Reflections on the Journey of Grotowski

The first of PSALM’s programs that pay tribute to the contributions of Grotowski to world theater. This will be a rare opportunity to view two important documentary films detailing the life and work of the artist. The program will consist of the two film screenings: the first at 4:00 and the second at 6:00 P.M. The showings will be separated by an intermission during which a light meal will be served. A discussion of Grotowski’s work, past and present, will take place following the film presentation.

The first film will be introduced by Ben Spatz, Founder and Leader of Urban Research Theater in New York City. Spatz spent two years in Poland researching Grotowski's legacy. He will discuss the paths of those working "after Grotowski," including the Gardzienice Theater Association and the Workcenter of Jerzy Grotowski and Thomas Richards. Spatz will introduce Jerzy Grotowski: An Attempt at a Portrait, an hour-long documentary with clips from Grotowski's stage productions and interviews with his colleagues, including Peter Brook, Eugenio Barba, and members of the Laboratory Theater Rena Mirecka, Zygmunt Molik, and Ludwik Flaszen.

Bill Taylor, Executive Director of PSALM, worked in Poland and the United States from 1977-1982 with Grotowski and members of his group. Taylor will introduce a second film, With Jerzy Grotowski, Nienadówka, 1980 which was recently released. Jerzy Grotowski invited a film crew to travel with him to the small village of Nienadowka, Poland in 1980. It was there that he, his mother, and his brother were hidden by a peasant family during the Nazi occupation. Returning for the first time, Grotowski hopes to rediscover the people, places, images, and sounds of his intensely lived childhood--memories that are indelibly linked to his art. Afterwards, in his aunt's apartment in the city of Rzeszow, he speaks directly to the camera about the foundations of his work. Narrated by Peter Brook. Directed by Jill Godmilow and Produced by Mercedes Gregory for Andre Gregory’s  Atlas Theater Company. The final sequence of the film is perhaps the most precise discussion of the trans-cultural research phase of Grotowski’s work on Theater of Sources by the artist himself.

Bill Taylor on Grotowski and PSALM

Wednesday, April 15th, 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
The PSALM Salon
5841 Overbrook Avenue, Philadelphia PA 19131

PSALM and Urban Research Theater are temporarily on break and will resume in August or September.

In the meantime, please consider attending one or more of the following Grotowski-related events this month in New York City. These include the final events organized by NYU for the Year of Grotowski, at which a number of extraordinary people and films will be presented that are not normally accessible.

Friday 7/10, 7pm-10pm @ NYU: Panels on Paratheatre, Theatre of Sources, and Objective Drama with participants from each of these. There is little or no video documentation of these transitional periods, after Grotowski had left the "theatre of productions" and before he founded the Workcenter in Italy. Participants include: Lisa Wolford Wylam, Margaret Croyden, Magda Zlotowska, Jairo Cuesta, Teo Spychalski, James Slowiak, Massoud Saidpour, and Pablo Jimenez.

Saturday 7/11, 6pm & 8:30pm @ Lincoln Center: Screenings of Akropolis and The Constant Prince and With Grotowski: Nienadowka. Although these three films are available on DVD, this will be a rare opportunity to see them projected on the big screen. There will also be introductions given by Thomas Richards, Mario Biagini, Paul Allain, and Jill Godmilow.

Sunday 7/12, 1pm & 4pm @ Lincoln Center: Screenings of Art as Vehicle (film of Downstairs Action) and Action in Aya Irini (film of the current Action) and Dies Irae. These films documenting the performance work of the Pontedera Workcenter are not publicly available from any source. These screenings are therefore among of the most important events of the Year of Grotowski in NYC.

Monday 7/13, 6:30pm @ Lincoln Center: Conversation with Thomas Richards and Mario Biagini, moderated by Richard Schechner. This should be a fascinating dialogue as Richard Schechner has a unique voice and a complex relationship to the Workcenter. In the past he has strongly supported their work while not being afraid to raise difficult questions and even criticisms in regard to some of their practices. This conversation will no doubt be a crucial one in the ongoing question of the Workcenter's role and significance, especially in the United States.

Thursday 7/16, 6pm @ Italian Cultural Institute: Conversation with Thomas Richards and Mario Biagini. This event is independent and not part of the program organized by NYU and the Polish Cultural Institute. As a result, it may have a more intimate feeling or be more purely aligned with the desires of Richards and Biagini.

Program of the NYU / Polish Cultural Institute events:
http://polishculture-nyc.org/index.cfm?siteid=217&itemcategory=35076

Program of the Lincoln Center films:
http://filmlinc.com/wrt/onsale/grotowski.html

Program of the Italian Cultural Institute:
http://www.iicnewyork.esteri.it/IIC_NewYork/webform/SchedaEvento.aspx?id=358

The PSALM Salon is Philadelphia's premiere small space for serious listening. It boasts an audiophile quality sound and multi-track recording system in an acoustically pristine space, allowing guests to experience world class performances with ultimate clarity in a stately old Overbrook Farms mansion, which is also the home of PSALM Chairman, Jamey Reilly. The professionally appointed salon theater has recently been remodeled to allow open sight lines from all 60 cushioned seats. It is a space for performers to connect with guests one on one, which inevitably results in stellar performances. Artists accustomed to performing in multi-thousand seat venues enjoy performing at the PSALM Salon because of the warmth, intamacy and wonderfully vibrant atmosphere.

The PSALM Salon is reminiscent of the old-world salons of Europe, where the cultural cognoscenti would gather to experience and discuss the works of the leading artists of the day. These salons were typically hosted within the homes of the artist's patrons, and provided a venue for artists to extend their craft, and make important connections with their supporters. The PSALM welcomes musicians, dancers, thespians, authors and performance artists of renown from the the world over representing the full spectrum of style and genre. As such, the PSALM is a crucible where cultures and ideas cross pollinate to produce events of singular depth and beauty. It is in many ways a laboratory, exploring the possibiliteis of what might be...

Now in its fifth year, the PSALM Salon produces two seasons per year in the Spring and Fall, with special events presented off-season, for a total of 70 to 80 performances annually. The PSALM Salon has featured the highest caliber performers of local, regional, national and international repute. In addition to audio recording, each event is videotaped in high definition for broadcast on the local PBS station. The PSALM Salon also features a rotating exhibition of artwork and photography produced by established local artists.

Tickets may be purchased online or at the door prior to performances. Free parking is available on-street and public transportation is easily accessible.

www.psalmsalon.com

Related Events Around the World

January - December

'Year of Grotowski' - Wroclaw, Poland [pdf]

February - July

'Year of Grotowski' - New York City [pdf]

February 21-22

'Ecstatic Voice' Workshop - Boston [pdf]

February 28 - March 1

NACL Workshop - NYC [link]

March 26-29

'The Queen & Fool' Workshop - NYC [pdf]

April 3-10

'Regula Contra Regulam' Workshop - Wroclaw [pdf]

May 5-9

Rena Mirecka Work Session - Double Edge [pdf]

June 11-14

Grotowski Conference - Kent, England [pdf]

June 15

Grotowski Symposium - Kent, England [pdf]

July 7 - August 5

Meetings With Remarkable Women - Wroclaw [pdf]

www.britishgrotowski.co.uk

www.urbanresearchtheater.com

http://www.grotcenter.art.pl/    

http://www.tracingroadsacross.info/cgi-bin/page.pl?cid=10

http://www.bouffesdunord.com/

http://owendaly.com/jeff/grotdir.htm

http://tv.repubblica.it/copertina/l-anno-di-grotowski/30563?video