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 Federico Restrepo’s personal experience as a Colombian immigrant. “9 Windows” (2002), the first episode, reveals a series of multimedia experiences of being a displaced immigrant. “Open Door” (2006), the second episode, addresses the impact of the many immigrants from diverse cultural backgrounds that make up NYC, revealing their histories and states of mind. “Room to Panic” (2008), the third episode, depicts the joy, fear, alienation, and struggle that reveal the allure, disillusionment, and rites of passage necessary 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 one’s 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 following categories:

Outstanding Ensemble
Outstanding Costume Design
Outstanding Sound Design
Outstanding Innovative Design
Outstanding Original Music

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.

CREDITS

Conceived & Created by Federico Restrepo & Denise Greber
Directed, Choreographed & Designed by Federico Restrepo

Music Composition: Elizabeth Swados
Text: Elias Khoury
Arrangement & 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 & Construction: Federico Restrepo
Costume Design: 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
Voiceover: Dmitry Chepovetsky

Sound Design: Tim Schellenbaum
Video Edit & 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
Postcard Photo: Jorge Mario Munera
Production Photos: Lee Wexler

Press Representative: David Gibbs, DARR Publicity

PRESENTATIONS

March 22–April 8, 2012
La MaMa ETC (New York)

May 16–21, 2012
Panamerican Routes Festival organized by Aluna Theatre, (Toronto, Canada)

PRESS

NEW YORK

“NY Review: Urban Odyssey”
Jonathan Mandell, Backstage

“Review: Urban Odyssey”
Bob Shuman, Stage Voices

“Review: Urban Odyssey”
Rachel Merrill Moss, Theasy

“World Premiere of Urban Odyssey”
Rachel Wohlander, Theater Online

“BWW Reviews: La MaMa Goes Dancing, Puppet Theatre Style”
Trish Vignola, Broadway World

TORONTO

“Theatre Review – Panamerican Routes/Rutas Panamericanas”
Paula Citron, paulacitron.ca

“Eye-Catching Toronto Theatre for the Week of May 21, 2012”
Tiffany Budhyanto, Mooney on Theatre

“Review: Urban Odyssey”
David Bateman, Bateman Reviews

“Revelatory Routes”
NOW Staff, NOW Magazine