AUSTIN IS A PLACE (YOU ARE HERE), Theatre en Block, April 18 - May 12, 2013

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)

Ticket information will be located on the company website soon.

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.

To stay current with news about this show or any of Theatre en Bloc’s other shows, visit us at www.theatreenbloc.org, on Twitter @bloc_en_bloc or email us at theatre.enbloc@gmail.com.

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)

AUSTIN IS A PLACE (YOU ARE HERE), Theatre en Bloc, April, 2013

THEATRE EN BLOC ANNOUNCES NEW PLAY ABOUT AUSTIN TITLED

“AUSTIN IS A PLACE (YOU ARE HERE)”

Following September’s successful premiere production of Dennis Bailey’s JUST OUTSIDE REDEMPTION, Theatre en Bloc is thrilled to announce their new piece currently in development titled AUSTIN IS A PLACE (YOU ARE HERE). It is slated to open this coming April and tour to a variety of locations throughout the capitol city bringing a story of Austin to Austin’s people. 

 The piece, a sponsored project of the Austin Arts Council, will be developed over a six month long process where cast members rehearse in a workshop style environment while also interviewing hundreds of Austin residents to gather their stories about the city. This search is intended to uncover the diverse perspectives and truths of the people who are affecting/ being affected by the city’s expansion. This collected material will be used as the inspiration to generate a new piece of devised theatre that uses both movement, spoken text, and music to explore the themes of migration, labor, and identity/home. Set in our capitol city of Texas, the play seeks to explore the struggle to maintain Austin’s cultural identity while still allowing for population and city growth to take place.

Directed by Derek Kolluri, Jenny Lavery, Tyler King and Jessica Hughes and featuring a seven person cast with original music by Blake Addyson, AUSTIN IS A PLACE (YOU ARE HERE) marks the company’s third full scale production since the November 2011 premiere of Larry Mitchell’s AMERICAN BEAR.

People interested in being interviewed for the project or who are interested in sharing their story are encouraged to contact Theatre en Bloc attheatre.enbloc@gmail.com. To stay current with news about this show or any of Theatre en Bloc’s other shows visit www.theatreenbloc.org or follow us on Twitter @bloc_en_bloc.

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.

Auditions for The Austin Project, Theatre en Bloc, October 30 - 31

Auditions Tuesday and Wednesday, October 30th and 31st between 6 pm and 9 pm at the Dougherty Arts Center (1110 Barton Springs Road, Austin 78704) (click for map) for The Austin Project. We are assembling a collection of unique artists to devise a new work based on our collected interviews with hundreds of Austin residents. The interviews we do will be the basis of our creative process. The artists will then take the material and weave it into a visually arresting and deeply personal theatre piece. This production will be guided by Derek Kolluri, Jenny Lavery, and Tyler King.

To schedule an audition: Email Jenny at theatre.enbloc@gmail.com.

Why This Play? Why now? Austin is in an important moment in her life. The city is growing at rapid speeds, and, as most American cities, this growth puts Austin in a dilemia. All of Austin’s residents, workers, and politicians are making decisions they think are in her ‘best interest’. But, how will Austin meet the needs of quick expansion, yet retain it’s counter-culture “weird” identity? The implications of today’s decisions will forever affect the Austin residents and the fabric of the city. Theatre en Bloc's Austin Project will examine why so many people are proud to call Austin, TX 'home' and explore how the city can retain the identity that we all love. Capturing Austin's social identity means casting racially, ethnically, religiously, sexually diverse people. While we respect everyone's privacy, this will be an intimate exploration of ourselves and our communities. We encourage all artists to show us what makes you unique.

Performances will be March 28 to April 28 at various locations including Mexita's and the Boyd Vance Theatre at The Carver Museum.

Pay: All roles are paid.

How do I schedule a time? Please email Jenny Lavery. If you are only available during certain times, please tell us so. We will send you a confirmation email with your audition time. *If you are not available on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 30th and 31st, please send us an email indicating that and we will work to find a time to see you.

What should I prepare? In order to build a cohesive ensemble to create this new work, we are looking for open minded, daring individuals who display a curiosity and yearning to challenge themselves and be challenged by other like-minded individuals. We are looking for individuals who are willing to explore many theories and practices that will test the traditional conventionality of theatre. This piece will require all artists to be open to strenuous movement, extreme emotionality, and a strong sense of group think and group do. Over the course of 6 months, we will develop a detailed working vocabulary together, so that we have the tools to create the content of the show collaboratively.

