially in the privileged chair as Artistic Director of the Troupe. My long career as a composer, pianist, writer, actor and director just keeps getting better and better as I am blessed to work with such great talents as the people listed here. You can learn more at jamesgibsonarts.com.<br />
68. <br />
69.           <b>ALISA ERKES </b>makes it all possible for us -- by creating and managing three websites, and by steering us back on course when my erratic vision gets clouded. Best of all, she is a gifted film and television actress who is featured in an important and brilliant video for Behcet's disease awareness, on which we coordinated with World Oceans Arts. Her friendship and insights are a real gift to us.<br />
70. <br />
71.            <b>NATASHA ELLIS</b> is featured (as is Alisa) in the forthcoming film <i>Litany. </i>She is a brilliant young woman with natural instincts in acting, a special gift for children's theatre <i>and </i>she is a novelist, a wonderful friend and a future scene partner with yours truly in Shakespeare! Her experience includes numerous roles from musical theatre to drama, and a featured role in FrightFest at Six Flags over Georgia!<br />
72. <br />
73.            <b>KIRBY EICHOLTZ  </b>is possessed of a beautiful tenor voice which is often in demand around Atlanta and elsewhere. An alumnus of Georgia State University's outstanding music school, he is involved in recording projects with us as well as live performances. His award-winning extensive experience with all styles and genres from opera to church music and everything in between is such a blessing!<br />
74. <br />
75.             <b>CLEOPATRA DAME </b>has a beautiful ease of singing and is an accomplished songwriter and poet, the pride of Jamaica and as wonderful a musical partner as one could ever wish for. When she sings, everyone smiles and feels like dancing.....her eclectic drawing from multiple genres is so perfect for our troupe...and she is so nice to work and talk with! We were happy to welcome her to our Atlanta show recently and we look forward to more!<br />
76. <br />
77.             <b>KATHY M. CYR </b>has been one of my favorite people for over half my lifetime, a Maine native who tells me exactly what I need to know and who has enthusiastically jumped on board as personal assistant and rescuer whenever I feel overwhelmed. Kathy is also a beautifully talented photographer who has a refreshing perception of nature, people, and life in general....a gem.<br />
78. <br />
79.              <b>PAIGE CUMMINGS </b>is a junior at Baldwin-Wallace University. Her enormous creativity is evident in whatever she does. The first time I saw clips of her choreography, acting and dance, I knew it was one of those rare moments when thousands of reels and auditions melt away and the director tells himself, 'This one is <i>real</i> and <i>amazing' . </i>Paige will appear in World Oceans Arts' <i>1969 </i>to be released later this year.<br />
80. <br />
81.               <b>JOANNA BURRELL </b>is being talked about in opera and art song circles not only around the South, but in other places: her voice is one of the most gorgeous, and her musicality among the finest, of any singer I have heard in a long time. She recently was featured soloist in Eric Whitacre's <i>Goodnight, Moon</i> in Atlanta with the composer conducting. Joanna has performed in Greece and Germany; she is an award-winning coloratura heading into a great career.<br />
82. <br />
83.              <b>KARIS BRIZENDINE </b>is a southern California triple threat who is Broadway-ready with acting and vocal skills to match. We discovered her along with Paige at Baldwin-Wallace, where they both are featured in numerous stage productions. Karis will also appear in <i>1969</i> and we are eager to see her onstage and on screen before long with AcquaTroupe!<br />
84. <br />
85.              <b>ALLIE BRAULT  </b>Every troupe needs a New York phenomenon and we have Allie! She is a magnificent combination of vocal dexterity, acting genius and professional dedication blended with a great personality! Watching her onstage with Joanna in a Mozart opera is beyond description......and she has a looooong list of musicals to her credit! ........I think, without a doubt, everybody loves Allie!<br />
86. <br />
87.               <b>CAIN-OSCAR BERGERON </b>is an inspiring and virtuosic flutist, a highly professional singer and a great friend. He performs with choral groups and orchestras all around the South, hails from Louisiana and will be performing for large audiences there with AcquaTroupe later this year. Like other Troupe artists, his ability to excel at more than one thing in the arts is almost beyond belief.<br />
88. <br />
89.               <b>KERBY BAIER </b>is one of the reasons I love attending things like vocal competitions. I heard her recently at one where there were dozens of singers who are ready for the professional opera and concert stage...but Kerby is the one I sought out for AcquaTroupe. Her experience includes a cappella and contemporary church music as well as a classical and operatic repertoire. From her current base in North Carolina, we are excited to anticipate her beautiful singing throughout the Southeast with us in the days ahead.   <b> </b> <br />
