The performance collective Nature Theater of Oklahoma has switched to film for the three new episodes of their long-term genre-bending project “Life and Times”.

A new era has dawned in the work of the Nature Theater of Oklahoma: although the New York Off-Off-Broadway company headed by Kelly Copper and Pavol Liska are present at this unique gala evening, the focus is on three film premieres. It all began on stage, with the life story of one of the company’s members, Kristin Worrall, transcribed from a sixteen-hour phone conversation which served as the foundation. We can now look forward to an evening, a grand narrative, a company, and three very different films. Some with a local reference even – Episode 9 is a zany gangsta rap video shot on roller-skates at last year’s steirischer herbst in Graz.

But before we get there, Episode 7 has to take its course: the company works within the conventions of old black-and-white Hollywood films, paying formal obeisance to Orson Welles’ film classic “Citizen Kane” as they restage the recorded life story in a completely different way – with nine actors playing the parts of more than one hundred characters. This episode also gives a newsreel-style recap of events so far.

Episode 8 is a visually impressive flick in the style of an early Cinemascope colour movie shot in the area around NYC and the Hudson River Valley. Sung throughout, the film once more develops new perspectives of Kristin’s life story. The whole thing comes to an equally unusual close – with Episode 9 condensing five years in the life of the protagonist into just seventeen minutes in the style of a rap video.

Autorin / Autor, Text: Kelly Copper
Konzept / Idee: Kelly Copper
Regie: Kelly Copper
Autorin / Autor, Text: Pavol Liska
Konzept / Idee: Pavol Liska
Regie: Pavol Liska
Künstlerische Leitung: Dany Naierman
Mitwirkende / Mitwirkender: Pavol Liska
Mitwirkende / Mitwirkender: Peter Nigrini
Musik: Robert M. Johanson
Musik: Daniel Gower
Komponistin / Komponist: Daniel Gower
Schauspielerin / Schauspieler: Ilan Bachrach
Schauspielerin / Schauspieler: Asli Bulbul
Schauspielerin / Schauspieler: Elisabeth Conner Skaervold
Schauspielerin / Schauspieler: Kelly Copper
Schauspielerin / Schauspieler: Gabel Eiben
Schauspielerin / Schauspieler: Daniel Gower
Schauspielerin / Schauspieler: Robert M. Johanson
Schauspielerin / Schauspieler: Dany Naierman
Schauspielerin / Schauspieler: Kristin Worrall
Künstlerin / Künstler / Gruppe: Nature Theater of Oklahoma

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