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Nikola Tesla

We are fascinated with the technological contributions that Nikola Tesla provided to the modern world, as well as his mythology and mystique. We wondered, what would Tesla say to people today about energy generation and transmission, climate change, and global communications?​​

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Why Nikola Tesla?

Why the Georgetown Steam Plant?

Since our first walk through the Georgetown Steam Plant in 2021, and after producing multimedia events and happenings there for the past 3 years, we wanted to see Tesla himself there in the space, between the turbines and emerging from the shadows as a spirit from the past. 

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The Steam Plant has been called a 'cathedral of industry' for not only the beautiful soaring heights of its well-preserved structure, but the unforgettable glimpse that it can provide into the historical context of the early 1900s in Seattle. 

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Our show, "Harness the Forces of Nature to the Service of Humankind," imagines Tesla's "scintillating salon of illumination" inside the Steam Plant, bringing people from the world of 1908 together for electrical experiments and conversations as part of the Georgetown Steam Plant Science Fair.

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We are developing this into a longer theater production for 2025​; sign up for our newsletter  and stay in touch about this project!​

Research

Jeff Behary's Electrotherapy Museum in Riviera beach, Florida

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Jeff's archive about Nikola Tesla

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​​Archival Images used in the production include those from Jeff Behary, Seattle City Light, Seattle Municipal Archives, MOHAI and Historylink, Mark Twain House & Museum, Spark Museum, Archive.org, and University of Washington.

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Listen to our podcast, Season 3; Episode 1, and check out the show notes for additionak resources. â€‹

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Cast

Nikola Tesla: Eric Peddy

Eric is an actor in Seattle, WA, and busy studying Nikola Tesla's background of Quantum Physics. On Instagram: @pulsatingvibe

 

Mark Twain: Clayton Ballard

Clayton is a musician and actor who enjoys bringing historical figures to life onstage.

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J.D. Ross: Erik Franklin

Erik is an actor, filmmaker and comic book artist based in Seattle. Fun electricity fact: he is related to Benjamin Franklin (yes, that one). Instagram: @erikonpaper

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Alice Ball: Thandi Davis

Thandi is an actor currently based in Seattle. They have previously worked on the neo noir Web series The Uncertain Detective. Instagram: @TeamThandi

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Bertha Knight Landes: Elke Hautala

Elke is co-founder of Invisible Histories, a documentary filmmaker, performer and visual anthropologist, with a passion for connecting the public to history.

Webpage: khueex.com/documentary

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Guide: Cari Simson

Cari is co-founder of Invisible Histories, and an artist, producer, and catalyst bringing lost stories to life. Instagram: @invisiblehistoriespnw

Production

"Harness the Forces of Nature to the Service of Humankind," is a speculative fiction piece conceived and produced by Invisible Histories, as site-specific to the Georgetown Steam Plant. It was premiered at the Georgetown Steam Plant Science Fair, on September 21-22, 2024. 

 

Script by Invisible Histories with writing support from Clayton Ballard.

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Visuals by Shadow Girls Cult

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Director: Elke Hautala

Audio Editing and Design by Elke Hautala​

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Special Thanks to 4Culture 2024 Cultural Producers Fund, and Big Fish NW, All About You Talent

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