¡el Simio! or a contemporary retelling of Eugene O’Neill’s ‘The Hairy Ape’

Posted on May 1, 2015 by The LIDA Project

Lorenzo Sariñana in The Hairy Ape (2013). Photo: Kenrick Fischer

¡el Simio! (or a contemporary retelling of Eugene O’Neill’s The Hairy Ape)
by Eugene O’Neill with translations by Lorenzo Sariñana

A story of a simple laborer trapped in a world controlled by the rich. This classic expressionist work is re-imagined as a one-man / hyper-media performance. This new bi-lingual translation and interpretation brings to the front the issues of immigration, class structure, and industrialism. First produced in 1922, the LIDA Project modernizes O’Neill’s text to address the modern themes of alienation in a stratified world.

Production History
May 1-3, 2015: HERE Arts Center :: New York City, NY
May 10 – June 7, 2013: work | space :: Denver, CO

Awards
Best Actor in a Drama (Lorenzo Sariñana), True West Award Nomination
Best Multimedia Integration (Brian Freeland), True West Award Nomination

Media Coverage
The LIDA Project takes on barriers of class and language in O’Neill’s The Hairy Ape – Westword
My night at The Hairy Ape – Culture West

The Company (2015 Production)
Direction: Brian Freeland
Producers: Steven J. Deidel & Annette Westerby
Stage Manager / Show Control: G. Austin Allen
Scenic Design: Sky Burks
Lighting Design: Anshuman Bhatia & Steven J. Deidel
Sound Design: Alex Hawthorn & Drew Levy
Projection Design: Steven J. Deidel & Brian Freeland
Costume Design: Annette Westerby

Ensemble (2015 Production)
Yank: Lorenzo Sariñana
O’Neill: Sonia Justl

The Company (2013 Production)
Direction: Brian Freeland
Assistant Direction: Laura Lounge
Scenic Design: David Lafont
Lighting Design: Kenrick Fischer
Sound Design: Dustin Lacy
Projection Design: Brian Freeland
Property & Costume Design: Laura Lounge

Ensemble (2013 Production)
Yank: Lorenzo Sariñana
O’Neill: Hart DeRose

Ludlow, 1914 (a dramatic vaudeville)

Posted on September 11, 2014 by The LIDA Project

Erik Brevik in Ludlow, 1914 (a dramatic vaudeville) (2014).

Ludlow, 1914 (a dramatic vaudeville)
a devised work of The LIDA Project*
presented by THEATREWORKS

It was shocking, momentous and then largely forgotten. Two dozen people were killed, including 2 women and 11 children. The Ludlow Massacre of 1914 was the most violent episode in the Colorado coal wars, which in turn was part of the deadliest strike in the history of the United States. This post-contemporary production deconstructs the Ludlow Massacre along with contemporary issues of labor and inequality. This wild examination on the centenary of the events, creates the opportunity for audiences to explore social issues through context, both local and global.

Ludlow, 1914 is not a history lesson rather, it is a freeform exploration of the themes, both historical and current, evoked by the event: wealth inequality, worker’s rights, media bias, fossil fuel dependence. – Broadway World

Production History
September 11 – 28, 2014 : THEATREWORKS:: Colorado Springs, CO

Awards
True West Award

Media Coverage
Theatreworks and LIDA Project Explore the Forgotten History of LUDLOW, 1914
Minecraft – Colorado Springs Independent

The Company
Direction: Brian Freeland
Dramaturgy: Murray Ross
Text Design: Jeannene Bragg / Brian Freeland
Stage Management: Tim Muldrew / Elise Jenkins
Technical Director: Brantley Haines
Production Design: Steven J. Deidel
Scenic Design: Steven J. Deidel / Alex Polzin
Lighting Design: Steven J. Deidel / Stevie Caldarola
Projection Design: Steven J. Deidel / Ryan Gaddis
Costume Design: Betty Ross
Properties Design: Roy Ballard
Orignal Musical Composition:
Automation Programmer: G. Austin Allen

