Urban Odyssey
Urban Odyssey depicts the experience of immigration to America through movement and visual theatre. It is a new work that is the culmination of a ten year investigation. The project began in 2002 with a production created from my personal experience as a Colombian immigrant. “9 Windows”, 1st episode, revealed a series of multi-media experiences of being a displaced immigrant. “Open Door”, 2nd episode (2006), addressed the impact of the many immigrants from diverse cultural backgrounds that make up NYC; revealing their histories and states of mind. “Room to Panic”, 3rd episode (2008), depicted the joy, fear, alienation and struggle that reveal the allure, disillusionment and rites of passage to achieve the American Dream.
Urban Odyssey merges all these concepts, creating an epic journey that acknowledges the inevitability of a new American culture. A voyage of human experience, from leaving ones homeland, to finding a new country, to making a new home and setting down roots.
Urban Odyssey was nominated for 5 NY Innovative Theatre Awards in the Categories of:
Outstanding Ensemble
Outstanding Costume Design
Outstanding Sound Design
Outstanding Innovative Design
and Outstanding Original Music
Presentations
2012
New York, La MaMa ETC, March 22 – April 8
Toronto, Panamerican Routes Festival, organized by Aluna Theatre, May 16 – 21
Press
New York
backstage.com, by Jonathan Mandell
stagevoices.com
theasy.com, by Rachel Merrill Moss
TheaterOnline.com, by Rachel Wohlander
offbroadway.broadwayworld.com, by Trish Vignola
Toronto
paulacitron.ca, by Paula Citron
mooneyontheatre.com, by Adam Collier
batemanreviews.blogspot.com, by david bateman
nowtoronto.com, by Jon Kaplan and Glenn Sumi
Credits
Conceived and Created by Federico Restrepo and Denise Greber
Directed, Choreographed and Designed by Federico Restrepo
Music Composed by Elizabeth Swados
Text by Elias Khoury
Arrangement and Musical Direction: Kris Kukul
Musicians: Kari Bethke, John Sully, Martin Wallace
Additional Music: Kris Kukul, Kari Bethke, John Sully, Martin Wallace
Light, Set, Puppet Design and Construction by Federico Restrepo
Costume Design by Denise Greber
Collaborating Dancers:
Penelope Armstead-Williams, Ching-I Chang, Maura Nguyen Donohue, Denise Greber, Federico Restrepo, Gilbert Reyes, Kayla Schetter
Puppeteers: Rocky Bostick, Alice Pasturel, Kiku Sakai
Voice Over: Dmitry Chepovetsky
Sound Design: Tim Schellenbaum
Video Edit and Design: Federico Restrepo, Angela “Nena” Sierra
Tent Puppet Design: Catarina Leitão
Animation: Laura Restrepo
Production Technical Director: Adriana Garcia-Pena
Production Stage Manager: Paula Wilson
Stage Manager: Kevin Hourigan
Assistant Stage Manager: Mariliza Parker
Post Card Photo: Jorge Mario Munera
Production Photos: Lee Wexler
This project made possible in part with public funds from The Jim Henson Foundation; NALAC Diverse Arts Spaces Grant Program and the Ford Foundation Diverse Arts Spaces; Manhattan Community Arts Fund, supported by New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and administered by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council; The Robert Sterling Clark Foundation and the STAR Initiative.
David Gibbs, DARR Publicity
Press Representative
david@darrpublicity.com
Loco7 is a participant of Salute the Arts *STAR* Initiative