Run-time (hh:mm:ss): 01:25:16
Language:
In English.
English
Synopsis: 'Dionysus in 69' is the first performance of The Performance Group that emerged in 1968 from a workshop led by Richard Schechner
in November 1967 shortly after he arrived from Tulane University to teach at NYU. 'D69' was the first environmental theater
production shown at the Performing Garage, the long-time home of TPG and later, the Wooster Group that emerged in 1980 from
TPG. A free-wheeling adaptation and distortion of Euripides' 'The Bacchae', 'D69' is notable for the combination of a number
of 'firsts' for the New York theater, including audience participation, man-to-man kissing, and full-frontal nudity of both
women and men. The Performing Garage was filled with platforms and towers, the floor covered with carpets. There were no seats
which meant that performers and spectators shared the space, sitting on the floor or perched on scaffolds. 'D69' was created
during a long period of workshops and rehearsals.The production - like all of Schechner's work that followed - was never finished. Before each performance, Schechner gave
extensive notes and made many revisions. Over the 14-month run, the roles were rotated among the cast, including a woman playing
the god Dionysus (Joan MacIntosh). The Performance Group used their performances as a means of confronting the psychic, physical,
social, and political work of the performer and the spectator. The film was made by De Palma and his colleagues from footage
shot during two in June and July, 1968. The film uses two screen images shown simultaneously to give some feel of the totally
inclusive environmental theater technique pioneered by Schechner. Richard Schechner is a theater director, performance theorist
and university professor known for being one of the founders of the academic discipline of Performance Studies at Tisch School
of the Arts, New York University.Schechner combines his work in anthropology with innovative approaches to performance of all kinds including ritual, drama,
environmental theater, political rallies, dance, music, etc. in order to consider how performance can be understood not just
as an object of study, but also as an active intellectual-artistic practice. He is the editor of 'TDR: The Journal of Performance
Studies.' His books include 'Environmental Theater,' 'The Future of Ritual,' 'Performance Theory,' 'Between Theater and Anthropology'
and 'Performance Studies: An Introduction.' As of 2007, his books have been translated into 14 languages.
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Copyright Holder: Richard Schechner
Contact: Richard Schechner
Address:
Richard Schechner
1 Washington Square Village, PHA
New York, NY 10012
U.S.A.
Phone(Business): +1-212-998-1638
Phone(Fax): +1-212-777-1351
Email: rs4@nyu.edu
Copyright Holder: Richard Schechner
Contact: Richard Schechner
Address:
Richard Schechner
1 Washington Square Village, PHA
New York, NY 10012
U.S.A.
Phone(Business): +1-212-998-1638
Phone(Fax): +1-212-777-1351
Email: rs4@nyu.edu
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