90. <br />
91.             **Most of our artists have websites or social media pages where you can keep up with what they are doing.....and if you have a question or message for any of us, just let us know!<br />
92.                                                            <br />
93.       ---James Gibson                                                    acquatroupe@gmail.com<br />
94. <br />
95. <br />
96. <br />
97.               <br />
98.                      <br />
99. <br />
100. <br /><br />
101. &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; </description><link>https://acquatroupe.blogspot.com/2020/03/meet-acquatroupe-artists.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (World Oceans)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2314775859964913690.post-2864149287708946299</guid><pubDate>Thu, 26 Dec 2019 17:56:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2019-12-26T09:56:17.782-08:00</atom:updated><title>Reaching Way Out in 2020</title><description>&lt;b&gt;Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
102. <b><br /></b>
103. With a new and big tour officially underway thanks to a fun mid-December mixed arts show, AcquaTroupe is now lunging into a wide-reaching venture. In the final days of a calendar year, we and our partners at World Oceans Arts always look back and look forward. We can concoct many slogans for our path; let's go with this one for now: <i>Reach out, Lift up, Bring down the house.</i> Both organizations will be reaching into all corners of the northern hemisphere over the next twelve months. We will be offering several new films, quite a few videos and recordings, and around 150 live multiarts performances!<br />
104. <br />
105. But we want to put a fresh and vital emphasis on our purpose: to lift up so we can bring down. We will be placing strong focus on people -- especially artists -- who are disadvantaged or ignored or severely limited by circumstances. We will be encouraging our audiences and fans to care about an earth which has been ravaged in many ways. So our top priority is not to increase our fame or gather in riches for ourselves. At World Oceans Arts and AcquaTroupe, we want to make life better, to make the world better. This is not just about dollars. You can help us with your ideas, your participation, your enthusiasm, your willingness to spread the word.<br />
106. <br />
107. We believe we can bring down the house in thunderous joy when we show the positive ways in which the arts can make life better for everyone. We think a big dose of artistic sharing and passion can go a long way toward helping restore beauty, truth, dignity and respect to our society, our governments, our traditions and our institutions. You are invited to help us explore and discover the arts in hidden corners, dark alleys, secret retreats and wide open spaces everywhere. With great humility we predict that what WOA and AcqTrpe launch in 2020 will shake up the arts world a bit. Get ready for some amazing experiences!<br />
108. <br />
109.         With love and peace,<br />
110. James Gibson, Director<br />
111. AcquaTroupe</description><link>https://acquatroupe.blogspot.com/2019/12/reaching-way-out-in-2020.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (World Oceans)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2314775859964913690.post-8393382276094923866</guid><pubDate>Mon, 02 Dec 2019 17:07:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2019-12-02T09:07:59.547-08:00</atom:updated><title>ACQUATROUPE IN GEORGIA!   DECEMBER 14</title><description>Please save the date! AcquaTroupe brings its live show to Georgia for the first time this year on Saturday, December 14 at 7:30 PM. Admission is &lt;i&gt;pay what you can&lt;/i&gt;! This show is a benefit for &lt;i&gt;Artists at the Bottom, Friends at the Top&lt;/i&gt;&amp;nbsp;which is our fund to help artists who face difficult circumstances. Many gifted performers and creative artists struggle to build careers because they are limited by disability, prejudice, isolation, lack of training, or other&amp;nbsp;debilitating factors. We help them by providing the education, encouragement, and opportunities they crave and need. Even a few dollars goes a long way toward helping one of these artists.&lt;br /&gt;
112. <br />
113. AcquaTroupe's multi-arts show features ***Shakespeare, Fun Holiday Songs, Opera, cool jazz and popular original music, selections from James Gibson's <i>Living Piano Music </i>CD, dramatic monologues, and face-to-face encounters with the heroism of Joan of Arc and Anne Frank! ***<br />
114. <br />
115. The show is appropriate for a general audience and takes place at St. Augustine Parish Hall, 1221 Morrow Rd, Morrow GA 30260. This location is just a few minutes off the interstates, and parking is free! <i>Seating is limited</i> so we suggest you email us at acquatroupe@gmail.com to reserve your seats.<br />
116. <br />
117. Come and marvel at the extraordinary talent of award-winning and phenomenal film/theatre/musical artists including <b>Joanna Burrell, Cleopatra Dame, Allie Brault, Joe Hatcher and Adam Johnson !!</b><br />
