Physical Theater Festival Chicago returns for its sixth year with physical theater acts and artists from Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Finland, Puerto Rico, India, the U.K. and Chicago.
When:
May 31 – June 9, 2019
Where:
Stage 773
1225 W Belmont
Chicago
** Except Eventide—see below
Following is the full 2019 Physical Theater Festival Chicago schedule.
Friday, May 31
Next Door
By Out of Balanz (Copenhagen, Denmark)
7 p.m.
60 minutes
For ages 12 and up
Multi-award winning Danish company Out of Balanz returns to Chicago with their critically acclaimed Next Door.
When Ivan Hansen’s neighbor passes away suddenly, Ivan realizes he doesn’t know anything about him. In Next Door, intimate storytelling and high-octane physical theater explore what it is that really connects us.
Next Door captured First Prize and Audience Prize at the Birmingham European Theatre Festival 2013 and Best Male Performers at Kosovo’s Skena Up International Festival.
Helga – life of a diva extraordinaire
By Henni Kervinen, directed by Jenni Kallo (Finland)
9 p.m.
60 minutes
For ages 10 and up
Melancholy mime, clowning circus skills and physical comedy make up the wordless story of Helga.
Helga is performed by Finnish circus artist Henni Kervinen and directed by Jenni Kallo, Artistic Director of the renowned Kallo Collective (Only Bones, Edinburgh Fringe 2016).
Saturday, June 1
Helga – life of a diva extraordinaire
By Henni Kervinen, directed by Jenni Kallo (Finland)
7 p.m.
60 minutes
For ages 10 and up
Melancholy mime, clowning circus skills and physical comedy make up the wordless story of Helga.
Helga is performed by Finnish circus artist Henni Kervinen and directed by Jenni Kallo, Artistic Director of the renowned Kallo Collective (Only Bones, Edinburgh Fringe 2016).
Next Door
By Out of Balanz
(Copenhagen, Denmark)
9 p.m.
60 minutes
For ages 12 and up
Multi-award winning Danish company Out of Balanz returns to Chicago with their critically acclaimed Next Door.
When Ivan Hansen’s neighbor passes away suddenly, Ivan realizes he doesn’t know anything about him. In Next Door, intimate storytelling and high-octane physical theater explore what it is that really connects us.
Next Door captured First Prize and Audience Prize at the Birmingham European Theatre Festival 2013 and Best Male Performers at Kosovo’s Skena Up International Festival.
Sunday, June 2
Next Door
By Out of Balanz (Copenhagen, Denmark)
2 p.m.
60 minutes
For ages 12 and up
* ”Sitter Sunday” - come for the show, teaching staff from Willow Tree Child Care will watch your kids, ages potty trained and up.
Multi-award winning Danish company Out of Balanz returns to Chicago with their critically acclaimed Next Door.
When Ivan Hansen’s neighbor passes away suddenly, Ivan realizes he doesn’t know anything about him. In Next Door, intimate storytelling and high-octane physical theater explore what it is that really connects us.
Next Door captured First Prize and Audience Prize at the Birmingham European Theatre Festival 2013 and Best Male Performers at Kosovo’s Skena Up International Festival.
Helga – life of a diva extraordinaire
By Henni Kervinen, directed by Jenni Kallo (Finland)
5 p.m.
60 minutes
For ages 10 and up
Melancholy mime, clowning circus skills and physical comedy make up the wordless story of Helga.
Helga is performed by Finnish circus artist Henni Kervinen and directed by Jenni Kallo, Artistic Director of the renowned Kallo Collective (Only Bones, Edinburgh Fringe 2016).
The Raveling
by Walkabout Theatre (Chicago)
8:30 p.m.
60 minutes
For ages 14 and up
The Raveling teases apart the threads of heritage, history and hearsay in its cast of co-creators hailing from Chicago, Toronto, and New Delhi. The Raveling is described as part family fever dream, part fairy tale, and part detective story as the knot of belonging is stretched and pulled across countries and decades of legends, heroes, and misadventures.
Walkabout Theater is a multidisciplinary ensemble committed to a unique practice of theater-making in Chicago.
Monday, June 3
The Raveling
by Walkabout Theatre (Chicago)
9 p.m.
