Combining rigorous physical theater, live music and striking stage images, The Oldest Story in the World examines the enduring human question: How do we live knowing that we must die? The play weaves the story of king Gilgamesh and his companion Enkidu through different locations and time periods -Victorian England, modern day Iraq, the sexually charged realm of the gods-to resurrect this remarkably moving and relevant ancient story about how to live a human life, and the consequences of arrogance.
The Oldest Story in the World brings top video and theater designers from New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Minneapolis together with playwright Kira Obolensky and some of the Twin Cities' most dynamic physical actors including Barbra Berlovitz, Julianna Drajko, Erik Hoover, Billy Mullaney, Stephen Pearce, Vladimir Rovinsky, Dario Tangelson, Vanessa Voskuil and Jeanne Willcoxon.
"I've been working on this project for six years now with the goal to make a high powered performance that tells the ancient tale of Gilgamesh while also speaking to our contemporary moment," said director Lisa Channer. "Audiences who see The Oldest Story in the World will be treated to an evening of physical theater full of adventure, live music, lots of heart and a really great story. And in case you need more we also offer monsters, floods, sexy gods and goddesses, stolen antiquities, magic potions, falling sand, time travel and giant scorpions."
Artistic credits:
Created and developed by Lisa Channer with Adrian Jones, Kira Obolensky, Vincent Olivieri and the company
Directed by Lisa Channer
Text by Kira Obolensky
Scenic design by Adrian Jones
Sound design by Vincent Olivieri
Multimedia design by Daniel Vatsky
Costume design by Annie Katsura-Rollins
Light design by Robert Perry
Theatre Novi Most artistic directors: Lisa Channer and Vladimir Rovinsky
Cast includes Barbra Berlovitz, Julianna Drajko, Erik Hoover, Billy Mullaney, Stephen Pearce, Vladimir Rovinsky, Dario Tangelson, Vanessa Voskuil and Jeanne Willcoxon
Supported by the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature and the Institute for Advanced Study, University of Minnesota.
Show times: September 24-27 & 30, October 1-3, 2010
Mon. at 7pm, Thu. at 7:30pm, Fri. & Sat. at 8pm
Sun. (Sept. 26) at 7pm & Sun. (Oct. 3) at 2pm
Tickets: $24, $20
Southern Theater box office: 612.340.1725
1420 Washington Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55454
www.southerntheater.org
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