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Oct. 23 2023

AGRESTE adds Brazilian flavor to Greek Tragedy at Spooky Action Theater

By Gavin Witt | Posted in Interviews, Staff Blogs, WBJC Programs | Comments Off on AGRESTE adds Brazilian flavor to Greek Tragedy at Spooky Action Theater

From October 26th through November 19th, Washington’s ever-inventive Spooky Action Theater is home to the opening show of their 2023-24 season, the first entirely programmed and produced by their new artistic director, Elizabeth Dinkova.

Director and translator Danilo Gambini helms the world premiere of his own new translation of Agreste (Drylands), a play by celebrated Brazilian author Newton Moreno. This contemporary myth, which Gambini likens structurally and aesthetically to classical Greek tragedy, explores both the harsh external terrain of the drylands of northeastern Brazil and the equally searing inner psychological geography of a long-married couple and the community around them.

Delivered in an intimate space by a small ensemble of four shape-shifting tale-tellers, Agreste launches a season dedicated to investigating, challenging, celebrating, and finding new theatrical dimension for borders of all kinds. https://www.spookyaction.org/current-season.html

You can hear my conversation with Danilo about the piece posted below (or catch us on the air on WBJC 91.5FM Baltimore, or online anywhere).

And to learn more about the translation, the project, the cast, the playwright and director/translator, or Spooky Action’s season–or to get tickets, check location, or find out performance days and times–you can start here: https://www.spookyaction.org/current-show.html

 

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About

WBJC listeners and Baltimore audiences may know Gavin from his nearly 20 years as dramaturg and associate artistic director at Baltimore Center Stage (in which capacity he was a frequent guest on WBJC to talk about programs and events), or from regular appearances alongside Jonathan Palevsky at the Charles Theater for Cinema Sundays discussions. A director, dramaturg, producer, translator, and adaptor who also teaches on the theater faculty at Towson University, Gavin is a recent addition to the WBJC team and delighted to play this new role.

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