Ensemble Free Theater Norway Launches Internationally

I just hung up from my skype call with the director of The Ensemble Free Theater Norway, Brendan McCall. For those of you who were unaware, EFTN is an independent company based in Oslo,Norway. It was founded by American director & choreographer Brendan McCall.

Beginning on August 30th 2010, EFTN  launched a 28-week international theater immersion program. EFTN will be in New York first and then come here to Chicago beginning September 20th for a 12-week residency with The IAE.  I will meet the ensemble in New York City to see the show they will be performing the weekend of September 17th.

When EFTN comes to Chicago, all of their classes will be held at The Greenhouse Theater Center.  Greenhouse Theater is one of  The IAE’s fabulous new strategic partners as well as a sponsor.

Currently, EFTN is helping to co-produce the Norwegian premiere of Discover Love, created & performed by the Belarus Free Theater of Minsk, and performing at Det Norske Teatret in Oslo.  This event is being co-produced by the Norwegian Helsinki Committee´s presentation of its Andrey Sakharov Freedom Award 2010.

In addition, EFTN is writing and developing 6 original site-specific theater works in Aaron Landsman´s Appointment series, which will they will be performing with drama students of New York University´s Tisch School of the Arts. These are the shows I will be seeing later this month.  Appointment is a  unique approach to theater which is designed for viewing by a single audience member. SO that means each show is for only one person at a time. How interesting and fun.  This performance at NYU was featured in an article in the New York Times in July of this year. Pretty cool for EFTN to be collaborating on it with them.

I can hardly wait to have them here. The entire ensemble is going to create an entry for The IAE’s 1st Sustainable Creativity Visual Arts Competition too. How cool is that.