Meet Karen and Paul Moser, New Harmony Friends
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The Ghost of Christmas Present
Karen Answers our 5 Questions:
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
I think perfect happiness is understanding there is no one state of happiness that is attained and maintained. Happiness is built out of living in the moment-and a few of the ways I experience those moments are with my grandchildren, in nature, in connecting with other people, in the theatre...
Which living person(s) do you most admire?
I most admire my daughter Madeleine and son-in-law Lukáš. They have worked hard to achieve their goals and are balancing their careers and family life with grace and thoughtfulness. They love life and touch everyone around them with their positivity and love.
Who are your favorite writers?
I have wildly different reasons for including these writers as a few of my favorites: Shakespeare, Chekhov, Schnitzler, David Mamet, William Inge, Lorraine Hansberry, Lynn Nottage, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Sam Shepard, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Toni Morrison, Edith Wharton, Edna Ferber, Dorothy Parker, Lauren Groff.
Who are your heroes in real life?
The first of my living heroes to come to mind would be my husband, Paul, who forged his own path, founded a free theatre in rotating rep and changed the summer life of a midwestern college town. Grandparents raising their grandchildren are on my list, people who have the courage to keep going when things are nearly unbearable and seem hopeless, Liz Cheney and all those who speak up against wrongdoing with civility and respect.
What does The New Harmony Project mean to you?
A new beginning. These were the first words that popped into my mind when I read this question. We are new residents of New Harmony, and last year was our first experience interacting with the people of the project. As a result, I am pinning great hopes upon the New Harmony Project. I think it can be a wellspring for work that will save the American theatre from no less than dissolution and extinction. I am eager to learn about new writers and support them however I can in this unique and spiritually nurturing place.
Karen Nelson Moser and Paul Moser met while working at the Indiana Repertory Theatre and moved to New Harmony in 2022 after spending over 30 years in Ohio, where Paul was chair of the theater program at Oberlin College and Producing Artistic Director of the Oberlin Summer Theater Festival. Karen is an actor and created a solo piece about New Harmony’s famous Golden Troupe. They currently rent the New Harmony Depot, where Paul is working on various projects, including a theatrical puppet version of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.
The New Harmony Depot
Paul Answers our 5 Questions:
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
My idea of perfect happiness is being surrounded by family and friends, while being actively engaged in creative work that comes from my true center.
Which living person (s) do you admire most?
My parents.
My dad (now 97). He has had an incredible life journey: grew up in a tiny German immigrant community in rural Texas (not unlike the Harmonist settlement here), survived the Dust Bowl, left home at 16 to attend Theological Seminary on the East coast, rebelled against his conservative upbringing to become a Social Gospel activist: officer in state chapter of NAACP, advocate of ecumenicalism, anti-Vietnam War and pro-abortion/Feminist activist, early outspoken supporter of Gay Rights, and leader in National Alliance for Mentally Ill. As a pastor he also dealt with the daily needs of both his parishioners and other community members.
My mom (recently deceased) grew up in a mill town on the Mohawk River, attended Eastman School of Music (for cello) before marrying my dad and becoming an equal partner in their shared ministry. She also had a long career in public education (special ed). Upon retirement she became President of NAMI Western Massachusetts and a tireless national spokesperson advocating for the homeless mentally ill.
They both carved-out unique lives, despite obstacles, raised four sons (all artists) and were successful agents for positive change.
Who are your favorite writers?
Anton Chekhov, William Shakespeare, Harold Pinter, Carl Jung, Peter Brook, and Paul Tillich. My favorite Chekhov quote: “Concision is the sister of talent.”
Who are your heroes in real life?
My teachers. Along the way, I’ve had many teachers. Most notably, when growing up in Providence RI, I was fortunate enough to study with members of Trinity Rep’s acting company, including William Damkoehler. Also in HS - Elizabeth Holt (devotee of Viola Spolin); at Brown - James Barnhill (member of Actors’ Studio); at Yale Drama - Earle Gister, David Hammond, Stanley Kaufman, Lloyd Richards, Ming Cho Lee, and Dennis Scott; and at Indiana Rep - Artistic Director, Tom Haas. Very few of these folks were “stars” but they were important role models. Their most “heroic” common attributes were their high artistic standards, breadth of interdisciplinary knowledge, generosity, and belief in Theater as an important calling. As a teacher, I tried to emulate these attributes.
What does The New Harmony Project mean to you?
New Harmony is a sanctuary. This means different things to different people. To some, New Harmony is an escape from the real world - a bucolic get-away where they can recover, refocus and be refreshed. But to others, coming to New Harmony is a return to the real world - a place that helps them find their true center, inspiration, and - hopefully - their voice.
The New Harmony Project offers both of these possibilities, as well as the wonderful opportunity to collaborate, brainstorm, work hard and make friends with a wide range of talented artists gathered from around the country. All with the common goal of making positive change in our world.
Members of New Harmony’s small-but-vibrant Arts community are very happy to welcome and interact with the Project each year!