The Public Theater

Public Shows Off Theater Riding
Under the Radar Around the World

New York's Public Theater has invited 13 shows from seven countries to participate in its ninth annual Under The Radar Festival January 9–20, 2013. Ranging from emerging talents to masters in the field, Under the Radar offers audiences a crash course in theater that is independent and experimental, created by some of the most dynamic artists working today.

Shakespeare is represented in the festival by the Leev Theater Group from Iran performing Hamlet, Prince of Grief. Written by Mohammad Charmshir and directed by Mohammad Aghebati, the 30-minute production features Afshin Hashemi as Hamlet using household objects and children's toys in an obsessive retelling of the moments that preceded his violent tragedy. The play, supported by the Jim Henson Foundation, will be presented in Farsi with English supertitles.

The festival's lineup also includes the following overseas productions:

• Ganesh Versus the Third Reich presented by Back to Back Theatre and 2 Dimensional Life of Her presented by Fleur Elis Noble, both of Australia;
• Minsk 2011: A Reply to Kathy Acker presented by the Belarus Free Theatre;
• C'est du Chinois presented by Edit Kaldor of Hungary and The Netherlands;
• Zero Cost House, a joint production by Japan's Toshiki Okada and the Pig Iron Theatre Company in Pennsylvania.

The Nature Theater of Oklahoma will be presenting Life and Times as well as an ongoing podcast, OK Radio, featuring long-form conversations with artists and curators from around the world. Other U.S.-based productions are Hollow Roots, a one-woman show played by April Mathis, written by Christina Anderso,n and directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz; Blood Play from The Debate Society, a Brooklyn-based company; Arguendo (Work in Progress), produced by New York's Elevator Repair Service; A 20th Century Abridged Concert of the History of Popular Music performed by Taylor Mac; and a reading of Lemon Anderson's new play, ToasT.

The Under the Radar Festival will also include a professional symposium January 10–11 featuring a chance to see full productions of the festival shows along with keynote speakers and expert panel discussions (open to producing professionals only) and a series of roundtable discussions on January 12. Another feature is the Festival Lounge, where audiences and festival artists can enjoy post-show drinks, discussions, and dancing.

For more information on the festival, visit undertheradarfestival.com. For a schedule of performances, see Bard on the Boards.

November 9, 2012

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