Emily Michaels King and Debra Berger Announce Remount Of ANIMUS

Twin Cities based artists, Emily Michaels King and Debra Berger announced today the debut of their performance duo E/D and the remount of their latest theatrical work, Animus, performing December 14 through December 22 at the Southern Theater.

After six years of working together Michaels King and Berger have formed a new collaborative duo E/D, which creates provocative and visually stunning performance centered on the female experience. E/D is by women and for everyone. Combining theater, movement and design, E/D's work is marked by unconventional storytelling, dynamic visuals and feminist themes. They have created their latest piece, Animus, with celebrated local filmmaker Amber Johnson of DangerVision Productions.

Inspired by Ingmar Bergman's 1966 psychological horror film, Persona, Animus uses performance and multimedia projection to explore the merging identities of two modern women, one who speaks, and one who doesn't, who compare hands and "get all mixed up in one another." Animus features three performers, two actors/movers and one cinematographer.

Co-creator and performer, Debra Berger states, "In developing Animus, we set out to create two female characters who were not only complex and three dimensional, but deeply flawed. We wanted to explore the aspects of women that are so often not depicted on stage." Examining themes of identity, shame and voyeurism, Animus explores not only personal identity, but also online personas, blurring what is real and what is fake. "We've taken that social media dynamic, which happens behind screens, and put it into a real-life scenario where characters can touch, yell, and sit in silence in person," says co-creator and performer, Emily Michaels King.

Animus merges two art forms: theater and film. Co-creator and cinematographer, Amber Johnson, captures live footage during the performance which is projected onto a large screen a the back of the space. She uses visual elements: framing, imagery and light to bring the audience into the psychological space of each character and draw focus to moments that can't typically be amplified on stage. "Implementing live video projection allows the audience to peer deeper into the complexities of these characters. Not only do we get to see their full bodies onstage, but I can zoom in and magnify features, like an eye or a hand; it's a completely unique way of experiencing and merging theater and film," says Amber Johnson.

Animus is also an official Ingmar Bergman Jubilee event. 2018 marks 100 years since the birth of Ingmar Bergman: World famous filmmaker, legendary theatre director and exceptional writer. The jubilee, which celebrates his work and artistic influence, started in the Fall of 2017 and continues throughout 2018. It is taking place all over the world with theatrical performances, exhibitions, documentaries, film retrospectives, book releases, and festivals.

About The ANIMUS TeamE/D is the collaboration of Emily Michaels King and Debra Berger that creates provocative and visually stunning performance centered on the female experience. E/D is by women for everyone. Emily and Debra are entering their sixth year of artistic partnership, in which they create contemporary performances and events. Their past work includes Hello, Stranger, a one-woman interactive show about connection, and Lewis/Clark, a two woman show about exploration in its many forms. Combining theater, movement and design, Emily and Debra's work is marked by unconventional storytelling, dynamic visuals and feminist themes. Their pieces are abstract, nostalgic, powerful, and sensory.

Debra Berger is a Minnesota-based performing artist, project manager and event designer. She earned her master's degree in directing from the University of North Dakota. Her work ranges from contemporary theater to classic country music and is informed by personal nostalgia, history and audience interaction. She has been seen onstage with Theater Latte Da, The Ordway, Park Square Theater among others.

Emily Michaels King is a performing artist and aesthetic curator exploring human anatomy, personal history, and tactile engagement in live experiences. Her work incorporates movement, sound, text, and sculpture and has been seen at the Walker Art Center, Guthrie Dowling Studio, and Southern Theater, among others.
DangerVision, created by Twin Cities filmmakers Amber Johnson and Nick Hillyard, is a video Production Company specializing in groundbreaking and unconventional media creation. Amber Johnson is best known for her award winning short film work that challenges genres and the viewers' expectations. A graduate of Film Studies and recognized as an Outstanding Young Alumni at Minnesota State University Moorhead, her film work has screened at festivals all over the world. Her latest film, a dark comedy called Lady Lillian, has received numerous awards for Best Picture, Best Comedy and for Excellence in Filmmaking throughout the film festival circuit. Outside of producing and directing her own work, she is also a seasoned cinematographer with over 100 films and videos on her resume.
Animus is stage managed by Dylan Nicole Martin, lighting design by Joanna McLarnan, sound design by Jennilee Park and cinematography assistance by Nick Hillyard.

ANIMUS Performance Schedule:Fri., Dec. 14: 7:30 pm (opening night)Sat., Dec. 15: 2:00 pm & 7:30 pmSun., Dec.16: 2:00 pm (talkback following)Mon., Dec.17: 7:30 pm (PWYC / talkback following)Wed., Dec.19 7:30 pm (PWYC)Thurs., Dec. 20: 7:30 pm (talkback following)Fri., Dec. 21: 7:30 pm (talkback following)Sat., Dec. 22: 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm
Where: The Southern Theater: 1420 South Washington Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55454
Rating:Suggested Age 13+
Tickets: On sale now: https://southerntheater.org/shows/animus. General admission: $20 in advance, $24 at the door. Students and seniors 65+: $12

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