Naïve. Super at Norway House

Kurt Engh remounts his original stage adaptation of Erlend Loe's 1995 cult novel, reimagining the 25-year-old Norwegian narrator as a universal every-person.

After an existential crisis at a birthday party, the narrator slows their life to a halt. With only the objects, people and tasks that bring meaning to their life, the narrator pieces their life back together.

Staged using environmental sound, video, an overhead projector and a fax machine, the performer will uncover the play in real time as the audience watches on.

TICKETS

Tickets are offered at $15-$30 for each show to increase accessibility. Pay at the price you prefer. All seating is general admission.

CREATIVE TEAM

AUTHOR | Erlend Loe

ADAPTER / DIRECTOR / PRODUCER | Kurt Engh

DRAMATURG | Danielle Kincs

PROJECTION DESIGN | Ian Olson

VIDEOGRAPHER | Keller Davis

POSTER ARTIST | Krista Braam

PERFORMERS 

Friday, September 1, 7:30pm: Ashley Horiuchi

Ashley is from Salt Lake City, Utah, and recently graduated from the University of Minnesota/Guthrie BFA Actor Training Program. Past credits include Menelaus/Helen/Andromache/Helenus in Troilus and Cressida in the Dowling Studio at the Guthrie Theater, and Olga in Moscow, Moscow, Moscow, Moscow, Moscow, Moscow. IG: @ashleyhoriuchi

Saturday, September 2, 7:30pm: Nathaniel TwoBears

Nathaniel TwoBears is an actor, singer, and dancer in the Twin Cities. In the last year, he has performed at the Guthrie Theater in The Tempest and A Christmas Carol. Most recently he has participated in readings through the Jungle Theater and The Playwrights' Center.

Sunday, September 3, 2:00pm: Felipe Escudero

Felipe came directly to the Twin Cities after he finished his Bachelors at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Some favorite roles: MacDuff (Macbeth), Peter (And Baby Makes Seven), Dr. Rank (A Doll House), Pablo (Sister Act). Felipe is always excited for a new challenge and is looking forward to Naïve. Super!

Monday, September 4, 7:30pm: Clay Man Soo

Clay Man Soo (he/him) is an Asian-American actor and teaching artist in Minneapolis, MN. He has acted and taught at the Guthrie Theater, Theater Mu, The Children’s Theatre Company, Ten Thousand Things, Great River Shakespeare Festival, Pillsbury House + Theater, Park Square Theatre, History Theater, Jungle Theater, TigerLion Arts, Pangea World Theater, The Lab Theater, Penumbra Theatre, Playwright’s Center, Upstream Arts, Onstage MN, and the South Dakota Shakespeare Festival. TRAINING B.A. Gustavus Adolphus College, GRSF Actor Apprenticeship,Theater Mu Institute, Penumbra Summer Institute Internship, Guthrie Education, Remedios Creative, and Encompass Collective NYC from Yale School of Drama. UPCOMING Passage at Pillsbury House + Theatre, The Hatmaker’s Wife at Ten Thousand Things. www.claymansoo.com

Thursday, September 7, 7:30pm: Brettina Davis 

Brettina Davis is an actor, storyteller, and mental health advocate born and raised in Minneapolis, MN. She's been in the acting and modeling world for over 15 years and serves as a member of the Minnesota Women in Film and TV board. Her passion involves bringing stories to life that speak to the human experience and highlight mental health, justice, and identity especially in the black community. You can find her on social media @thebrettina and her website is www.brettinadavis.com

Friday, September 8, 7:30pm: Laura Baker

Laura Baker is an actor and director in the Twin Cities. Recent acting roles include Rachel Watson (The Girl on the Train) at Lyric Arts in Anoka and Jenna (Cicadas) with the Eden Prairie Players (EPP).

Saturday, September 9, 7:30pm: Tess Keegan

Tess Keegan is a Minneapolis based actor and writer. She studied and trained in acting at the Acting Studio Chicago as well as group improvisation performance at the Second City and iO. She has appeared in commercials and has been seen on shows such as Shameless, Empire, Work in Progress and Electric Dreams and movies like I Used to Go Here and Trial of the Chicago 7.