60 minutes
For ages 14 and up
The Raveling teases apart the threads of heritage, history and hearsay in its cast of co-creators hailing from Chicago, Toronto, and New Delhi. The Raveling is part family fever dream, part fairy tale, and part detective story as the knot of belonging is stretched and pulled across countries and decades of legends, heroes, and misadventures.
Walkabout Theater is a multidisciplinary ensemble committed to a unique practice of theater-making in Chicago.
A Life with No Limits
By Aura CuriAtlas Physical Theatre (Chicago)
7 p.m.
60 minutes
For all ages
A Life With No Limits is inspired by the life and work of astrophysicist Stephen Hawking. It blends dance, theater, and acrobatics and aims to reflect on the determination, passion, and sense of humor of someone who has severe physical limitations, yet has an imagination that is able to roam free.
Blending dance, theater, and acrobatics to tell stories, Aura CuriAtlas keeps the qualities of lightness (Aura), strength (Atlas), and play (Curiosity) at the center. The company’s lightheartedness, athleticism and reliance on physical storytelling make its stories accessible to audiences of many different ages and backgrounds.
Tuesday, June 4
A Life with No Limits
By Aura CuriAtlas Physical Theatre (Chicago)
7 p.m.
60 minutes
For all ages
A Life With No Limits is inspired by the life and work of astrophysicist Stephen Hawking. It is created in the company’s signature blend of dance, theater, and acrobatics and reflects on the determination, passion, and sense of humor of someone who has severe physical limitations, yet has an imagination that is able to roam free.
Scratch Night
9 p.m.
80 minutes
Revue of new and more experimental short works by emerging and veteran Chicago physical theater artists, presented in association with Heels over Head, will feature La Vuelta Ensemble led by Raquel Torre and Jean Claudio; Claire Saxe from Rough House Theater; and Brittany Price Anderson from Heels Over Head.
Wednesday, June 5
International Touring Talk
7 p.m.
The panel discusses the ins and outs of touring Chicago-made work internationally and nationally at this free industry panel with artists from Walkabout Theater and India's Guild of the Goat and presenters from Chicago Shakespeare Theater and Chicago Park District.
Eventide
By 3AM Theatre (New York/Puerto Rico)
9 p.m.
60 minutes
Ages 7 and up
* at Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. in Wicker Park
Eventide is a wordless circus theater show featuring a former Cirque du Soleil performer and a former Martha Graham company soloist. The production employs expressive movement, object manipulation, and contemporary, surreal scene-setting aiming to expose the challenges we face in romantic relationships and relationships with ourselves.
3AM Theatre is the latest creative endeavor of two career performers, Kyle Driggs and Andrea Murillo.
They bring their respective experiences at storied institutions like Martha Graham Dance Company and Cirque du Soleil to 3AM where they are developing performances that explore both the intersection and the boundaries of their art forms.
Thursday, June 6
The Gift
By Angela de Castro
From Brazil/U.K.
7 p.m.
60 minutes
All ages
A clown waits for his new date to arrive. Smart, proud and optimistic he waits longingly, impatiently...waits...and waits. In what seems an eternity he walks a tightrope between passion and despair. Will it all end in tears or laughter? The Gift is a tale in the great tradition of Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin in which music and silence merge as passion and imagination take over.
Brazilian born Angela de Castro has been a professional clown/actor for 40 years. She travels the world with her workshop master class ‘How To Be a Stupid’ and is known by many for creating the Green Clown in Slava’s Snowshow.
Eventide
By 3AM Theatre (New York/Puerto Rico)
9 p.m.
60 minutes
Ages 7 and up
* at Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. in Wicker Park
Eventide is a wordless circus theater show featuring a former Cirque du Soleil performer and a former Martha Graham company soloist. The production employs expressive movement, object manipulation, and contemporary, surreal scene-setting aiming to expose the challenges we face in romantic relationships and relationships with ourselves.
3AM Theatre is the latest creative endeavor of two career performers, Kyle Driggs and Andrea Murillo.
They bring their respective experiences at storied institutions like Martha Graham Dance Company and Cirque du Soleil to 3AM where they are developing performances that explore both the intersection and the boundaries of their art forms.
Freeman
By Strictly Arts (U.K.)
9 p.m.
