September 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, and 17 at 7:00 PM
September 11 and 18 at 2:00 PM
Director, Writer, Performer - Anna Kohler
Performers - John Hagan, Natalia deCampos, Fabio Tavares, Justin Gordon
Associate Director - Caleb Hammond
Video Design - Max DiMartino
Audio Design - Benny Woodard
Production Management - Caroline Pastore
Stage Management - Gerrit Veldt
Additional Video Design - Josh Higgason
“Immense Joy” is a new and original work conceived, directed and performed by Anna Kohler, in collaboration with performers Natalia de Campos, John Hagan. Fabio Tavares, Justin Gordon and Associate Director Caleb Hammond . It is inspired by the writing of Brazilian author and femme fatale Clarice Lispector, a woman whose deep understanding of human nature and ahead-of-our-times writing is filled with both intense, quirky humor and profound sadness. Her honesty and passion as a person and writer truly resonates with the current state of the world. It is vital that we hear her stories right NOW. Just like she questions herself via her characters, we find ourselves questioning where and who we are in this world. And we find ourselves expressed in Clarise’s stories, because her characters remind us of ourselves.
Her masterful writing style is challenging to stage but provides the company with limitless colors with which to “paint”. The strength of Clarise’s imagery and her ability to profoundly look into the hearts of people, particularly those who have been victimized by life, brings up the question: aren’t we all, whether we’re in South or North America, or anywhere else in the world for that matter, victims of our social position in life? Isn’t the “American dream” that you can get rich if you just work hard enough, by now an illusion?
*Please note that this performance will be presented at the Tank's in-person performance space at 312 W 36th St. All attendees and artists will be required to display proof of full covid vaccination before being admitted to the space, either by showing a vaccination record (vaccination card) at least two weeks out from the final dose of an approved vaccine, or by using New York's free Excelsior Pass service, available here. Patrons will also be required to wear masks while indoors at all times and for the time being, no food or beverage will be permitted to be consumed at the theater.