The All Souls River Procession is both a performance art piece and a community ritual with many characters within its framework.
Acting experience is not necessary. We are looking for enthusiasm and the willingness to embody the energy of a particular being. Most major characters will need to attend one or two rehearsal sessions.
We hope you will feel called to join us!
Did you inquire previously about a role and never hear back? The web form we used from early April to early October 2024 failed and we did not receive any of those messages ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ , so please send your information again via wildlandroots@gmail.com . Thank you!
2024 Characters & Crew
Gate Keepers / Greeters at the Gate
The threshold guardians at the gate between Green Anchors and Cathedral Park. The Greeters invite visitors and guests into the gardens and point them to the correct path. Playful characters with an original style and demeanor (i.e. costume and concept is up to the volunteers). No rehearsal required.
2024: Multiple positions available, 2hr shifts: 4:30-6:30pm, 8-10pm, 10pm-midnight.
The Master of Ceremonies
This position is held by our co-founder Mel.
The Ritual Leader
Embodying a different form each year, the Ritual Leader might appear as a Water Dragon or a Spider at the center of the web. But regardless of her guise, she is the one who guides the ritual and holds the space at its center. This position is held by our Ritual Director Ivy.
The Storyteller
A Spirit of Place, this character has watched the procession unfold since its beginning, and now shares the story of the evening with each year’s assembled collection of beings. This position is held by our Artistic Director Moni.
The Lantern Dancers
The Lantern Dancers guide the front of the procession and illuminate the way with softly glowing paper lanterns. They are familiar with the route and make sure the rest of the procession finds their way, while also setting the pace and steering the procession away from low hanging branches and other obstacles.
The 2024 Lanterns Dancers are sacred dance group Bulla! who invite community members to join them. Please bring a lantern to carry and plan to arrive right at 5pm on procession day to learn the steps of the dance. Costume ideas: White and flowing.
Tenders of the Book of Souls
The Tenders collect the names of the departed before the procession begins, and write them in the Book. At the river ceremony, the Tenders will read the names aloud.
2024: All 3 positions filled
The Reliquary Keepers / Reliquary Attendants
The Reliquary contains a bowl of messages to our beloved dead. The Reliquary Keepers tend to the Reliquary by taking messages from procession attendees and placing them inside it. In the procession they take the Reliquary to the river’s edge (either by wagon or litter depending on the number of keepers available). Then during the River Ritual they will remove the fire bowl from inside the reliquary, then place it on the water at the river’s edge where they will set the messages alight.
This year the Reliquary Keepers will be assisted by Risk of Change, a Sacred Mummer and Giant Puppet Troupe, in the guise of Messenger Crows who will move through the crowd at the pavilion and at the river collecting messages from procession attendees to be added to the Reliquary.
Costume suggestions: Ceremonial, priest/priestess/priestex-ly. Black with accents of orange, gold, silver. Waterproof footwear
2024: 2 positions filled, 2 positions available
Salmon / Guardian of Water / East
Calm and flowing. Carries the salmon lantern and represents the element of water, the season of Spring, and the direction of East (where our headwaters flow from) in our opening and closing circles. Salmon also swims with the new Procession of the Species section, representing those beings who dwell (or once dwelt) in our planet’s bodies of water from the smallest creek to the widest ocean.
Costume ideas: Blues, teals and greys, flowy fabrics. Rehearsal attendance required.
2024: position filled
Coyote / Guardian of Fire / South
Sparky trickster who carries the coyote lantern and represents the element of fire, the season of Summer, and the direction of South in our opening and closing circles. Coyote also trots with the new Procession of the Species section, representing those beings who bask (or once basked) in the warmth of the sun.
Costume ideas: Fiery colors, furry textures. Rehearsal attendance required.
2024: position filled
Mushroom / Guardian of Earth / West
Grounded energy. Carries the mushroom lantern and represents the element of earth, the season of Fall, and the direction of West in our opening and closing circles. Mushroom also travels with the new Procession of the Species section, representing those beings who dig and tunnel (or once did tunnel) beneath the surface of our planet, or stretch their roots, mycelial or bacterial networks deep underground.
Costume ideas: Earth tones. Rehearsal attendance required.
2024: position filled
Owl / Guardian of Air / North
Quiet intensity. Carries the owl lantern and represents the element of air, the season of Winter, and the direction of North in our opening and closing circles. Owl also flies with the new Procession of the Species section, representing those beings who travel (or once traveled) the currents of the winds.
Costume ideas: White and beige colors, feathery textures. Rehearsal attendance required.
2024: position filled
The Bone Mother
A towering skeleton queen. She guides the recently departed Souls to the river where the threshold between the realms of the living and the dead awaits their passage through. She also leads the Blood and Bones section of the procession. The 2024 version of the Bone Mother is a backpack-mounted puppet worn by one puppeteer with 2 additional puppeteers to control the hands, plus a spotter to watch out for uneven ground and low hanging branches. Rehearsals required. Puppetry experience recommended but not required.
2024: All 4 positions filled
Image credit: Ada Matusiewicz
The Ancestors
New for 2024 we are adding four simple rod (head on stick) puppets to represent the ancestors. Rehearsals required. Puppetry experience not required.
2024: All 4 positions filled
The Water Dragon / Spirit of the River
New for 2024 we are adding a 22 foot long illuminated hand-dyed indigo silk dragon lantern puppet carried by 6 people to represent the Spirit of the River in our River Procession. Rehearsals required. Puppetry experience not required.
2024: All 6 positions filled
Grandmother Moon
The Old One who watches over all, and leads the second line part of the procession. The moon herself is an easily carried illuminated paper mache face mounted on a pole. Costume suggestions: Black and/or dark blue with bright sparkles. No rehearsal required.
2024: position filled
Stagehands
We are looking for stagehands to help with lights and sound gear at the river, and to mark obstacles along the procession’s route through the park.
2024: 2 out of 3 positions available
Characters of the Past
The Autumn King
The main character of our 2022 procession. Carried on a litter to the river’s edge, he then transformed into the Winter King, symbolizing the shift from the bright colors and abundance of the harvest season to the darkness and decomposition that comes after.
Giant Ghost Salmon
The main character of our 2021 procession. A large, illuminated willow-frame lantern, it was carried through the procession to the river’s edge where a tandem kayak awaited to spirit it away downstream.
Spirit of Oak & Spirit of Maple
In the 2021-2023 processions, these two characters represented the deciduous trees in our region whose falling leaves capture the essence of the season of Autumn. Both characters dressed in earth tone colors and carried fabric banners printed with oak or maple leaves. These are no longer official “Character Roles” but the Spirits of all leafy beings are invited to join in with the Procession of the Species section of the procession.
Performer Info Form
Did you inquire previously about a role and never hear back? The web form we used from early April to early October 2024 failed and we did not receive any of those messages ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ , so please send your information again via wildlandroots@gmail.com . Thank you!