Carol Tambor Theatrical Foundation Announces LEO

The Carol Tambor Theatrical Foundation is thrilled to announce the US premiere of the critically-acclaimed production of LEO, created by Circle of Eleven, from Berlin, Germany. Based on an original idea by and performed by Tobias Wegner and directed by Daniel Brière, LEO comes to the US as the 2011 winner of the Best of Edinburgh Award given annually by the Carol Tambor Theatrical Foundation. Performances begin on Friday, January 6 for a limited engagement through Sunday, February 5 at The Clurman Theatre on Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues). Press Opening is Sunday, January 15 at 3 PM . The performance schedule is Tuesday at 7; Wednesday – Friday at 8 PM; Saturday at 2 PM and 8PM; Sunday at 3 PM. Please note: There is an added performance on Monday, January 9 at 8 PM and there are no performances on Saturday, January 7 at 2 PM, Sunday, January 8 at 3 PM and Tuesday, January 10 at 7pm. For tickets, which are $48.25, call Telecharge at 212-239-6200 or online at www.telecharge.com.

LEO is a surprising and hilarious show that defies the laws of gravity. An ingenious combination of stage design and video projections, LEO creates an unexpected environment in which our hero is forced to adapt to this surprising situation. Follow LEO in a logic-defying, fantastic adventure!

LEO is the newest creation of the Berlin based Production Company Circle of Eleven. Directed by the Montréal-based actor and director Daniel Brière, this extraordinary feat of acrobatic theater features the multi-talented performer Tobias Wegner.

This funny, intriguing, moving, and at times surreal work won several major awards at the 2011 Edinburgh Fringe festival including the Carol Tambor Best of Edinburgh Award, the Three Weeks Editors Award and The Scotsman Fringe First Award. Joyce McMillan gave LEO four stars in The Scotsman, calling it “eloquent and memorable… Tobias Wegner's LEO achieves with terrific elegance, strength and artistry what we simply take for granted, so long as gravity anchors us to the earth.” And Three Weeks Magazine said, “Just when you think it can get no better, it amazes once more by introducing CGI effects that only we can see but with which Wegner interacts perfectly. Absolutely brilliant!”

The design team includes Set and Lighting Design by Flavia Hevia; Video Design by Heiko Kalmbach; Animation realized by Ingo Panke; and Costume Design by Heather McCrimmon. The Creative Producer is Gregg Parks.

Actor, Stage Director and Playwright Daniel Brière (director) is Artistic Director of the NTE (Nouvelle Theatre Experimental), where he has been performing and creating new plays since 2003. As an actor, he has performed in many theatres in Canada and Europe since his graduation from the Conservatoire in 1985. On television, he was seen in Caméra café and the popular family comedy on CBC Les Parents. On the big screen, his performances have included parts in Le déclin de l’empire américain, La moitié gauche du frigo, Gaz Bar Blues and C’est pas moi je le jure, presented in several film festivals. He has directed some twenty plays including Bashir Lazhar and La Fin.

Tobias Wegner (performer/creator) completed his acrobatic training at the Belgium University of Contemporary Circus Arts (E.S.A.C.) in Brussels. His professional career has taken him to, among other places, Brazil, Spain, and India. He has also performed at the Southbank Centre (London), the Théâtre de la Cité Internationale (Paris), the Schauspiel Frankfurt, and the Staatsoper unter den Linden (Berlin). In 2008, Tobias won the European competition "Jeunes Talents Cirque Europe" with the project AIUAIO and his own company of the same name.

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