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Thu, Nov 10, 2005
“So fascinating...it must be seen.”—New York Times on Mabou Mines DollHouse
As part of its reopening celebration, the Wexner Center presents Mabou Mines DollHouse, a radical update of the classic Henrik Ibsen play A Doll’s House, November 16–20 in the center’s intimate Black Box on Mershon Stage. In this visually striking adaptation of the proto-feminist classic about a claustrophobic marriage, the women are 6 feet tall while the men are under 4 1⁄2 feet, in an upending of the battle of the sexes. The men attempt to dominate the women in a doll’s house set filled with toy chairs, toy pianos, toy doors, toy everything—forcing the women to crawl, cower, and physically demean themselves to adapt to this man’s world. Directed by Mabou Mines’ Lee Breuer, the show features a Grieg-inspired piano score by Eve Beglarian performed live and choreography by Martha Clarke that lends a silent movie feel to the proceedings. It has been described as “a dizzying visual commentary on sexual politics” and “a wonderland of mismatched proportions” by the New York Times. Tickets are $16 general public, $13 members, $10 students, available at the Wexner Center Ticket Office (614 292-3535) and Ticketmaster (614 431-3600).
ABOUT MABOU MINES One of the top vanguard theater companies in the country, Mabou Mines was founded in New York City in 1970 as a theater collaborative. Director Lee Breuer, a leading figure in the avant-garde theater world, has created more than 50 original works and adaptations of classics for the theater, such as his Gospel at Colonus, which featured the Blind Boys of Alabama. Mabou Mines has received more than 50 awards and citations for excellence, including OBIE Awards for General Excellence and Sustained Achievement. The company first appeared at the Wexner Center as part of its inaugural season. For more information, visit www.maboumines.org.
RESIDENCY ACTIVITIES: In addition to organizing public presentations of contemporary work in the performing, media, and visual arts, the Wexner Center actively seeks to provide opportunities for interaction among visiting artists, students, faculty, and staff of The Ohio State University, and members of the community. While at the Wexner Center, Mabou Mines director Lee Breuer will hold a discussion session for Ohio State students about his unique approach to making innovative theater. Students from the Departments of Theatre and Women’s Studies, as well as other academic areas concerned with issues of gender politics, have been invited to see this production and join in the discussion.
CALENDAR INFORMATION for Mabou Mines Dollhouse: Description: Wexner Center presents New York-based theater company Mabou Mines’ radical update of Ibsen’s A Doll’s House.
Dates and times: Wednesday–Friday, November 16–18 at 8 pm, Saturday, November 19 at 2 and 8 pm, and Sunday, November 20 at 2 and 7 pm.
Location: Wexner Center’s Black Box on Mershon Stage (audience and actors on stage), 1871 N. High Street. Capacity 100. Tickets: $16 general public, $13 members, $10 students.
Ticket outlets: Wexner Center Ticket Office (614 292-3535) and Ticketmaster (614 431-3600)
Public information: 614 292-3535 and www.wexarts.org
Digital images for the media available upon request. Call Erik Pepple at 614 688-3261.
EVENT SUPPORT This performance of Mabou Mines DollHouse is presented with support from the Greater Columbus Arts Council and the Heartland Arts Fund, a program of Arts Midwest funded by the National Endowment for the Arts with additional contributions from General Mills Foundation, Land O’Lakes Foundation, Sprint Corporation, and the Ohio Arts Council. Special funding for the development of Mabou Mines DollHouse was provided by The Peter Jay Sharp Foundation, The Blue Ridge Foundation, Altria Group, The Lawton W. Fitt and James I. McLaren Foundation, New York State Council on the Arts, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, Arts International, Jes Scheuer and Joe Mellicker, and many generous individuals. Mabou Mines is a participant in the New Generous Program: Mentoring the Leaders of Tomorrow, administered by the Theatre Communications Group and funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
PERFORMING ARTS SEASON SUPPORT Major support for the Wexner Center’s 2005–06 performing arts season is generously provided by Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, and The Columbus Foundation. Significant contributions made by Altria Group, Inc., Morgan Stanley, Nationwide Foundation, and Ron and Ann Pizzuti. Additional funding is provided by the Ohio Arts Council, the Corporate Annual Fund of the Wexner Center Foundation, and Wexner Center members. Preferred accommodations: The Blackwell Inn.
