Return to News ListTCG grant awarded to DAI
February 1, 2014
Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for theatre, announced recipients for the third round of its Global Connections program. Dell’Arte was awarded one of three “In The Lab” grants to further a pre-existing international collaboration with French designer/director Alain Schons. Supported by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, this grant program encourages reciprocity and cultural exchange throughout the world.
The grant will support the development of "Elisabeth’s Book," a new work by Dell’Arte’s founding artistic director Joan Schirle in collaboration with DAI faculty member Laura Munoz and Schons. The grant supports residencies that advance the development of a piece and/or explore elements leading up to a full production. Schirle and Munoz began work on the project with Schons in France last October, and now Schons will travel to the US to collaborate on the project for two months.
"Elisabeth’s Book" is based on the story of three Hungarian women enslaved in a German munitions factory in 1944. Following liberation in 1945, one of them spent three years as a DP or ‘displaced person.’ Schirle and Munoz are in the 3-member cast, with Ruxy Cantir, who was in last summer’s The Comedy of Errors. There will be some work-in-progress showings in early April, and the full production will premiere at the 2014 Mad River Festival in July. The project has also received funding from the National Endowment For The Arts.
Schons previously worked with the Dell’Arte Company in the late 70’s and early 80’s and served as Director of Dell’Arte School for several years before moving back to France with his family. He designed a number of early DAI Company works, including R. Crumb’s "Whiteman Meets Bigfoot," "Performance Anxiety," and recently directed Rudi Galindo’s "All Fall Down", presented at DAI in 2012. He will direct and design "Elisabeth’s Book."
“Twelve countries and at least eight different languages are represented in this round of the Global Connections program,” said Teresa Eyring, executive director of TCG. “Through advancing cultural exchange and collaboration, we not only enhance our art form, but deepen peace and mutual understanding.” Now in its third year, the Global Connections program awarded up to $5,000 to seven projects through ON the ROAD and $10,000 to three projects through IN the LAB.
New York’s Bond St. Theatre and Brooklyn’s The Team are the two other companies to receive In The Lab grants. Hartford Stage, The Playwrights’ Center, and 5 more individuals and companies received On The Road grants. The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is a private philanthropic institution that makes grants on a selective basis in four core program areas: higher education and scholarship; scholarly communications and information technology; museums and art conservation; and performing arts. More information about the grant program and other recipients is at www.tcg.org
.CONTACT: Janessa Johnsrude at (707) 668-5663 janessa@dellarte.com