Horse Head Theatre's 2017 Season to Explore the Self

Horse Head Theatre Co. (HH) strives to inspire empathy and engagement with new ideas. This year we will explore the idea of self knowledge.

Inspired by some of the greatest thinkers of our time...

"Know Thyself" - Plato

"This above all: to thine ownself be true" - Shakespeare

"Rejoice and love yourself today, 'cause baby you were born this way" - Lady Gaga

Horse Head humbly asks, "Yes, know yourself, accept yourself, love yourself.... and, then do what? To what end?"

These great thinkers have taught us that denying our essential selves will bring no peace, joy or contentment -- and we could not agree more! However, in 2017, HH will explore how self knowledge is not just a philosophical dilemma, but also a call to action.

In 2017 Horse Head Theatre Co. will present two Houston premieres and two new staged readings to Houston audiences, from June - November 2017. In our exploration of self knowledge, we will engage with stories told by the gender nonconforming, the faith-frustrated, ethnically diverse voices. To strengthen our storytelling, HH will partner with three local cultural organizations: the American Foundation for Transgender Excellence and Recognition (AFTER), The Heritage Society (THS) and Multicultural Education and Counseling Through the Arts (MECA).

SUMMER 2017

Kicking off the 2017 Season, Horse Head will offer a free staged reading of SENSITIVE GUYS by transgender playwright MJ Kaufman, co-presented with AFTER (American Foundation for Transgender Excellence and Recognition) at The Montrose Center on Monday, June 5, 2017. Kaufman is an up-and-coming author whose body of work explores a spectrum of experiences, include LGBTQ and gender nonconforming characters. To best tell this story, Horse Head has joined forces with AFTER, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that seeks to recognize, celebrate, and employ strength in the great diversity within the transgender community. Artistic Director Jacey Little will direct the reading, in league with HH Dramaturg Leah Short and AFTER founder Veronika Simms.

SENSITIVE GUYS follows two groups of college-age men and women, determined to eradicate sexual violence on their small liberal arts college campus. The Men's Peer Education group has dedicated themselves to unpacking and exposing male privilege, as these "sensitive guys" and their female counterparts believe that increased self-awareness is an essential first step towards their goal. But when a shocking rumor surfaces, both groups are shaken to their core.

"We've all had arguments with friends, coworkers, and that one loud-mouthed uncle about the patriarchy -- often to the point of exhaustion," notes HH dramaturg Leah Short. "SENSITIVE GUYS highlights the core humanity of these issues, challenging the pervasive male vs. female antagonism historically inherent in the conversation." Kaufman provides a refreshing new take with SENSITIVE GUYS by requiring the play be cast non-traditionally. In this play, an ensemble of women and gender nonconforming actors, double cast as male and female characters, try to understand men who are trying to understand masculinity.

Following SENSITIVE GUYS, Horse Head will present CHURCH by Young Jean Lee, generously sponsored by The Heritage Society (THS), August 4 - 19, 2017. Directed by Jacey Little and featuring choreography by Lydia Hance of Frame Dance, CHURCH invites audiences to attend an exuberant sermon delivered by a traveling congregation of eccentric reverends. CHURCH will provoke and delight audiences with celebratory song, dance and testimony; testing the expectations of the religious and non-religious alike.

"Forget what you think you know about a play titled CHURCH," says director Jacey Little, "This will be unlike any CHURCH experience you've had." Playwright Young Jean Lee cleverly uses the language of faith to have an expressly secular conversation about identity and identity-driven action. "It is my hope that our audiences will leave Lee's CHURCH reinvigorated with love for themselves, for our community and all of mankind -- and, most importantly, that this vigor will propel them to act on their existing beliefs by tangibly contributing to our community," says Little.

The theatrical performance CHURCH will be presented inside of The Heritage Society's historic and beautifully preserved 1891 St. John Church. A visually stunning feast of old and new, THS is located in Sam Houston Park, nestled in the downtown Houston skyline at Allen Parkway and Bagby. Before and after the performance, the surrounding park grounds will be populated by actors and hands-on activities, offering audiences an optional, immersive experience.

FALL 2017

On Monday September 18, 2017, Horse Head will partner with MECA (Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts) to co-present a free staged reading of Houston native Bernardo Cubría's newest play, NEIGHBORS. A boldly charged allegory, NEIGHBORS personifies two nations: Mexico as "José," and the United States as "Joe". Although José and Joe have shared property lines for years, they've never been "neighborly." When José asks Joe for help, the two men forge a friendship and business partnership on a handshake; but when the past resurface, all deals are off.

Playwright Cubría (author of HH's 2016 regional premiere of THE JUDGMENT OF FOOLS), pulls no punches with this provocative satire. "I was born in Mexico but grew up in los United States, so I've spent my entire life straddling these two worlds and thinking about the relationship between these two countries," explains Cubría. "Why is it that Mexicans spend so much time obsessing over the US and A? What do we expect from the US as neighbors, what exactly do they owe us, and what do we owe them? ... One of my favorite quotes is from Gary Shandling who said 'don't get mad, get funny,' ... that's what I'm doing with this play."

