Open Door centers on the main character, a displaced Colombian living in an apartment building which houses the many people that make up New York City. In addition to the main character there will be ten other characters representing peoples from diverse cultural backgrounds, North American, South American, African, Middle Eastern, European, Asian; friends and strangers, living in the same apartment building, meeting and exchanging stories that reveal there past personal stories and present state of minds. The main set will transform to reveal where these characters came from; the struggles that lead them to their new home and the current life they experience as strangers in a strange place, that can often times be overwhelming. The characters ask questions: Do we as humans want to experience that which we do not know? Are we only that which outwardly identifies us, race, color, sex, and religion? Will we ever fit in and be accepted as “real” Americans or will we be stuck facing the same issues that lead us from our homelands, i.e. poverty, war, religious discrimination, imprisonment, and possible death? Will we be kicked out of the United States? Will we be able to find a good paying job? Will we ever feel safe and secure? These characters’ diverse cultural histories dance into the crossroad of their most intimate desires, wishes, fears, paranoia’s and violence, fear of the unknown, the condemnation of "the other", boundaries that must be crossed so that they may collectively arrive to understanding, and acceptance. A search for the dream that will propel them into their future, instead of the living nightmares that perpetuates the fear that keeps the immigrants and citizens stuck in their paranoia. To challenge the way we view the immigrant, and open the hearts and minds of all people, afraid of what they do not know.
This production was made in part with support from Ellen Stewart and La MaMa ETC, The Jim Henson Foundation; American Music Center Live Music for Dance Program, and is sponsored by Teatro Stage Fest.
Photo by Richard Greene
Presentations
2006
New York, La MaMa ETC, Dec. 1 – Dec. 17.
Press
The New York Times"In a Country of Closed Doors, Newcomers Yearning to Fit In"
by Anita Gates.
Backstage "Open Door" by Adam R. Perlman.
Credits
Designed, Choreographed and Directed by Federico Restrepo
Created in collaboration with Denise Greber
Music Composed by Elizabeth Swados
Musical Direction by Kris Kukul
With Additional Music by Matt Citron, Richard Cohen, Kris Kukul and John Sullivan
Puppet, Set, Light Design and Construction by Federico Restrepo
Costume Design and Construction by Denise Greber
With additional puppet construction by Sara Galassini, Rosa Ruecker, Slaveya Starkov, Katharina Stenbeck, Emily Vick, Jan Vogelbacher
Video Edit Design by Federico Restrepo & Angela Sierra
Production Manager Denise Greber
Stage Manager Slaveya Starkov & Katharina Stenbeck
Photography by Richard Greene
The Cast: Federico Restrepo with Neimah Djourabchi, Sara Galassini, Denise Greber, Allison Hiroto, Sharon Mashihi, Romona Mukherjee, Pasha Prakasa, Emily Vick, Chris Wild, and Paula Wilson
Additional Actors in Video: Neimah Djourabchi, Kaori Fujiyabu, Sara Galassini, Michal Gamily, Benjamin Marcantoni, Sharon Mashihi, Romona Mukherjee, Prisca Ouya, Pasha Prakasa, Angela Sierra, Patrick Ssenjovu, Katharina Stenbeck.
This production was made in part with support from Ellen Stewart and La MaMa ETC, The Jim Henson Foundation; American Music Center Live Music for Dance Program, and is sponsored by TeatroStageFest.
Presenters
Click here for Tech Rider
