Physical Theater Festival Chicago will return for its 12th edition from June. Physical Theater Festival Chicago brings to our city audience-beloved, virtuosic live performances from around the world that inspire theatergoers and local artists to reimagine what a live theater experience can be and do across cultures, languages, and genres.
Schedule:
10:00 a.m -1:00 p.m: Ephemeral Ensemble Workshop
7:00 p.m: Black is the Color of my Voice Show
Inspired by the life of Nina Simone, and featuring many of her most iconic songs performed live. Apphia Campbell’s acclaimed play follows a successful singer and civil rights activist as she seeks redemption after the untimely death of her father. She reflects on the journey that took her from a young piano prodigy destined for a life in the service of the church, to a renowned jazz vocalist at the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement. The show has toured the UK and Australia to standing ovations and played sell-out seasons in Shanghai, New York, Edinburgh and the West End of London.
8:00 p.m: Rewind by Ephemeral Ensemble (Brazil, Colombia, Iceland and UK) Show
Ephemeral ensemble is a multi-award winning and critically acclaimed international physical theatre collective. We make work driven by a theme or a question, which inspires us to find fact-based stories that shine a light on current hidden social issues. Collaboration between the artistic team, the community and professionals in other fields is vital to our process. Our work is political, visually striking, highly dynamic, thought provoking and moving at heart. We combine the high physicality of the performers, original music and playful interaction with the stagecraft to create a narrative.
9:00 p.m: Un Poyo Rojo (Argentina) Show
Two men and a live radio in a dressing room, face each other, challenge, fight and seduce each other. An interesting cross between dance, sports and sexuality. A work that, based on body language, explores the limits of contemporary language, regarding movement and its subsequent interpretations. A provocation, an invitation to laugh at ourselves, and at the same time, recognize our totality. Un Poyo Rojo, mixes acrobatics and humor. See it as kitch, cliché, or a striking expression of the physical and spiritual possibilities of the human being.
