Photo by Francesco Fadda, 2010
I Am America
Workcenter of Jerzy Grotowski and Thomas Richards
West Coast Premiere
Friday April 8, 8pm
Performance Art Institute, 550 Sutter Street, San Francisco
Seating is limited, please contact reservations@theworkcenter.org to reserve. $20 suggested donation.
In collaboration with the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and Stanford University, the Performance Art Institute presents I Am America by the Open Program of the Workcenter of Jerzy Grotowski and Thomas Richards. I Am America brings the poetry of Allen Ginsberg to life in a visceral performance with language culled from his entire body of work, intermixed with calls, shouts and traditional songs from the American South. Original music developed in intensive collaboration over a period of 3 years complements and builds upon these sources.
As part of a year-long celebration of its 25th year anniversary, The Workcenter of Jerzy Grotowski and Thomas Richards presents the West Coast premieres of two original and groundbreaking performances in San Francisco, Palo Alto and Big Sur. I Am America and Electric Party Songs by the Workcenter's Open Program, will premiere in April, 2011 at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Stanford University, the Performance Art Institute, and the Henry Miller Library. These performances are supplemented with a series of workshops, symposia, film screenings, and work demonstrations throughout April.
The Workcenter of Jerzy Grotowski and Thomas Richards was founded in 1986 in Pontedera, Italy by Jerzy Grotowski, well known as one of the most influential theatre practitioners of the 20th century, firstly for The Constant Prince, which changed Western theater forever, and then later in his life for his paradigm-shifting working method dubbed Art as vehicle. Today, the Workcenter continues its research into the very essence of theatre: the moment of meaningful contact between human beings.
The Open Program is an area of research within the Workcenter's larger mission and was commenced in 2007 by 11 actors from Italy, Spain, Poland, France, Argentina, the United States and Canada, led by the Workcenter's Associate Director, Mario Biagini.
Complete listing of the Workcenter's upcoming public events in California
For more information on the Master Class with Mario Biagini at PAI
