presents
AUSTIN IS A PLACE (YOU ARE HERE)
Directed by Derek Kolluri, Jenny Lavery, Tyler King and Jessica Hughes and featuring a seven person cast with original music by Blake Addyson,
April 18 - May 12, 2013, Thursday through Sunday, at 8 p.m.
at Mexitas and Lucky Lady Bingo located at 1107 N IH35, between 11th &12 Street (click for map)
Following February’s successful FronteraFest production of VIOLET CROWN: DOG’S TOWN (Best of Week and Best of Fest winner), Theatre en Bloc announces the location and show dates of their next show, AUSTIN IS A PLACE (YOU ARE HERE).
A bright pink building, hard to miss, yet often overlooked, sticking out along the highway, the Mexitas and Lucky Lady Bingo complex represents one of the landmark properties of the east side of Austin, as it remains remarkably untouched by the growth and development surrounding it.
Co-Director Jenny Lavery notes, “The intersection of community, commerce and history is what makes this the best location for the show. Considering the development along the I-35 corridor east of downtown, it’s likely the building will be re-appropriated. It’s stark to look at all the places in Austin that are being bought up and closed down - repurposed or leveled and rebuilt. The space is likely to be another of those places. Maybe sooner than later. The phenomenon is part of Austin’s zeitgeist; we all know the landscape will change eventually. For some it’s a boon and for others, a burden.”
The piece, a sponsored project of the City of Austin Cultural Arts Division and Creative Alliance, has been developed over a six month long process. Cast members rehearse in a workshop style environment while keeping a finger on the pulse of the people, interviewing hundreds of Austin residents to gather their stories about the city. The collected material has been used as the inspiration to generate a new piece of devised theatre that uses movement, spoken text, music and striking visual elements to explore the struggles and triumphs of the people of Austin as this place shifts steadily from sleepy town to major city.
AUSTIN IS A PLACE (YOU ARE HERE) marks the company’s fourth new work production since their beginning in November 2011. Theatre en Bloc's work includes AMERICAN BEAR, JUST OUTSIDE REDEMPTION and VIOLET CROWN: DOG'S TOWN.
Theatre en Bloc is a creative laboratory where brave experiments with theatrical traditions collide with new voices, styles, modes and aesthetics. The result is honest new work crafted for and designed to unite diverse communities. At our core, Theatre en Bloc is driven by the belief that great art fosters great communities.
(Click to go to the AustinLiveTheatre front page)