Ensemble
Rachel Baker, Erik Brevik, Terry Burnsed, Mark Cannon, Bruce Carter, Travis Duncan, Jack English, Sanaa Ford, Jane Fromme, David Hastings, Margaret Kasahara, Tom Paradise, Evan Slavens, Katelyn Sturt, Jeremiah Walter, Galen Westmoreland, & Micah Wilborn

Video

Images

Ludlow, 1914 (a dramatic vaudeville) (2014)

* Development collaborators: Encho Avramov, Jeannene Bragg, Terry Burnsed, Steven J. Deidel, Hart DeRose, Brian Freeland, Marcie Grambeau, Jaime Lujan, Parnell McGee, Tom Paradise, Murray Ross, Tommy Sheridan, Miriam BC Tobin, and Petra Ulrich.

R.U.R. / lol

Posted on January 9, 2013 by The LIDA Project

R.U.R. / lol (2013)

R.U.R. / lol
a devised work of The LIDA Project*

Part text. Part noise. Part sound. Part image. All Robot.

R.U.R./lol, an original work loosely based on the 1920 Czech science-fiction play Rossum’s Universal Robots. At the end of humanity four robots remain. Through their controllers they work to protect what remains of the planet from a catastrophic event. The process leads them to question how we came to this end.

Production History
February 15 – March 2, 2013: work | space :: Denver, CO

Awards
Best Lighting Design (Steven J. Deidel), True West Award
Best Multimedia Integration (Steven J. Deidel, Kenrick Fischer, Kevin Zegan, Max Peterson and Brian Freeland), True West Award
Best New Play, True West Awards Nomination
Best Scenic Design (Steven J. Deidel / David Lafont), True West Awards Nomination
Best Sound Design (Dustin Lacy), True West Awards Nomination

Media Coverage
LIDA Project’s R.U.R./lol uses robots to examine what it means to be human – Westword
Photo Essay: My Night at LIDA Project’s ‘R.U.R./lol’ – CultureWest

The Company
Direction: Lorenzo Sariñana
Production Design: Steven J. Deidel
Lighting Design: Steven J. Deidel / Kenrick Fischer
Scenic Design: Steven J. Deidel / David Lafont
Sound Design: Dustin Lacy / Lorenzo Sariñana
Costume Design: Lorenzo Sariñana
Projection Design: Steven J. Deidel /Brian Freeland / David Lafont / Max Peterson

Ensemble
Robots: Rhea Amos / Hart DeRose / Laura Lounge / Heidi Pachner
Controllers: Kenrick Fisher / Brian Freeland / Dustin Lacy / David Lafont / Tommy Sheridan / Lorenzo Sariñana

Video

Images

R.U.R./lol (2013)

Add It Up

Posted on September 10, 2012 by The LIDA Project

Add It Up. Photo: Erin Preston 2012.

Add It Up
An original interpretation by The LIDA Project inspired by the work of Elmer Rice.

Add It Up is a performance remix as interpreted by six sound, video, and performance artists from The LIDA Project. It is sound. It is light. It is music. It is words. It is images. It is machines. It is humans. It is about love. And hate. And murder. And death. And rebirth. And dancing. And eggs.

Production History
September 14 – October 6, 2012 : work | space :: Denver, CO

Awards
Best Use of Multimedia (Brian Freeland / The LIDA Project), True West Award

Media Coverage
Everything adds up as the LIDA Project embarks on its 18th season – Westword

The Company
Producers: Steven J. Deidel / Brian Freeland / The LIDA Project
Direction: Brian Freeland
Assistant Direction: Rhea Amos
Lighting Design: Steven J. Deidel / The LIDA Project
Sound Design: Lorenzo Sariñana / The LIDA Project
Costumes: Hart DeRose / The LIDA Project
Projection Design: Brian Freeland / The LIDA Project

Ensemble
Hart DeRose: 0
Michelle Hurtubise: Elmer Rice
Heidi Pachner: The Boss
Lorenzo Sariñana: Her
Matthew Schultz: Mrs. 0

Video

Images

Add It Up. Photo: Erin Preston 2012.

Auto da Fé

Posted on May 3, 2012 by The LIDA Project

Trina Magness and Dan O’Neill in Auto da Fé (2012)

Auto da Fé
An original adaptation of the book by Elias Canetti by Rebecca Gorman O’Neill.