118. <b><br /></b>
119. <b>                                   SATURDAY     DECEMBER 14    7:30 PM </b><br />
120. <b>                                    <i>Only about twenty minutes from Atlanta !</i>      </b><br />
121. &lt;b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/b&gt;</description><link>https://acquatroupe.blogspot.com/2019/12/acquatroupe-in-georgia-december-14.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (World Oceans)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2314775859964913690.post-8334613611423230565</guid><pubDate>Sat, 26 Oct 2019 19:22:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2019-10-26T12:22:28.195-07:00</atom:updated><title>Cherish the Dream ... Expand the Horizons</title><description>&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; I imagine that every person with an artistic career has a dream, most likely one they have treasured since childhood. It is often the most important thing in a person&#39;s life. It can surpass family, obligations, love, and everything else in its urgency and refusal to die. Probably it is nearly impossible to rise to a high level of prominence in the arts without such a dream. So if your passion for the arts is such that you cannot let it go, and cannot imagine doing anything else with your life, then definitely cherish that dream and let it motivate you always!&lt;br /&gt;
122. <br />
123.     But very often, those of us with a lifelong dream of being an artist keep that dream so narrow, so tightly protected in its own little box, that it becomes difficult to accept any altered version of it. Sadly, this sometimes means that people with enormous talent actually pass up or ignore the very opportunities that could carry their dreams into reality. I am not a psychologist or a fortune teller...but I feel pretty strongly that those who allow their dreams to expand, to bend and flow, to be open to unexpected alternate possibilities, will realize their dreams. They are more likely to achieve a high level of fulfillment and lifelong happiness, than those who do not give their dream any breathing room.<br />
124. <br />
125.      One thing is for sure -- everything in the arts is unpredictable. A great singer can have a bad night, a theatre can suddenly close, an accident or illness can wipe out a visual artist's ability to work, a life-changing event can seemingly erase all the years of hard work toward the dream. But we can, and should, allow this unpredictability to expand and open our mental catalogue of possibilities, rather than tightening it. If your only dream is to be published in <i>Poetry</i> magazine, you may accomplish that....but many poets have failed to ever be published at all. Ignoring all the other thousands of outlets for poetry in the world of printing could rob you of the very achievement you have always wanted.<br />
126. <br />
127.      On this planet there are hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of actors/singers/dancers whose only real dream is to perform on Broadway. Such dreams should be cherished; they can provide years of motivation for a person to slog through thousands of hours in the practice room, along with all the other sacrifices that must be made. But let's ingest a tiny dose of reality: if you multiple the number of theatres that actually qualify as being 'on Broadway', by the number of productions they are likely to mount over, say, fifty years; then multiply that by the number of available roles in those productions --- the result is that there will still be hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of artists whose only dream is to be on Broadway....and they will never perform there.<br />
128. <br />
129.      I am not saying for one instant that anyone should give up the dream of being on Broadway...or of winning an Oscar or of playing Carnegie Hall or of achieving any other universally recognized pinnacle in the arts. What I <i>am</i> saying is that if you expand that dream, you allow for a huge number of other possibilities which can give you the same thrill and pride and professional and financial success.....without as much angst and disappointment. Sure, Broadway is great, but being in a musical at a high school is probably just as much fun as almost anything else on earth!<br />
130. <br />
131.      As a college student I heard a friend say he had been hired to accompany a two-piano version of <i>The Music Man</i> in some small town. I was insanely jealous; I had been acting since age five, I was studying piano and composition at a great university, and what I wanted most was to perform everywhere, and be recognized at the highest levels. It seemed so unfair! As it turns out, I went on to give a couple of thousand performances as a pianist, actor, conductor and composer, some of them in high profile locations. If I could have told myself at age twenty that the same dream can appear in a million ways, I probably would have saved myself a lot of frustration and anxiety.<br />
132. <br />