Sunday, September 10, 2:00pm: George Kleven

George is very excited and feels so lucky to be able to make his Twin Cities theatre debut in such a unique and stimulating show! George is a recent graduate of Wayzata High School, where he enjoyed roles in productions such as The Winter’s Tale (Leontes), Big Love (Constantine), and Hamlet (Hamlet). George is a freshman in the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater BFA Actor Training Program. @georgekleven

Thursday, September 14, 7:30pm: Elizabeth Hawkinson

Elizabeth Hawkinson THEATER: Theater Latté Da: Next to Normal (u/s), Candide, A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd; Asolo Repertory Theatre: Sweeney Todd; Old Log Theater: Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder; Theater Forever: The Accident Book; Trademark Theater: The Reunion (reading); The Ordway: The Sound of Music; Artistry: Carousel; 7th House Theater: Little Shop of Horrors; CABARET: Crooners Main Stage: Dear Lenny, '66: Talkin' Bout My Generation, From Paris to Rome, Celebrating Sondheim; The Dakota: Dear Lenny.

Friday, September 15, 7:30pm: Ethan Bjelland-Hagberg

Ethan Bjelland-Hagberg serves as the Director of Communications at Norway House and is a teacher of Norwegian language and culture through the Concordia Language Villages and the Mindekirken Norwegian Language  Culture Program. He began learning Norwegian at age six. With degrees in both Scandinavian Studies and Theatre, the last few years have marked a hiatus from theatre. He's excited to be involved in Kurt Engh's production of one of the first books he read in Norwegian. As a theatre artist, Ethan has worked with numerous theatres in the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota as an actor, teaching artist, stage manager, and director, including Commonweal Theatre Company, Pro Rata, St. Croix Festival, Shadow Horse, 20%, Nimbus, Burning Ember, and Classical Actors Ensemble. 

Saturday, September 16, 7:30pm: Vanessa Brooke Agnes

Vanessa Brooke Agnes (she/her) is a Black Queer artist and dreamer. Vanessa is Founding Artistic Director of Dark Muse Performing Arts, Co-Founder of Minnesota Black Theatre Circle, and an ArtsNest DirectorWorks graduate. Recent directing projects include Godspell, Songs for a New World (Artistry Theater), Smokey Joe’s Cafe (Lyric Arts), Analog & Vinyl (Minneapolis Musical Theatre), K'É by Blossom Johnson (Playwrights' Center Workshop), On Freeing Fire by Zola Dee (Red Eye Theater), FAME! (Children’s Performing Arts), The Niceties, An Evening with Ella and Harold, Beehive: The 60’s Musical (Lakeshore Players Theatre), The Uprising Vol. I, The Uprising Vol. II: Black HERstory, Phoenix Project (Dark Muse Performing Arts), DEAD TIRED short film (New Dawn Theatre Company). In addition, Vanessa is a producer, writer and performer. Up next: Assistant Directing Dial M for Murder (Guthrie Theater) and Directing Kinky Boots (Lyric Arts). Vanessa lives in South Minneapolis with her pup, Winnie. @vanessabrookeagnes 

Sunday, September 17, 2:00pm: Christopher Hibma

Christopher is the Global Director for Videos for Change, Topher is also the Founding Chair of Zoukak Theatre’s Board of Trustees and a Senior Consultant for Ettijahat-Independent Culture (both located in Beirut, Lebanon). In his role as the Director of Sundance Institute’s Theatre Program, Christopher built one of the world’s leading brands and most diverse rosters of international multi-hyphenate artists while working with the Luma Fondation in France, the Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival in Egypt, the Rolex Mentors & Protégés Initiative in Switzerland, the Office of the King Mohammed VI and Dar al-Ma’mun in Morocco, the Kampala International Theatre Festival in Uganda, Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia and the Nairobi Musical Theatre Initiative in Kenya. Topher is a member of Creative Capital’s National Advisory Council, an organization that invests in artists to shape the future and the Guild of Future Architects, a refuge for people shaping an inclusive & prosperous world. He has consulted with The Apollo Theater, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Guthrie Theater, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, IDEO and others. www.christopherhibma.com

This activity is made possible by the Tri-M Foundation Performing Arts Grant.