If interested in joining us, please prepare:

1. A monologue or text that you know well and are willing to experiment with. If you do not have a monologue, we will provide you with text.

2. Generate something that shows us who you are. Be creative. (up to 2 mins.)

3. Ready to talk about your personal/artistic strengths and weaknesses

When are callbacks? TBD. Callbacks will be in the style of a full company workshop. We are looking for collaboration and group dynamics.

Upcoming: Look Back in Anger by John Osborne, Out of Context Productions at the Off Center, Mondays - Wednesdays, November 28 - December

Found on-line:

presents

Look Back in Anger

by John Osborne

directed by Tyler King

November 28-December 14, Mondays-Wednesdays at 7:30 pm

at The Off Center, 2211-A Hidalgo Street, near 7th St. and Robert Martinez (click for map)

Recommended for Mature Audiences

**October Presale - All tickets $8**

Admission: Student/Military ID - $10, General - $15, Super Patron - $25 (Tax included)

Presented in London in 1956, Look Back in Anger revolutionized the British stage with its searing portrayal of the struggling working classes. Now fifty-plus years later, the play takes on a completely new relevance as we in America struggle to fix our jobs market, bolster our economy and escape a second recession. Passionate and unforgiving, Osborne challenges us to examine our human nature during times of uncertainty and ultimately take responsibility for our own future.


Set and Costumes by Leslie Turner; Lights by Becca Plunkett

Upcoming: The Pillowman, Southwestern University, March 30 - April 3

Found on-line:

presents in the Black Box series

PILLOWMAN

by Martin McDonagh
directed by Tyler King ‘11

March 30 - April 3, 2011
7pm | Wednesday
8pm | Thursday & Friday
3pm | Saturday & Sunday

Heather Hall, Southwestern University

Tickets $5.00

A black comedy, Pillowman is the story of a fiction writer, living in an unnamed police state, who is interrogated about the gruesome content of his writing and its similarities to a number of bizarre child murders occurring in his town. Reminiscent of both Stoppard and Kafka, McDonagh’s complex, volatile, and thought-provoking drama questions violence, accountability and healing.

(Adult subject matter for mature audiences only)

Upcoming: Pillowman, Southwestern University, Georgetown, March 30 - April 3

Found on-line:

presents in the Black Box series

PILLOWMAN

by Martin McDonagh
directed by Tyler King ‘11

March 30 - April 3, 2011
7pm | Wednesday
8pm | Thursday & Friday
3pm | Saturday & Sunday

Heather Hall

Tickets $5.00

A black comedy, Pillowman is the story of a fiction writer, living in an unnamed police state, who is interrogated about the gruesome content of his writing and its similarities to a number of bizarre child murders occurring in his town. Reminiscent of both Stoppard and Kafka, McDonagh’s complex, volatile, and thought-provoking drama questions violence, accountability and healing.
(Adult subject matter for mature audiences only)

Upcoming: The Man With A Flower in His Mouth by Pirandello, Southwestern University, March 26 - 29

Found on-line:

The Man With A Flower In His Mouth
By Luigi Pirandello
Translated by Eric Bentley
Directed by Tyler King

Southwestern University
March 26-29, 2009
8pm | Thursday - Saturday
3pm | Sunday
Heather McGaughey Rehearsal Hall

The play is a one-act ”dialogue” which takes place between a man who is dying and a peaceful businessman who has missed his train. In other words, between someone who intensely lives the little time left to him and someone who is rich with time to spend idly and irresponsibly, waiting for the morning train and entirely absorbed in the usual affairs of life.

"We’re like so many puppets hung on the wall, waiting for someone to come and move us or make us talk."
– Luigi Pirandello, Henry IV

Pirandello (1867–1936)—the Italian playwright, novelist and short-story writer—was winner of the 1934 Nobel Prize for Literature. With his invention of the “theatre within the theatre” in the play Six Characters In Search of An Author, he became an important innovator in modern drama.

Box Office (512) 863-1378
Heather McGaughey Black Box Theater (SWU Fine Arts Center)
Southwestern University Fine Arts Center 1001 E. University Avenue Georgetown, TX 78626
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