133.      Don't ever let your dream disappear....but recognize that not only are the arts very competitive -- <i>but that the arts are everywhere. </i>Seven billion people on this planet want to hear music, want to be entertained, want to be enriched by what artistic expression can teach them. If you have artistic talent and a passion for the arts, your dream is reachable. If you are willing to put in the time and the hard work, it will becomes yours. Don't ever let go of that dream -- but don't box it in so tightly that you miss the forest for the trees!<br />
134. <br />
135. James Gibson&amp;nbsp;</description><link>https://acquatroupe.blogspot.com/2019/10/cherish-dream-expand-horizons.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (World Oceans)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2314775859964913690.post-4516565328257981138</guid><pubDate>Mon, 07 Oct 2019 15:19:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2019-10-07T08:19:49.437-07:00</atom:updated><title>Remembering Jessye Norman</title><description>&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; One of the hazards of being my age is that I experience friends passing away more frequently than when I was early in my artistic career. When someone I knew was also known throughout the world, the magnitude of their passing increases because other people I know are impacted by the loss. I want to pay tribute to the late Jessye Norman, who passed away last week. Of course she had one of the most magnificent singing voices any of us have ever heard. But I hope people will also remember what kind of person she was.&lt;br /&gt;
136. <br />
137.      When a college friend and I sat in Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor and first saw her walk out onto the stage, no one knew who she was. 'A graduate student', someone whispered. Then she opened her mouth to sing, and within seconds the entire audience was aghast.. Some of us had been privileged to hear great opera singers before, but none had ever heard a voice like that. In the following days I discovered that a close friend was one of Jessye's regular accompanists.... So over the next couple of years I got to know more about her, and had a few wonderful encounters with her. Once I met her in a hallway, no one else around, and asked her about her upcoming audition for the Metropolitan Opera. At that point I don't think she knew much about who I was, but she responded very kindly, patiently, and appreciatively as I wished her well. Every friend of mine who had rehearsed or been in class or performed with Jessye said the same thing: that she was an astoundingly brilliant musician, and an extremely kind and wonderful person.<br />
138. <br />
139.      My other favorite encounter with her -- my all-time favorite-- was in Washington when I stood in line with her and she was introduced to Dame Joan Sutherland (who had always been my personal greatest heroine of the opera world). It was interesting to see Jessye when she was perhaps just a bit  reserved and shy, but what I remember clearly was the energy that poured from both women toward each other, enough electric energy to light up a city.....and that moment, unique in history, spurred me on to compose and practice and sing and study for weeks on end, excited that I had witnessed a monumental fragment of inspiration from the best of the best.<br />
140. <br />
141.      Later I met and heard Jessye again numerous times, most memorably in productions at the Deutsche Oper in Berlin. I have many friends in Georgia, a state which is and always will be proud to have produced Jessye Norman. I have heard African-American friends say that Leontyne Price and Jessye Norman changed the entire outlook of the operatic world by becoming such towering figures. On behalf of AcquaTroupe, prayers and wishes for eternal beautiful singing and joy go out to Jessye Norman and to her overpowering legacy of kindness and love.<br />
142. <br />
143. James Gibson, Artistic Director</description><link>https://acquatroupe.blogspot.com/2019/10/remembering-jessye-norman.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (World Oceans)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2314775859964913690.post-1627358128810124411</guid><pubDate>Tue, 17 Sep 2019 11:33:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2019-09-17T04:33:52.076-07:00</atom:updated><title>Poking Around in Hidden Corners</title><description>&lt;b&gt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;&lt;/b&gt;Periodically at AcquaTroupe, we go back to World Oceans Arts&#39; motto, &lt;i&gt;Exploring (&lt;/i&gt;or &lt;i&gt;Discovering) the Arts in Hidden Corners. &lt;/i&gt;Some of us love to research towns of less than a thousand people...to see whether the one motel is okay for a night, to ask whether there is a grocery store or a school, and to imagine daily life there. I lived in a very small town for a few years and I absolutely loved it! One important thing I learned, in retrospect as much as when I lived there, was that artistic genius and fresh creativity can exist anywhere. I learned that people can make miracles happen no matter where they are.&amp;nbsp;&lt;br /&gt;
144. <br />
