In this delightful remake/retake of a classic on love, Nature Theater of Oklahoma displays a theater of theatrics, an interpretation of an interpretation, inquiring into the narrative construction of life, love, and the self as well as exposing the creativity involved in lightening up the blind alleys of memory.

With their humorous reinvention of Romeo and Juliet, Nature Theater of Oklahoma picks up from the last edition of iDANS which explored temporality in the arts, and brings us to the festival’s current focus: “Laughing ↔ Crying”. What is YOUR story of Romeo and Juliet? Who first fell in love with whom? Did they ever make love? And who murdered whom? After all, why is it that this story cannot be exhausted by all the clichés and (mis)interpretations it incites?

Over the past several years the Nature Theater of Oklahoma has evolved into one of New York's most talented ensembles (...) their shows are smart, witty, highly physical, and eager to twist notions of theatricality.

-       Village Voice

Featuring: Anne Gridley, Robert M. Johanson, Elisabeth Conner | Conceived and directed by: Pavol Liska, Kelly Copper | From conversations with: Linda Copper, Eliotte Crowell, Anne Gridley, Teresa Gridley, Jo Ligerot, Robert M. Johanson, Zachary Oberzan, Kristin Worall | Design by: Peter Nigirini | Production manager: Robert Saenz de Vitieri, Gabel Eiben | Co-commission, co-producers, supporters, etc.: A production of International Summerfestival / Kampnagel Hamburg, Salzburger Festspiele in co-production with Kaaitheater Brussels / Workspace Brussels / Buda Kunstcentrum, Noorderzon Festival/ Grand Theatre Groningen, and the Wexner Center for the Arts at The Ohio State University

Personnel is being hired for the Theater in Oklahoma! The Great Nature Theater of Oklahoma is calling you! It's calling you today only! If you miss this opportunity, there will never be another! Anyone thinking of his future, your place is with us! All welcome! Anyone who wants to be an artist, step forward! We are the theater that has a place for everyone, everyone in his place! If you decide to join us, we congratulate you here and now! But hurry; be sure not to miss the midnight deadline! We shut down at midnight, never to reopen! Accursed be anyone who doesn't believe us!

                      -- Franz Kafka, Amerika

Nature Theater of Oklahoma is an OBIE Award-winning New York-based performance group under the direction of Pavol Liska and Kelly Copper. The company’s last piece Life and Times - Episode 1 premiered last month in Vienna at Burgtheater, commissioned by this renowned theatre hause.

“Since Poetics: a ballet brut, our first dance piece created as an ensemble, Nature Theater of Oklahoma has been devoted to making the work we don’t know how to make, putting ourselves in impossible situations, and working from out of our own ignorance and unease. We strive to create an unsettling live situation that demands total presence from everyone in the room. We use the readymade material around us, found space, overheard speech, and observed gesture, and through extreme formal manipulation, and superhuman effort, we affect in our work a shift in the perception of everyday reality that extends beyond the site of performance and into the world in which we live.” - NTO

Further Reading:

www.oktheater.com

Bombsite_NTO Interviewed by Joung Jean Lee

Village Voice_01.09.07_Bryan Parks

NY Times 03.01.08_Campbell Robertson

Nto  Interview by Gurur Ertem_iDANS Blog