A twisted creation developed by The LIDA Project ensemble, playwright Rebecca Gorman, and director Brian Freeland. Manipulations of darkness and light and juxtapositions of ghastly imagery help to re-imagine Canetti’s breakthrough 1935 work about a lone recluse and his infinite library of books.

Production History
May 11 – June 2, 2012: work | space :: Denver, CO

Awards
Best New Work (Rebecca Gorman O’Neill), True West Awards Nomination
Best Actor in a Drama (Dan O’Neill), True West Awards Nomination

Media Coverage
LIDA Project’s surreal Auto da Fé – The Denver Post
The Sound and The Fury – Westword

The Company
Producers: Brian Freeland, Steven J. Deidel & The LIDA Project
Direction: Brian Freeland
Words / Dramaturgy: Rebecca Gorman O’Neill
Production Stage Manager: G. Austin Allen
Lighting Design: Steven J. Deidel / Anna R. Kaltenbach
Scenic Design: David Lafont
Projection Design: Steven J. Deidel / Ryan Gaddis
Costume Design: Hart DeRose
Sound Design: Brian Freeland
Associate Sound Design / Operator: Anson Nicholson
Associate Lighting Design: Tommy Sheridan

Ensemble
Dan O’Neill: Kien
Trina Magness: Therese
Robin Davies: Doorman / Fischerle
Lorenzo Sariñana: George / Brute / Beggar / Others

Images

Lorenzo Sariñana, Robin Davies, Dan O’Neill, & Trina Magness in Auto da Fé (2012)

Robin Davies & Dan O’Neill in Auto da Fé (2012)

Lorenzo Sariñana & Trina Magness in Auto da Fé (2012)

Trina Magness & Dan O’Neill in Auto da Fé (2012)

Lorenzo Sariñana in Auto da Fé (2012)

Robin Davies in Auto da Fé (2012)

Dan O’Neill in Auto da Fé (2012)

Justin Bieber Meets Al Qaeda

Posted on September 9, 2011 by The LIDA Project

Justin Bieber Meets Al Qaeda (2011)

Justin Bieber Meets Al Qaeda
a devised work of The LIDA Project*

This original LIDA collaborative work inspired by Max Fritch’s The Firebugs and Albert Camus’s The Just, focuses on American pop culture and attitudes a decade after the Al Qaeda attacks on the United States. An irreverent, bombastic, and controversial examination of American politics and culture post 9-11.

Production History
September 9 – October 8, 2011: work | space :: Denver, CO

Awards
Best Multimedia Integration (Steven J. Deidel) -Denver Post Ovation Award
Best Lighting (Steven J. Deidel) – Denver Post Ovation Award Nomination
Best Sound (Kenny Storms & Max Peterson)– Denver Post Ovation Award Nomination

Media Coverage
Art from the ashes: A decade later, great art inspired by 9/11 is rare
Photo call: Opening night for new LIDA Project
The Terror, the Terror!
The Denver Post Fall Arts Preview

The Company
Producers: Brian Freeland, Steven J. Deidel & The LIDA Project
Direction: Brian Freeland
Dramaturgy: Rebecca Gorman O’Neill
Lighting / Projection Design: Steven J. Deidel
Sound Design: Max Peterson & Kenny Storms
Costume Design: Annette Westerby
Associate Lighting Design: Anna R. Kaltenbach
Associate Lighting Design / Lighting Programmer: G. Austin Allen
Projection Associate / Content Creation: Ryan Gaddis
Pixel Twister: Joe Deats
Camera Operators / Video Technicians: Tommy Sheridan & Alex Polzin
LIVE Sand Artist: Amelia Charter

Ensemble
Patrick Balai: Homeland Security / George W. Bush
Robin Davies: White
Hart DeRose: Anna Lucia
Dan O’Neill: Osama Bin Ladin
Safa Samiezade-Yazd: The Chorus
Matthew Schultz: Sadam Hussain / Bieber
Ryan Wuestewald: Wilson

