15 Head Theatre Lab
Encyclopedia
The 15 HEAD theatre lab was a non-profit, professional, experimental theatre company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota
.
Following two years at Old Arizona studios, they became a resident company at the Red Eye Theater in Minneapolis in 1997. Several former members went on the create the Minneapolis-based company known as Sandbox Theatre
.
In its final years (after the departure of two of the original founders), the remaining company members utilized methods popularized by Anne Bogart
and the SITI Company
. The company was awarded a Jerome Fellowship grant for their work in 2002 and 2004. 15 Head produced plays and offered classes in the Viewpoints method in Minneapolis from 1995, until the dissolution of the company in 2005.
, dance
and visually dynamic design
.
A unique feature of 15 HEAD was its use of a broad, cross-disciplinary
, collaborative rehearsal process. The company of professional directors, designers, actors and writers ignored the traditional problems between their specializations, so that all participants could provide input into each aspect of the production. Although 15 HEAD was inspired by stories
, legend
s and myths through an extensive discovery and rehearsal process, the finished product reflected the individual and collective strengths of each of the company members.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
.
History
The company was founded in 1995 by two directors named Julia Fischer and Greg Smucker, and a designer named Joe Stanley. 15 HEAD focused on creating original company works, employing a unique method of communal creation to bring their productions to the stage.Following two years at Old Arizona studios, they became a resident company at the Red Eye Theater in Minneapolis in 1997. Several former members went on the create the Minneapolis-based company known as Sandbox Theatre
Sandbox Theatre
Sandbox Theatre is an experimental theater company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Ryan Hill, Lisa Moreira, Andrew Lawrence Schiff and Heather Stone formed the company in 2005 after working together in shows for 15 Head Theatre Lab, a Minneapolis experimental theatre company which closed the same...
.
In its final years (after the departure of two of the original founders), the remaining company members utilized methods popularized by Anne Bogart
Anne Bogart
-Biography:She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Bard College in 1974, followed by a Master of Arts degree from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in 1977. She served as Artistic Director of the Trinity Repertory Company for its 1989-90 season...
and the SITI Company
SITI Company
The SITI Company is an ensemble-based theater company whose three ongoing components are the creation of new work, the training of young theater artists, and a commitment to international collaboration....
. The company was awarded a Jerome Fellowship grant for their work in 2002 and 2004. 15 Head produced plays and offered classes in the Viewpoints method in Minneapolis from 1995, until the dissolution of the company in 2005.
Style
15 HEAD's productions were marked by a signature style featuring intense physical movement that included musicMusic
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
, dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
and visually dynamic design
Design
Design as a noun informally refers to a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system while “to design” refers to making this plan...
.
A unique feature of 15 HEAD was its use of a broad, cross-disciplinary
Interdisciplinarity
Interdisciplinarity involves the combining of two or more academic fields into one single discipline. An interdisciplinary field crosses traditional boundaries between academic disciplines or schools of thought, as new needs and professions have emerged....
, collaborative rehearsal process. The company of professional directors, designers, actors and writers ignored the traditional problems between their specializations, so that all participants could provide input into each aspect of the production. Although 15 HEAD was inspired by stories
Narrative
A narrative is a constructive format that describes a sequence of non-fictional or fictional events. The word derives from the Latin verb narrare, "to recount", and is related to the adjective gnarus, "knowing" or "skilled"...
, legend
Legend
A legend is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude...
s and myths through an extensive discovery and rehearsal process, the finished product reflected the individual and collective strengths of each of the company members.
Shows
- 1996: Lulu
- 1997: She Must Be Dreaming: Impressions of Wuthering Heights
- 1998: The Lady from the Sea; meFausto (review); Don Juan
- 1999: The Mountain Giants (review); Dracula
- 2000: Aria; The Insatiate Countess
- 2001: Coco; Cheri; RED/instructions to follow
- 2002: The Rush; The Enchanted (review)
- 2003: The VI Wives of Henry VIII; Sacred Space; Oil on Canvas
- 2005: Vacationland