Guerilla PR

The mission of the Raw Hope Coalition is to create a new kind of social architecture that dissolves the boundaries between artists, activists, change-makers, arts organizations and their unique constituencies. The Raw Hope initiative has brought together leading changemakers – from street artists to muralists to #BlackLivesMatter activists – creating a socially-engaged online space for dialogue, participation, diversity and renewal through its online Public Dialogues.

Paisley Green proudly secured placements for its final Public Dialogue in Washington CityPaper, Fox 5 DC (multiple morning show segments) and on NBC Washington.

A group of LGBT dancers and activists known as Werk for Peace performed a “flash mob” tribute to the 49 victims of the #Orlando Pulse Nightclub massacre and prompted Congress to create change. Music was provided through massive soundspeakers as dancers performed on the lawn and in the streets.

Leader Firas Nasr said, “WERK for Peace is about using dance to claim space and love ourselves. Every LGBTQAI+ person is a beautiful being, and we matter. On June 12, dance was taken away from us by hate. Today, we choose to reclaim it.”

Queer activists took to the nation’s Capitol building and asserted: “We are here. We are queer. And we will dance.” The flash mob was presented in collaboration with CODEPINK, a women’s-led grassroots organization.  Paisley Green secured coverage in Roll Call, DCist, and the Associated Press (Telesur.)

Image courtesy Nahal Jalali

Siobhan O’Loughlin, courtesy Submersive Productions

“Broken Bone Bathtub: The Submersive Edition” was an immersive theatre experience taking place within a bathroom of an actual home. After a serious bike accident, a young woman (Siobhan O’Loughlin) mustered up the courage to ask for help and shared her story, exploring themes of trauma, suffering, human generosity and connection. The audience took on the role of O’Loughlin’s close friends: Not only listening but sharing their experiences, as well as assisting the cast-clad artist in the actual ritual of taking a bath.

The show was produced by Submersive Productions and took place in an historic Baltimore row home. The exact location remained a secret until audience members purchase their tickets. Sponsorships were in the form of soap samples from Mount Royal Soap Company and beer donated by a local brewery added to the Baltimore flavor of the show. Paisley Green was proud to have generated enthusiastic reviews of the little-known performance by The Baltimore Sun, CityPaper, DCMetroTheaterArts and more!

A new remount of the popular immersive theater production posed an interesting dilemma: the production had already received much media attention during its initial, sold-out run.

So, how to generate more buzz, for the same plot, characters and performance?

For the show’s second run, Paisley Green asked reporters to consider new ways that this innovative production was telling the story of Poe’s life–and, especially, how the audience played an important role. Among other outlets, the story appeared in Forbes Magazine and on WAMU Radio, the National Public Radio affiliate in Washington DC.

Auguste, a character in the performance and predecessor of Sherlock Holmes, image courtesy Glenn Ricci