60 minutes
For ages 14 and up
Following its critically acclaimed sold out run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Freeman makes its U.S. debut as the largest international production ever presented by Physical Theater Festival Chicago.
Shortlisted for Amnesty International’s Freedom of Expression Award, Freeman is inspired by the first man in America to plead insanity as his defense and examines the unspoken link between mental health and systemic racism. Throughout time and across waters, from William Freeman, to Sarah Reed, to Sandra Bland, six true stories are threaded together and told through physical theater, spoken word, gospel singing, shadow puppetry and more.
Strictly Arts is led by Artistic Director and founder, Corey Campbell and Executive Producer, Henry Bays.
Friday, June 7
The Gift
By Angela de Castro
From Brazil/U.K.
7 p.m.
60 minutes
All ages
A clown waits for his new date to arrive. Smart, proud and optimistic he waits longingly, impatiently...waits...and waits. In what seems an eternity he walks a tightrope between passion and despair. Will it all end in tears or laughter? The Gift is a tale in the great tradition of Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin in which music and silence merge as passion and imagination take over.
Brazilian born Angela de Castro has been a professional clown/actor for 40 years. She travels the world with her workshop master class ‘How To Be a Stupid’ and is known by many for creating the Green Clown in Slava’s Snowshow.
Freeman
By Strictly Arts (U.K.)
9 p.m.
60 minutes
For ages 14 and up
Following its critically acclaimed sold out run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Freeman makes its U.S. debut as the largest international production ever presented by Physical Theater Festival Chicago.
Shortlisted for Amnesty International’s Freedom of Expression Award, Freeman is inspired by the first man in America to plead insanity as his defense and examines the unspoken link between mental health and systemic racism. Throughout time and across waters, from William Freeman, to Sarah Reed, to Sandra Bland, six true stories are threaded together and told through physical theater, spoken word, gospel singing, shadow puppetry and more.
Strictly Arts is led by Artistic Director and founder, Corey Campbell and Executive Producer, Henry Bays.
Saturday, June 8
The Gift
By Angela de Castro
From Brazil/U.K.
7 p.m.
60 minutes
All ages
A clown waits for his new date to arrive. Smart, proud and optimistic he waits longingly, impatiently...waits...and waits. In what seems an eternity he walks a tightrope between passion and despair. Will it all end in tears or laughter? The Gift is a tale in the great tradition of Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin in which music and silence merge as passion and imagination take over.
Brazilian born Angela de Castro has been a professional clown/actor for 40 years. She travels the world with her workshop master class ‘How To Be a Stupid’ and is known by many for creating the Green Clown in Slava’s Snowshow.
Freeman
By Strictly Arts (U.K.)
9 p.m.
60 minutes
For ages 14 and up
Following its critically acclaimed sold out run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Freeman makes its U.S. debut as the largest international production ever presented by Physical Theater Festival Chicago.
Shortlisted for Amnesty International’s Freedom of Expression Award, Freeman is inspired by the first man in America to plead insanity as his defense and examines the unspoken link between mental health and systemic racism. Throughout time and across waters, from William Freeman, to Sarah Reed, to Sandra Bland, six true stories are threaded together and told through physical theater, spoken word, gospel singing, shadow puppetry and more.
Strictly Arts is led by Artistic Director and founder, Corey Campbell and Executive Producer, Henry Bays
Sunday, June 9
The Nora Project Presents: Tic Tac Tock by Mrs. Flower
With and by Rachel Ponsonby, Directed by Louis Spagna (Belgium/U.K.)
2 p.m.
50 minutes
All ages - Free with suggested donation to The Nora Project
Experience sensory friendly, inclusive live theater for children of all abilities and their families. Tic Tac Tock is a prize-winning story told by Mrs. Flower about when she was a little girl in France, including music, song, and language in both French and English. Mrs. Flower plays over 10 instruments using audience participation, circus, magic and clowning.
A musical clown show for all ages, Tic Tac Tock is with and by Rachel Ponsonby, and directed by Louis Spagna.
The Nora Project is a Chicago-based nonprofit with a mission is to teach empathy by sparking friendships between students and their peers with disabilities.
For more information, visit Physical Festival Website
And also—
For more, visit ---
contemporaryclowningprojects Website.
Photos courtesy of Physical Theater Festival Chicago 2019