145.      AcquaTroupe is excited because we are on the verge of descending upon small towns and huge cities all over the USA. In November we open in New York City, our first event there since the third Off Broadway production of <i>Cafe Playa Moon </i>several years ago. After we do shows in Atlanta and the Cleveland area over the winter and early spring, AcquaTroupe then descends on a plethora of hidden corners, mixed in with those giant cities where artistic happenings are abundant..<br />
146. <br />
147.     Personally, I look forward to the little cafes and the tiny wooded streams almost as much as I do to the oceans and big concert halls and festivals. In AcquaTroupe, there are a few words and expressions we simply do not allow ourselves to repeat for long. One is the word 'can't'.......but another is, 'There's nothing to do in.......'.  No town or hidden corner deserves that kind of negative dismissal. So if you live in a hidden corner where 'nothing is happening', get ready for a surprise. We just may pop into your tiny hamlet one day soon and rock your world. <br />
148. <br />
149.      Have you ever spent hours plowing through all the junk you never quite get cleaned out of your basement or attic, and suddenly found some hidden treasure you had almost forgotten about? That is one of the gems of our plans for touring and spreading the arts and celebrating all the ways people can express themselves artistically. AcquaTroupe is coming, people! Get ready to be discovered.......  <br />
150. ---James Gibson</description><link>https://acquatroupe.blogspot.com/2019/09/poking-around-in-hidden-corners.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (World Oceans)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2314775859964913690.post-8654284702289826658</guid><pubDate>Fri, 09 Aug 2019 00:59:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2019-08-08T17:59:51.966-07:00</atom:updated><title>Launching into an ever-changing world</title><description>This blog is a compilation of comments and ideas from a number of us at AcquaTroupe, and from people all over the map whom we have contacted, or who have heard about us. Every day is an adventure in learning, discovering, planning, dreaming! In the past week we confirmed plans to do our first New York City multi-arts show in several years (November 16 and 17); a big show in Atlanta before Christmas; and a tour in March of 2020 which will commence in Ohio and then head southward. One comment that keeps coming to us in emails is, &quot;You guys do so many different things...this will be an event to remember!&quot; We agree!&lt;br /&gt;
151. <br />
152. Some of us grew up with the notion that you were only supposed to do one thing as an artist, and do it well. Be an actor, or dance, or sculpt, or write books or play an instrument. But don't try to do it all! What we realize now is that Doing It All is the new Doing It Well. The world changed more in the last fifty years than it had changed in any comparable period <i>ever.</i> Thanks, millennials! People ten generations from now will be talking about <i>us. </i>Oh, and thanks to the internet. It had something to do with this.<br />
153. <br />
154. As artists we feel empowered to tear down walls...to give everything a fresh look. So if someone says to us, You can't play reggae at a chamber music concert, or you can't do Shakesperian comedy in the lobby of an opera house, in between acts of <i>Aida</i> or <i>Evita,</i> we just say, Why not?<br />
155. <br />
156. Here are three comments we received recently from around the U.S.: "It sounds like you are revolutionizing music" (Arizona)....yay! *** "I really like what you are doing with AcquaTroupe--very fresh and interesting" (Louisiana)....thanks! *** "Hey, you helped me find music that my parents and I can both like!" ....wow!cool....***<br />
157. <br />
158. Our director believes communication is the core of solving problems and making great things happen. We agree. We would love to hear from you, whoever you are. We are coming to your town!<br />
159. <br />
160. Embrace the moment...be bold and explore.<br />
161. <br />
162. &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;----AcquaTroupe</description><link>https://acquatroupe.blogspot.com/2019/08/launching-into-ever-changing-world.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (World Oceans)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2314775859964913690.post-2106304405265093275</guid><pubDate>Sat, 30 Mar 2019 16:43:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2019-03-30T09:43:05.366-07:00</atom:updated><title>SEEKING PARTNERS</title><description>...No, not &lt;i&gt;that&lt;/i&gt;&amp;nbsp;kind of partner (!), though we rejoice when any people come together to experience life as a unit. But AcquaTroupe is forming a unit with performers, creative artists and audiences in many places, following the precedent established by World Oceans Arts. WOA has been able to contribute in a small but important way to the work of the American Behcets Disease Association...to the cultural life of Georgia and New York and a few other places...to the career quest of hundreds of artists on their professional paths...and to other worthy causes.&lt;br /&gt;
163. <br />