Closing out the 2017 Horse Head Season, company artist Philip Hays will direct THE SONIC LIFE OF A GIANT TORTOISE: YOUTH IS NOT THE ONLY THING THAT IS SONIC by Toshiki Okada, translated by Aya Ogawa from November 3 - 18, 2017. A dream-like folktale of modern life, SONIC LIFE explores urbanites' collective longing for the extraordinary. Like a Murakami story come to life, SONIC LIFE feelingly navigates the complex threads of the mundane and surreal. Can our secret wishes lead us out of the boring day-to-day into a more meaningful existence?

HH is a participant in the Houston Arts Alliance CBI Resident Incubator Program and is funded in part by the Houston Arts Alliance on behalf of City of Houston. Our 2017 Season is presented with generous support from The Heritage Society, AFTER and MECA.

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Horse Head Theatre Co. 2017 Season:

SENSITIVE GUYS by MJ Kaufman

Staged Reading Presented by Horse Head Theatre Co. & AFTER (American Foundation for Transgender Excellence and Recognition)

Monday June 5, 2017 @ 7:30pm

The Montrose Center, 401 Branard St Fl 2. Houston, TX 77006

The Men's Peer Education group at Watson College is dedicated to unpacking and exposing male privilege. These "sensitive guys" believe that through increased self-awareness they can end sexual violence on campus; but when a shocking rumor surfaces, the group is shaken to the core.

SENSITIVE GUYS features a cast of women and gender nonconforming actors, double cast as male and female characters, who try to understand men who are trying to understand masculinity.

"Sensitive Guys" was Developed at InterAct Theatre and PlayPenn in 2016.

CHURCH by Young Jean Lee

Houston Premiere Presented by Horse Head Theatre Co.

Sponsored by The Heritage Society

Directed by Jacey Little

August 4 - 19, 2017

1891 St. John Church, The Heritage Society at Sam Houston Park, 1100 Bagby St., Houston, TX 77002

An exuberant sermon delivered by an eccentric, traveling congregation of reverends, CHURCH provokes and delights audiences with song, dance and testimony. Testing the expectations of the religious and non-religious alike, CHURCH aims to recharge one's concept of self.

The theatrical performance CHURCH will be presented inside of The Heritage Society's historic and beautifully preserved 1891 St. John Church. The Heritage Society is located in Sam Houston Park, nestled in the downtown skyline at Allen Parkway and Bagby. Before and after the performance, the surrounding park grounds will be populated by actors and hands-on activities, offering audiences an optional, immersive experience.

"Church" is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, LLC.

NEIGHBORS by Bernardo Cubría

Staged Reading Presented by Horse Head Theatre Co. & MECA (Multicultural Education and Counseling Through the Arts)

Monday September 18, 2017 @ 7:30pm

MECA, 1900 Kane St., Houston, TX 77007

José and Joe have been Neighbors for years, but they've never been "neighborly." When José asks Joe for help, the two men forge a friendship and business partnership on a handshake; but when the past resurfaces, all deals are off.

"Neighbors" was developed with the support of New York City's INTAR and Inviolet theatres and is a semi-finalist for the 2017 O'Neil Playwrights Conference.

THE SONIC LIFE OF A GIANT TORTOISE: YOUTH IS NOT THE ONLY THING THAT IS SONIC by Toshiki Okada, translated by Aya Ogawa

Houston Premiere Presented by Horse Head Theatre Co.

Directed by Philip Hays

November 3 - 18, 2017

A dream-like folktale of modern life, THE SONIC LIFE OF A GIANT TORTOISE explores urbanites' collective longing for the extraordinary. Like a Murakami story come to life, TORTOISE feelingly navigates the complex threads of the mundane and surreal. Can our secret wishes lead us out of the boring day-to-day into a more meaningful existence?

"The Sonic Life of a Giant Tortoise" is presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC.

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Horse Head Theatre Co.'s mission is to re-­energize Houston audiences with theatrically designed experiences using non­traditional methods and local talent. Horse Head utilizes "found" and site­ specific spaces, producing events outside of traditional arts venues that further enhance our storytelling. HH is committed to producing new and innovative works, providing theatrical experiences with explosive design elements, audience interaction, immersive environments and pre­-show "ritual" or "ceremonial" activities. HH has received a number of awards including the 2016 Houston Press MASTERMIND award, annually recognizing individuals or organizations for their significant contributions to Houston's artistic community, as well as the Houston Press 2016 "Best New Play" award for our original work, The Whale; or, Moby-Dick. HH is a participant in the Houston Arts Alliance CBI Resident Incubator Program and is funded in part by the Houston Arts Alliance on behalf of City of Houston. Our 2017 Season is presented with generous support from The Heritage Society, AFTER and MECA. For more information about our kick-ass nonprofit theatre company, visit horseheadtheatre.org.

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