Video

Images

Matthew Schultz (Sadam Hussain) & Dan O’Neill (Osama Bin Ladin). Photo by Ryan Gaddis (2011)

Robin Davies (White) & Hart DeRose (Anna Lucia). Photo by Ryan Gaddis (2011)

Photo by Ryan Gaddis (2011)

Matthew Schultz (Sadam Hussain). Photo by Ryan Gaddis (2011)

Hart DeRose (Anna Lucia). Photo by Ryan Gaddis (2011)

Dan O’Neill (Osama Bin Ladin). Photo by Ryan Gaddis (2011)

Patrick Balai (Homeland Security). Photo by Ryan Gaddis (2011)

Ryan Wuestewald (Wilson). Photo by Ryan Gaddis (2011)

Dan O’Neill (Michael Jackson). Photo by Ryan Gaddis (2011)

Robin Davies (White). Photo by Ryan Gaddis (2011)

Safa Samiezade-Yazd (The Chorus). Photo by Ryan Gaddis (2011)

Ryan Wuestewald (Wilson). Photo by Ryan Gaddis (2011)

Safa Samiezade-Yazd (The Chorus) & Robin Davies (White). Photo by Ryan Gaddis (2011)

Matthew Schultz (Beiber). Photo by Ryan Gaddis (2011)

Photo by Ryan Gaddis (2011)

Dan O’Neill (Osama Bin Ladin). Photo by Ryan Gaddis (2011)

Matthew Schultz (Sadam Hussain). Photo by Ryan Gaddis (2011)

Dan O’Neill (Captain). Photo by Ryan Gaddis (2011)

Matthew Schultz. Photo by Ryan Gaddis (2011)

Photo by Ryan Gaddis (2011)

Robin Davies (White). Photo by Ryan Gaddis (2011)

Hart DeRose (Anna Lucia). Photo by Ryan Gaddis (2011)

* Development collaborators: Robin Davies, Hart DeRose, Brian Freeland, & Matthew Schultz. Additional collaboration from Steven J. Deidel, Rebecca Gorman O’Neill, Dan O’Neill, & Kenny Storms

Mouse In A Jar

Posted on April 23, 2010 by The LIDA Project

Trina Magness (Ma) in Martyna Majok’s Mouse in a Jar. (2010)

Mouse in a Jar
by Martyna Majok

We see a mother on a leash. We see the bruises. We smell the meat burn. We hear a crash, a thrash. We know the Man in Boots is coming. We know the daughter is out there. We know there is something scrounging in the shadows.Mouse in a Jar is a horror story packed full of oddities and underground life forms. This is Stockholm Syndrome. This is the impossible grace of bondage. This is subterranean punk; acts of desperation required.

Production History
April 23 – May 29, 2010 : BINDERY | space :: Denver, CO

Awards
Best Actress in a Drama (Trina Magness), Westword
Actress in a Dramatic Role (Trina Magness) – Denver Post Ovation Award
Supporting Actress in a Dramatic Role (Kelleen Shadow) – Denver Post Ovation Award Nomination
Scenic Design (Nick Kargel) – Denver Post Ovation Award Nomination
Lighting Design (Steven J. Diedel) – Denver Post Ovation Award Nomination
Sound Design (Brian Freeland) – Denver Post Ovation Award Nomination

Media Coverage
Horror captured like a mouse in a jar, The Denver Post
LIDA presents, Mouse In A Jar, The Metropolitan
‘Mouse in a Jar’ is not horror but it’s certainly scary, The Examiner

The Company
Direction: Julie Rada
Asst. Direction: Lanie Reel
Scenic Design: Nicholas Kargel
Lighting / Projection Design: Steven J. Deidel
Associate Lighting Design: Anna R. Kaltenbach / Dan O’Neill
Video Foley Artist: Dan O’Neill
Sound Design: Brian Freeland
Costume Design: Annette Westerby
Properties Design: Julie Rada
Production Run Crew: Ryan Gaddis / Jules DuMond / Kenny Storms

Ensemble
Zosia: Janna Meiring
Daga: Kelleen Shadow
Ma: Trina Magness
Boy: Lorenzo Sariñana

Images