164. AcquaTroupe similarly wants to be known as an ensemble of artists who care. We care about the world, about each other, about people who struggle for whatever reason. We acknowledge that the arts can change the world in important ways. Ever since human culture began to take shape, artistic expression has been a key part of human experience.<br />
165. <br />
166. AcquaTroupe is different from your average performing group. Even as we keep our professional artistic standards high, we want to break down barriers. When people enjoy an AcquaTroupe performance or CD or video, we want them to experience something new in their lives. We are inspired by other artists who have done the same. We have already mentioned some like YoYo Ma, Lawrence Moss, Aura Curiatlas. Soon you will hear about others, like Sky Gym in Sandy Springs, Georgia...Sky Cries Mary in the Pacific Northwest...the late Olivier Messiaen whose music often sings in the voices of birds and of heaven...yes, our eyes are on the sky!<br />
167. <br />
168. Now we seek people who can help provide fresh experiences. Soon we will take on interns to help with the mammoth task of planning our tours and recording projects. We also seek area coordinators and consultants. We aim to perform all over the USA and Europe in the coming seasons. This means we need people with local knowledge and contacts in the places we travel. Finally...we need artists to perform! They may be beginning professionals, or legends in their region....we don't care which. We seek all types, because our mission is to perform all the arts in all types of places.<br />
169. <br />
170. We hope you will respond to this call! Please give us your ideas...offer to help us...ask us to consider you as a performer or creative artist...help us acquire the resources and publicity and personnel needed to make this grand dream a reality.<br />
171. <br />
172. Thank you!<br />
173. <br />
174. --James Gibson, Artistic Director</description><link>https://acquatroupe.blogspot.com/2019/03/seeking-partners.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (World Oceans)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2314775859964913690.post-297132208190861919</guid><pubDate>Wed, 31 Oct 2018 15:14:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2018-10-31T08:14:39.849-07:00</atom:updated><title></title><description>&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; ATLANTA SHOUTOUTS&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div&gt;
175. <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
176. <div>
177. For almost a decade, World Oceans Arts has considered Atlanta to be, along with New York, a major hub and base camp. Although our projects have reached as far as California and eastern Europe and the Pacific Northwest, our presence has been most enduring and visible in Atlanta. We would like to point out a few of the many people and organizations here which have made a difference in the artistic life of the city and the entire country.</div>
178. <div>
179. <br /></div>
180. <div>
181. Speaking of the Northwest, it's almost beginning to feel like Seattle (birthplace of Starbucks) in hotLanta. We salute all the coffee houses and cafes and hard-working baristas who can be found almost every few blocks. A big salute also to all the public transit workers who make it possible for us to reach those places without combatting rush hour driving.</div>
182. <div>
183. <br /></div>
184. <div>
185. Atlanta is full of people and groups which strive to make life better and more meaningful.....CNN and all the other news media, who keep us in touch with every aspect of an increasingly frenetic world.......All Saints Episcopal parish which does so many things to lift this city up......the shelters and churches and individuals who do what they can to ease life for the many homeless people.....the city itself which does a lot to preserve many beautiful parks and countless trees in a sea of growing sprawl......Atlanta Audubon and the Humane Society, who remind us that life in those parks is not just human.....all the spokespeople and organizations who are encouraging citizens to vote next week, in recognition of how important it is for citizens to have a voice in how our nation is run.....all the people who are bold enough to speak out in protection of African Americans and LGBTs and immigrants and children and other often-ignored groups.....American Behcet's Disease Association, WOA's primary humanitarian partner over the past couple of years. </div>
186. <div>
187. <br /></div>
188. <div>
189. The arts are greatly varied and robust in Atlanta, not just due to the Hollywood invasion but to many local entities who do great projects. Special congratulations go to Oglethorpe's recent <i>Cabaret </i>production, and all the musically talented Scotties who just gave two concerts on their beautiful campus, and all the professional and community theatre groups and art cinemas and music and comedy venues around town.</div>
190. <div>
191. <br /></div>
192. <div>
193. A few personal shoutouts too: Rachel (Rachael?) and everyone on the set of HBO's <i>Brooklyn</i>.....BG and other new friends.......two visitors from Michigan who helped me go joyously back to my roots in our conversation.......all the strangers who randomly smile and greet passersby on the street because -- well, after all, it <i>is</i> still the old South, isn't it?</div>
