“There are sixty-nine hundred languages in the world. More than half are expected to die within the next century. In fact, it’s estimated that every two weeks, a language dies. I don’t know about you, but this statistic moves me far more than any statistic on how many animals die or people die in a given time, in a given place. Because when we say a language dies, we are talking about a whole world, a whole way of life. It is the death of imagination, of memory.” - George, The Language Archive George is a man consumed with preserving and documenting the dying languages of far-flung cultures. Closer to home, though, language is failing him. He doesn’t know what to say to his wife, Mary, to keep her from leaving him, and he doesn’t recognize the deep feelings that his lab assistant, Emma, has for him. The Crane Theater $16-$61, Sliding Scale Covid policy Details here. Thursday, April 18, at 7:30pm. Preview *Masks optional for audience at all other performances
“The Language Archive… is a very funny, yet poignant and well-acted stage experience” Promotional Support provided by Alliance Française + Theatre Pro Rata Company Member Mark Twain wrote: “There are five kinds of actresses: bad actresses, fair actresses, good actresses, great actresses – It’s 1899 in Paris, and Sarah Bernhardt is a critically acclaimed actress with a daring spirit. She’s triumphed in multiple theatrical roles, and the critics adore her. When she takes on Shakespeare’s Hamlet as Hamlet, she grapples with the text written for this character as she goes through her creative process. She struggles against societal norms of the day as she determinedly persists in creating her own version of Hamlet played by a woman. This is a story of fierce persistence in the face of resistance to progress. The Crane Theater Please note: This production contains flashing light sequences which may affect photosensitive audience members. $16-$61, Sliding Scale Covid policy Details here. Thursday, September 28, at 7:30pm. Preview *Masks optional for audience at all other performances Promotional Support provided by the Trylon Cinema Bring home a piece of the show and enjoy a gorgeous, canvas painted reproduction of a theatrical poster of Sarah Bernhardt by Alphonse Mucha painted by our talented set designer, Sadie Ward. + Theatre Pro Rata Company Member By all accounts Sarah Bernhardt was a legend, and possibly the original influencer. She did outrageous things (slept in a coffin, had numerous exotic pets, wore a hat decorated with a taxidermied bat…) while maintaining the Victorian equivalent of rock star celebrity. Many of the characters in the play are based on real people: Alphonse Mucha (painter of the iconic Nouveau posters we think of when we think of the Divine Sarah), Edmund Rostand (up-and-coming playwright, hard at work on a new play), Maurice (Sarah’s son — also growing up into a playwright and director in his own right)… and of course — Sarah herself. Sarah was an incredible performer, and used her fame and talent to grow her brand and her business. As her power grew, so did her investment of time and money into her status and work, culminating in purchasing a theater of her own; something practically revolutionary in 1897. She created work for herself and for dozens of other artists. And then she did something even more revolutionary in the eyes of the public: she performed the role of Hamlet. Sarah had played pants roles before (Lorenzo de Medici, for example) but this was different. At the dawn of the 20th century Sarah grappled with a persistent societal double standard when it comes to gender, both in her life and onstage. She asked why can’t a woman play a man? Why does the gender of the actor (or other identifying characteristics) matter? After all: it’s a play, and this is pretend. And over 100 years later, we continue to ask the question. -CBWThe Language Archive
Written by Julia Cho // Directed by Nicole Marie Wilder // April 18 — May 4, 2024
Performing At:
2303 Kennedy St. NE #120
Minneapolis, MN 55413Directions
Tickets:
Tickets must be purchased online in advancePerformances Dates:
Friday, April 19, at 7:30 pm. Opening Night
Saturday, April 20, at 7:30pm.
Monday, April 22, at 7:30pm. Pay What You Can Performance
Friday, April 26, at 7:30pm.
Saturday, April 27, at 7:30pm.
Sunday, April 28, at 2:00pm. Matinee; Masks Required*
Monday, April 29, at 7:30 pm. Pay What You Can Performance
Friday, May 3, at 7:30pm.
