Ross Harstaad’s review of HOI’s production of “The Thin Place” by Lucas Hnath.
HOI presents Lucas Hnath's 'The Thin Place'
Audition Notice: "The Thin Place" by Lucas Hnath
What if AI Brought Back the Dead?
HOI presents 'Contractions' by Mike Bartlett
For the first time since 2019 House of Ithaqua is taking to the live stage. The local theatre and film production company, which made a remote return late last year with the audio horror drama “Pontypool”, will be presenting Mike Bartlett’s play “Contractions” at The Cherry Artspace from February 17-19 and 23-25 with all 6 performances beginning at 7:00pm.
The play, a two-hander directed by HOI Artistic Director AJ Sage and starring prior collaborators Marissa Accordino (Pontypool) and Erin Lockett (The Skriker) is a dark comedy that weighs in at 75 minutes and touches on the malicious pressure to comply to byzantine regulations in a workspace.
“Like most of what we do, it disturbs and entertains at the same time,” said Sage. “We try to get our audiences off guard where they’re laughing, crying and wincing within minutes. Any script that does those three things is a winner.”
With “Contractions”, House of Ithaqua will also begin a trial wherein every ticket is available on a pay- what-you-will basis with no audience member beholden to a fixed price. It’s a concept the company decided upon in 2020 and is now ready to implement, according to founder and Executive Director Christopher Teitelbaum.
“What we talked about is the reality of how we need to take in money to run the business, but how money should never be a barrier to someone taking part”, said Teitelbaum. “There’s a lot of dialogue about the arts including whole communities and it’s hard to do that without the step of removing the pay wall. So ideally those with resources to spare will support this by choosing to pay a little more - whether they think of that as a donation to the effort or simply the value of the ticket. We want this to be a long term plan.”
“Contractions” is stage managed by Ayla Hodges, with lighting design by Cali Trainor and sound design by Norm Scott. Tickets can be purchased at the door or reserved at the following link: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/5714033
WRFI interview with "Pontypool" actors and director
This November "Pontypool" by Tony Burgess
Shadows of 2020
We pledge to take action
The unique circumstances intersecting widespread civil rights protest in our country and the Covid-19 "pause" has given every theatre company the opportunity to gaze inward and inspect its own complicity in the systemic racism endemic to our culture. Not only to inspect, but also to affect positive change.
Upcoming Productions
In light of current events, we have decided to hit the pause button this summer and focus our energy on preproduction for the exciting season we have planned starting this Autumn at the Cherry ArtSpace.
