Wilma Theater Adds Blanka Zizka's ADAPT! to 2016-17 Season

The Wilma Theater has announced its final production of the 2016/17 Season, the world premiere of Blanka Zizka's Adapt!. Launching off of Wilma Artistic Director Blanka Zizka's recent receipt of the Vilcek Prize in Theatre-which recognizes immigrants who have made lasting artistic contributions to American society-this world premiere project examines the process of assimilation and adaptation. It also showcases artists from the recently launched Wilma HotHouse resident acting company, who have been developing the piece with Zizka during their weekly training sessions, alongside an exciting collection of international artists including composer Mariana Sadovska, Czech actor Aneta Kernová, and Greek actor and singer Aneza Papadopoulou. The creative team includes Set Designer Matt Saunders, Costume Designer Oana Botez, Lighting Designer Thom Weaver, and Sound Designer Daniel Perelstein. Major Support for Adapt! has been provided by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.

It's the summer of 1977, and 22-year-old Lenka is fleeing the mind-numbing boredom of "normalized" Czechoslovakia, where everything is a euphemism for something else. In a moment of exhaustion and hunger, Lenka encounters an Old Woman from an extinct Slavic tribe, accompanied by four mysterious men. They take Lenka on a surreal ride full of surprises and unexpected turns, exploring a dream-like world where the past and future meet and multiple realities collide. Adapt! examines the forces behind collectivism and consumerism, and the nuances of loss and displacement, through a deft pairing of absurdist comedy with powerful emotional content.

Adapt! runs March 22 through April 22, 2017 on the Wilma Main Stage. It completes the Wilma's 2016/17 Season, which also includes Notes of a Native Song, by Stew and Heidi Rodewald, co-presented with FringeArts; When The Rain Stops Falling, by Andrew Bovell; Seuls, written, directed, and performed by Wajdi Mouawad; and Constellations, by Nick Payne.