Saturday, May 4, at 2:00pm. Matinee
Saturday, May 4, at 7:30pm. Closing{ CAST }
GEORGE
Joe SwansonMARY
Megan KimEMMA
Eva GemloALTA
Wini FroelichRESTEN
Nick Menzhuber{ CREW }
DIRECTOR
Nicole Marie WilderSTAGE MANAGER
Clara Costello +SET DESIGNER
MJ Leffler +COSTUME DESIGNER
Mandi JohnsonLIGHTING DESIGNER
Emmet KowlerSOUND DESIGNER
Topher PirklPROPS DESIGNER
Jenny MoellerDIALECT COACH
Gillian ConstableASSISTANT SET DESIGNER
Antonia PerezDIRECTING OBSERVER
Ankita AshritGRAPHIC DESIGN
Kamilla SimsBernhardt/Hamlet
Written by Theresa Rebeck // Directed by Carin Bratlie Wethern // September 29 — October 14, 2023
and then there is Sarah Bernhardt.”Performing At:
2303 Kennedy St. NE #120
Minneapolis, MN 55413Directions
Tickets:
Tickets must be purchased online in advancePerformances Dates:
Friday, September 29, at 7:30 pm. Opening Night
Saturday, September 30, at 7:30pm.
Monday, October 2, at 7:30pm. Pay What You Can Performance
Friday, October 6, at 7:30pm.
Saturday, October 7, at 7:30pm.
Sunday, October 8, at 2:00pm. Matinee; Masks Required*
Monday, October 9, at 7:30 pm. Pay What You Can Performance
Friday, October 13, at 7:30pm.
Saturday, October 14, at 2:00pm. Matinee
Saturday, October 14, at 7:30pm.{ CAST }
SARAH BERNHARDT
Nicole GoedenCONSTANT COQUELIN
Sean DillonEDMOND ROSTAND
Em Rosenberg +ALPHONSE MUCHA
Derek “Duck” WashingtonMAURICE / ENSEMBLE
Ben QualleyLOUIS / ENSEMBLE
Jeremy WilliamsROSAMOND / ENSEMBLE
Ankita AshritLYSETTE
Clara MarshRAOUL
Claire ChenowethFRANCOIS
Christy Johnson{ CREW }
DIRECTOR
Carin Bratlie Wethern +STAGE MANAGER
Clara Costello +SET DESIGNER
Sadie WardCOSTUME DESIGNER
Raphael FerreiraLIGHTING DESIGNER
Emmet KowlerSOUND DESIGNER
Jacob M. Davis +PROPS DESIGNER
Jenny MoellerINTIMACY/FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHER
Annie EnnekingDRAMATURG
Nissa Nordland Morgan +ASSISTANT SET DESIGNER
Sarah SchnieppDirector’s Notes
Theatre Pro Rata’s 2023/24 season will include two productions: Bernhardt/Hamlet by Theresa Rebeck; and The Language Archive by Julia Cho.
by Theresa Rebeck
Performances: September 29 — October 14, 2023
Mark Twain wrote: “There are five kinds of actresses: bad actresses, fair actresses, good actresses, great actresses – and then there is Sarah Bernhardt.” In 1899, the international stage celebrity set out to tackle her most ambitious role yet: Hamlet. Theresa Rebeck’s play rollicks with high comedy and human drama, set against the lavish Shakespearean production that could make or break Bernhardt’s career.
Directed by Carin Bratlie Wethern
by Julia Cho
Performances: April 19 — May 4, 2024
George is a man consumed with preserving and documenting the dying languages of far-flung cultures. Closer to home, though, language is failing him. He doesn’t know what to say to his wife, Mary, to keep her from leaving him, and he doesn’t recognize the deep feelings that his lab assistant, Emma, has for him.
Directed by Nicole Marie Wilder
PLAYREADING SERIES
Theatre Pro Rata will also continue its on-going play reading series with two readings during the run of each show. The readings are free and open to the public. Almost all TPR productions since 2008 were initially read and discussed during the play reading series.
PERFORMANCE VENUE
All shows take place at:
The Crane Theatre, 2303 Kennedy St NE, Minneapolis
THEATRE PRO RATA
Since 2001 Pro Rata, Latin for “in proportion,” has produced smart, vivid, varied, and gutsy theater in the Twin Cities. Focusing on the text of the play, the company offers performers and audiences the chance to engage the characters, themes, and language more completely. Ranging from classic dramas to modern black comedies, Theatre Pro Rata produces scripts that bring visceral theatrical experiences to the stage.
Theatre Pro Rata utilizes a unique sliding scale for ticketing, allowing patrons to name their own price from $16 to $61.
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