The Living Theatre's HISTORY OF THE WORLD Closes 2/25
By: Kelsey Denette Feb. 21, 2012
The Living Theatre continues its 65th year with the world premiere of Judith Malina's THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD –– with performances to conclude at The Living Theatre (21 Clinton Street) on
Saturday, February 25. Judith Malina directs.
you in history? In the execution of Socrates? In the crucifixion of Jesus? And finally: Who are you in the Beautiful Non-Violent Anarchist Revolution yet to come? The play co-stars an international ensemble of 25 actors, singers, dancers and musicians, who are working with The Living and with Malina, some for the first time, some for generations of theatrical
experimentation and revolutionary art: Judith Malina, Tom Walker, Sheila Dabney, Monica Hunken, Soraya Broukhim, Brad Burgess, Homa Hynes, Jay Dobkin, Kennedy Yanko, Kyle Ryan, Brent Barker, Antwan Ward, Mary Round, Miranda Rovetto, Rose Lovell, Jen Emma Hertel, Anna Agostino, Ana Holly, John Gasper, Erin Downhour, Adele Thurston, and Martin Lutz.
music, dance and sound effects and will be broadcast live on the
internet on Ustream each performance. The creative team includes
original music and musical direction by Shelia Dabney; choreography by
Albert Lamont, Monica Hunken, Judith Malina, and the ensemble. THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD opened January 12. In his New York Times
review, Andy Webster wrote: Under Judith Malina's guidance and experience, The Living Theatre
vigorously continues its ongoing research of innovative theatre forms
involving audience participation and new methods of communication and
social/political organization. Ms. Malina was born in 1926 in Kiel, Germany, and is the daughter of
Rabbi Max Malina, one of the founders of the German Jewish
Congregation in New York City. In 1947, after studying acting and
directing at the Dramatic Workshop at the New School with Erwin
Piscator, she and Julian Beck co-founded The Living Theatre as an
artistic challenge to the commercial theater, producing nearly 100
production including THE CONNECTION, THE BRIG, FRANKENSTEIN, ANTIGONE,
PARADISE NOW, SEVEN MEDITATIONS ON POLITICAL SADO-MASOCHISM, I AND I,
RESISTENZA and last year's KORACH. Her literary output includes the
plays PARADISE NOW, MYSTERIES AND SMALLER PIECES and THE LEGACY OF
CAIN; collections of her diaries including "The Diaries of Judith
Malina 1947-1957" and "The Enormous Despair"; and two books of poetry,
"Poems of a Wandering Jewess" and "Love and Politics." As an actress,
she has appeared in films including "Dog Day Afternoon," "China Girl,"
"The Addams Family," "Household Saints," "Enemies: A Love Story," "The
Deli," and "Nothing Ever Happens"; and television series including
"ER," "Miami Vice," "The Street" and "The Sopranos."
CONNECTION, Charles Isherwood called The Living Theatre "a fierce
fighter on the forward front of experimental theatre." The Living
Theatre's most recent work include Judith Malina and Hanon Reznikov's
EUREKA!, Judith Malina's MAUDIE AND JANE, and a revival of 1963 Obie
Award-winner THE BRIG which christened the company's present home at
21 Clinton Street in 2007. The Living Theatre was co-founded in 1947 by current artistic director
Judith Malina and Julian Beck, who served as the company's executive
director until his death in 1985. For more than six decades, the
company has presented a unique body of work that has influenced
theatre the world over, staging nearly a hundred productions,
performed in nine languages in twenty-nine countries on five
continents. In the 1950s, The Living Theatre was among the first theater companies
in the U.S. to produce the work of influential European playwrights
such as Brecht and Cocteau, as well as modernist poets as T.S. Eliot
and Gertrude Stein. Based in a variety of small NY locations that were
frequently closed due to financial problems or conflicts with city
authorities, they helped originate Off-Broadway as a significant force
in U.S. theatre. Their work during this period shared some aspects of
style and content with beat generation writers. Also during this time,
the American composer Alan Hovhaness and John Cage worked closely with
The Living Theatre, composing music for its productions. In 1959, THE
CONNECTION attracted national attention for its harsh portrayal of
drug addiction and its equally harsh language. The Living Theatre has toured extensively throughout the world, often
in non-traditional venues, such as streets and prisons. It has greatly
influenced other theatre companies, notably The Open Theatre (founded
by Living Theatre member Joseph Chaikin) and Bread & Puppet Theatre.
Its productions have won 3 Obie Awards: THE CONNECTION (1959); THE
BRIG (1963) and FRANKENSTEIN (1968). Performances of Judith Malina's HISTORY OF THE WORLD run through
February 25, 2012 at The Living Theatre (21 Clinton Street, just below
Houston Street at Avenue B). Performances are Wednesday-Saturday at
8pm). Wednesday and Thursday tickets are "Pay What You Can"; Friday
and Saturday tickets are $20. For reservations call 212-352-0255 or
visit www.livingtheatre.org. A free, encore performance is set for
Monday, February 27 at 7pm to launch the newly established Independent
Theater Fund.
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