"Sojourn
at Ararat"
It's been called 'timely and timeless': "Sojourn at Ararat"
is the unheard voice of an unknown people and the telling of
their unknown story through poetry. Based on the English translations
of Armenian poetry spanning 2000 years, the message it conveys
is universal: love, human tragedy, the futility of war and violence,
but ultimately, hope. "Sojourn at Ararat" finally
comes to New York after first coming to life in the late 1980s,
so we spoke to co-creator performer Nora Armani about this moving
and much acclaimed piece of theater. By Georgia Clark.
The
Bard, From Scratch, For Laughs.
This January New York plays host to Chicago's hugely entertaining
Improvised Shakespeare Company. The title says it all: Shakespeare,
sans the script. Sound impossible? We spoke to the group's founder
Blaine Swen about the ins and the outs of their hey nonny nonnies.
By Georgia Clark.
"Auto
Da Fe"
The always-ambitious International WOW kicks off the new year
with "Auto Da Fe", a realization of the classic Odysseus
story. With a 30-strong cast onstage, the tale is told as if
the hero of Homer's epic poem has returned to his homeland but
it's been replaced by an industrial wasteland called the Memory
Pit, that's being run by the History Processing Operation. The
play, originally produced in Kyoto and Tokyo, is a dreamscape
of collective amnesia, life during wartime, the self-conscious
erasure of history and national identity, and a search for meaning
and beauty. We spoke to ensemble member Melissa Chambers about
the creation of this adventurous new work. By Georgia Clark.
"Mortal
Engine"
Contemporary Australian dance company Chunky Move return to
New York this December with a new show, "Mortal Engine".
The performance uses movement-and-sound-responsive visual projections
to portray an ever-shifting, shimmering world. We chatted with
director and choreographer Gideon Obarzanek about the process
of creating this compelling new work. By Georgia Clark.
"Highly
Evolved Human"
Nick Ross turns his experience with cancer into an underground
comedy hit with "Highly Evolved Human" at Upright
Citizen's Brigade Theater. By Georgia Clark.
An
Ocean of Longing: "Halt!"
"Halt!"
is a free dance piece for the Whitehall Ferry Terminal where
you might find yourself part of the action. By Georgia Clark.
And
Then There Was Light.
A new interdisciplinary
work, "She Turned on the Light," finds connections
between memory, and different generations. Georgia Clark delves
into the inspiration for Wendy Woodsons production in this interview.
Not
Your Average Punch and Judy
When
is the last time you saw a good puppet show? The characters
in "A Quarreling Pair" are far more than your average
Punch and Judy. Drawing from boho American writer Jane Bowles'
great literary work, this unique show proves that this art form
isn't strictly for children. We spoke to Cynthia Troup, writer
and a founding member of the always intriguing Aphids Arts Company
from Australia, who are bringing the production to La MaMa.
Balaton
There's nothing like good family drama. Throw in multiple generations,
death, and a rich culture and you've got "Balaton",
the world premiere play by Ashlin Halfnight. Directed by Kristjan
Thor, "Balaton" jumpstarts the new season at Electric
Pear Productions. We spoke with playwright Ashlin Halfnight
for a behind-the-scenes look at this show.
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