A.R.T. Announces New Artist in Residence Program at OBERON

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) is pleased to announce a new Artist in Residence initiative at OBERON, its Second Stage and club-theater venue. This initiative is rooted in A.R.T's mission to expand the boundaries of theater by supporting local and emerging artists. OBERON launches this multi-year program of work and mentorship with three local performance groups: Touch Performance Art, The Boston Circus Guild and Liars & Believers. All three have worked previously in OBERON, creating events in the club theater model and harnessing a new form of theater that is rooted in a social environment.

OBERON will serve as the artistic home to these three groups as each presents work during the 2013/14 Season, and as they develop work for upcoming seasons. During the residency, not only will the artists have access to the A.R.T. staff and resources but also, the groups will bring their expertise to OBERON, sharing their approaches to the artistic process, audience engagement and development. In addition, the groups will connect with each other to share knowledge and foster collaboration.

"We are thrilled to partner with these distinct groups as our inaugural Artists in Residence at OBERON," stated A.R.T. Managing Director William Russo. "This program is a natural extension of what we have already been working towards at OBERON. In addition to being an incubator for new work and a home to itinerant local companies, A.R.T. is experimenting with new economic models to support theater. At OBERON there is no singular model; we work with each company todetermine how they can work without a lot of risk and capital resources while receiving professional support in an innovative space. Further, with this collaboration, we in turn hope to learn from these groups about new means of audience development and engagement as well as new forms of club-theater."

The work for 2013/14 by OBERON Artists in Residence will include Touch Performance Art's Acoustica Electronica, an immersive experience integrating dance, theatre, aerial arts and remixed classical music with attitude of contemporary clubbing; The Boston Circus Guild's Speakeasy Circus withjaw-dropping spectacle in a 1920s setting; and Liars & Believers lcarus,where Greek mythology meets burlesque, puppetry, and a modern Americana score.

OBERON continues to be the destination for theater and nightlife on the fringe of Harvard Square. The home of the A.R.T.'s hit productions of The Lily's Revenge, Futurity, The Donkey Show, Cabaret, and Prometheus Bound and Ryan Landry's Rocky Horror Show, OBERON is also a thriving incubator for local and visiting talent.

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