Gávea Filmes Presents SEEWATCHLOOK On The High Line

With a grant funded by the Brazilian government, award-winning, multimedia Brazilian artist Michel Melamed has created SEEWATCHLOOK, a world premiere public play of short poetic and comic scenes to be held on the corner of Tenth Avenue and 17th Street and viewed (or SEEWATCHLOOKED) from the elevated stands and windows of the High Line's 10th Avenue Square. This is the very first public performance of its kind designed specifically to be presented for visitors to the High Line, and a unique repurposing of that public space. Mr. Melamed will direct a cast of 14, including Alicia Giangrisostomi, Bruna Linzmeyer, Camila Campos, Emily Carpenter, Everett Goldner, Isabelle Zufferey Boulton, Joyce Miller, Juan Castano, Marcello Padilla, Moema Umann, Natalia Saltiel, Noah Schultz, Sara Pauley and Tjasa Ferme. Performances will be held on Thursdays & Fridays at 8pm and Weekends at 6pm from October 6-16, 2011.

Melamed and his performers present everyday slices of lives, but with a twist. A diversity of scenes serve to activate the ideologies and curiosities of the viewer. Cultures, politics, sexuality, religion, art and more, are a few of the themes represented among scenes which pique our interest with events which are just slightly out of place. SEEWATCHLOOK explores the questions: How is the city a stage? What is theatre and what is not? Are the performers actors or citizens? What is the boundary between a show and reality? Is it in the eye of the spectator-- In the eyes of those watching? Seeing? Looking?

SEEWATCHLOOK is a brand new verb. How does one seewatchlook the street corner, people, situations, life - anything? It all depends on who is seewatchlooking and how they seewatchlook. It is in the eye of the beholder. Each one of us with our own creativity, affection and reason has invented the world around us, giving value or transvaluing things. The object changes according to the observer. What do you see when you look at what you watch?

Michel Melamed is also using his experience creating SEEWATCHLOOK to film a documentary for the Brazilian cable TV channel "Canal Brazil" about the challenges of developing a new show in New York City. The documentary will include a portrait of the New York theatre scene, with interviews from some of New York's most well-known theatre professionals. To date, Mr. Melamed has interviewed Estelle Parsons, Richard Schechner, Richard Foreman (Ontological-Hysteric Theater), Jim Nicola (NYTW), Vallejo Gantner (PS 122), Kristin Marting (Here), John Collins (Elevator Repair Service), Martha Wilson (Franklin Furnace), Peter Goldfarb, Kevin Cunningham (3LD), Anita Durst (Chashama), Alison Knowles, Papo Colo (Exit Art), Vito Acconci, Linda Montano, Anne Cattaneo, and Bill Bragin (Lincoln Center), to name a few.

Brazilian director, playwright and actor Michel Melamed has performed internationally (Paris, Berlin, New York, Rio) and is known for his cutting-edge theatrical work. He has been awarded the "Funarte Performing Arts Residency" grant funded by the Brazilian government to develop a new play in New York City, inspiring Melamed's fifth return to the New York theatre scene with SEEWATCHLOOK. Michel's Regurgitophagy premiered in the U.S. at Mabou Mines/PS 122 in 2006 and then again at The Public Theatre/Under The Radar Festival in 2008. He returned as a member of the Lincoln Center Directors Lab in 2007 and in 2009 to work with The Internationalists Directors Collective. www.michelmelamed.com

SEEWATCHLOOK is produced by Michel Melamed and Magic Futurebox. Director: Michel Melamed; Set and Costume Designer: Oana Botez; Lighting Designer: Scott Bolman; Digital Conception: Suzana Apelbaum; Sound Designer: Simone Giuilani; Assistant Director/Stage Manager: Gabriel Bortolini; Production Assistants: Graziela Meyer and Raquel Bordin; Consulting Producer: Meiyin Wang; Publicist: Paul Siebold; Graphic Design: Jonathan Wise.

SEEWATCHLOOK is free of charge and open to the public. Performances will be held on Thursdays & Fridays at 8pm and Saturdays & Sundays at 6pm from October 6-16, 2011. Performances will not occur if it is raining.

The High Line's "10th Avenue Square" is located at 10th Avenue and 17th Street in New York City. Elevator and stairway access to the venue is located at 16th Street.