194. <div>
195. <br /></div>
196. <div>
197. --James Gibson</div>
198. <div>
199.  </div>
200. </description><link>https://acquatroupe.blogspot.com/2018/10/atlanta-shoutouts-for-almost-decade.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (World Oceans)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2314775859964913690.post-4316347987978074385</guid><pubDate>Fri, 12 Oct 2018 22:19:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2018-10-12T15:19:35.517-07:00</atom:updated><title></title><description>&lt;b&gt;RANDOM VISIONS......The Arts.....Audiences.....AcquaTroupe&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
201. <b><br /></b>
202. I got a clear vision of what I wanted AcquaTroupe to be when we did a concert a few years ago...the highlight was when a costumed actress portrayed a character in a painting (which we shared with the audience) while we heard a Schubert song which perfectly described both her character and her actions. A few nights ago, I was thrilled by attending a rousing orchestra performance of music by Dvorak and Beethoven -- and equally moved, almost enchanted, by the motions of an audience member sitting near me who responded physically to every phrase of the music. A hired dancer could not have done better!<br />
203. <br />
204. Ever since I matured as a man and as a professional musician and actor, I have wanted to help take great performances to small towns, and to people who don't experience much living art. AcquaTroupe is helping fulfill this mission. From the start, we have made clear that we will not always play the same venues, the same music, or utilize the same conventions as every other performing ensemble. Over the next couple of years, we are making at least one truly unique artistic event happen in each and every US state and every European country.<br />
205. <br />
206. Nothing is more gratifying than to meet a person who is passionate about the arts, who has something to express, but who has never done much with it prior to meeting AcquaTroupe. Once when casting a film, I received an email from a middle-aged man with little or no experience. He wrote, 'I am just a guy from Iowa who really wants to be in a movie'. The simplicity and hunger in his statement has never left me.<br />
207. <br />
208. I have seen hundreds of fellow artists who basically gave up on their dreams, or who settled for a watered down version of what they were probably capable of accomplishing. Mostly this happens because of competition. When we have to battle a hundred other people in town who have the same dream or thirst for the same job, we usually go home empty-handed. Some years ago I began to realize that if the arts could remove some of the competitive angst and cutthroat hiring practices, we could help a lot more people move ahead. I have always believed that cooperation is better than trying to outdo someone else, in almost any pursuit. AcquaTroupe proudly fosters any means we can find to join artists together, and to create more opportunities for all.<br />
209. <br />
210. Being a composer is like being a writer or painter or poet. These are occupations done mostly in solitude, even isolation. Typically they are among the most underpaid jobs on earth. They demand concentration, patience, persistence, imagination, hard work and sacrifice. Creative, non-performing artists are frequently underappreciated or even ignored by the world at large.<br />
211. <br />
212. As a composer, I have great empathy for anyone who devotes life to creating music. When groups like AcquaTroupe bring the composer's saga to life for audiences, everyone benefits immeasurably. So we are placing music by living composers at the top of our list of priorities for this year and next. We are already hearing from composers around the world who can scarcely believe we are willing to do this. Our revolving membership and inclusion of guest artists provides opportunities for performers as well as composers. We are boldly creative, spontaneous and innovative; we want our audiences and our performing spaces to become part of the event. Audiences love this openness and direct connection. We all go home fulfilled, with something special to remember.<br />
213. <br />
214. ---James Gibson</description><link>https://acquatroupe.blogspot.com/2018/10/random-visions.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (World Oceans)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2314775859964913690.post-6415789498187371736</guid><pubDate>Thu, 30 Aug 2018 15:32:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2018-08-30T08:46:04.094-07:00</atom:updated><title>Welcome!</title><description>Welcome to AcquaTroupe&#39;s blog!&lt;br /&gt;
215. <br />
216. Revisit this page often to find new content about all things AcquaTroupe.<br />
217. <br />
218. Alisa<br />
219. Webmaster</description><link>https://acquatroupe.blogspot.com/2018/08/welcome-to-acquatroupes-blog-revisit.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Alisa)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item></channel></rss>

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