For Immediate Release: August 5, 2006
Media Contact: Aileen McCulloch, Vagabond Acting Troupe, 610.823.5126

Vagabond Acting Troupe, 2005 Barrymore Award Nominee for Outstanding Ensemble for their original ensemble developed production of THE ART OF WAR, brings yet another ensemble developed world premiere to Philadelphia’s 2nd Stage of the Adrienne Theatre, 2030 Sansom Street. BY GRIMM, under the direction of Christian Lisak of Philadelphia, explores the cautionary tales of the Brothers Grimm through physical exploration based on the techniques of the world renowned Jerzy Grotowski. The highly physical show features a cast of seven Philadelphia area actors.

Vagabond focuses their physical development process for this project on THE STORY OF THE YOUTH WHO WENT FORTH TO LEARN WHAT FEAR WAS. Specifically chosen for the tale’s focus on a journey to explore emotional and spiritual edges, the story follows a lazy young man whose father is at a loss to figure out how to get the boy to earn a living. The boy says he truly wishes to learn how to shudder, and the rest of the tale is his journey to find what truly makes him afraid.

“Vagabond’s mission is to explore the edge,” says founding Artistic Director Aileen McCulloch of the choice of production as the company’s season opener. “As we approach our 15th anniversary, we want to touch on all of the journeys that we have taken since we decided on a name back in 1992. We begin the season with a journey of fear, follow up with solo works in mid-February, and end with a classical play in June 2006. Along the way we will also create an original children’s touring piece, and be in residence at two area museums where we will create original works.”

Featuring five members of the Vagabond Acting Troupe’s 2006/2007 Core Ensemble, and two guest performers, BY GRIMM has been over three months in development, beginning with a three-day workshop focused on exploration of the movement exercises of Jerzy Grotowski. From those attending the workshops, a cast was created to develop the primary story and other Grimm tales into a contemporary, physical production.

“One of the elements from the Grimms Fairy Tales that brought me to the Grotowski approach was the variety of characters: kings, cats, skeletons, old men and half of a man,” says Christian Lisak, who has worked on numerous Vagabond productions in the past, but directs for the company for the first time with GRIMM.

“Grotowski is known for a very physical style of theatre, very gymnastic with a complete control over the body’s muscles,” continues Lisak regarding the extremely physical approach to this production. “For example, if you want an actor to wear a mask, the muscles of the face will create the most effective mask because it comes from the actor, so there’s a level of personal truth to the character and connection that you don’t get from a pre-made mask. In addition, the voice will become more effective and true to character as a result of the change in the musculature of the face.

“Like many of the Tales, the mood of BY GRIMM is very dark and full of uncertainty. It’s a process of self discovery; a realization that the mask you wear in everyday life just might not be the mask that’s most appropriate for you.”

Vagabond Acting Troupe has presented such shake ups as Shakespeare with puppets, or with every syllable danced or with five actors playing all the roles; entire evenings of gut-wrenching Becket; a Christmas Carol with four actors and two stools, and a show about the art of war that focused on the art side - just to name a few approaches from a thirteen year history of presenting physical theatrical works. The company has been nominated for two Barrymore Awards for Outstanding Ensemble and was recognized with a Ted and Stevie Wolf Award for Unique Approaches to Collaboration in 2003.

ABOUT THE FRINGE FESTIVAL: The Philadelphia Live Arts Festival and Fringe Festival runs form September 1 to 16 2006. Ticket prices range from free to $25 for the festival productions and may be purchased online beginning August 8 at www.livearts-fringe.org or after August 21 by calling 215-413-1318. Fringe guides that include dates, times and venues for all performances for both festivals will be available in the Philadelphia City Paper on August 25, 2006 and afterwards at all festival venues. The Fringe serves as a collective home for artists bringing their work to audiences in every conceivable form – in traditional and untraditional venues, using new artistic forms and established ones, breaking rules or refining them.

THE BASICS: Vagabond Acting Troupe presents the World Premiere of BY GRIMM under the development direction of Christian Lisak on the 2nd Stage of the Adrienne Theatre, 2030 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA, from August 23 to August 31, Wednesdays to Saturdays at 8 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m., then from September 1 to September 4 as part of the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, with Fringe performances at 6:30 p.m. daily. Tickets for each production run from $10 to $15 depending on performance night. An opening night reception follows the show on August 23. For ticket times and ordering information visit the company’s website at www.vagabondactingtroupe.org. Phone reservations for the August performances may be made by calling 215-563-4330, while Fringe Festival tickets may be reserved through the Philadelphia Fringe Festival at www.livearts-fringe.org, or via email at inthelime@aol.com. For touring information, season subscriptions or group rates, contact the administrative of fices at 610-286-5567, or email the company at inthelime@aol.com.

OUR SPONSORS: Vagabond Acting Troupe is supported in part by the Samuel S. Fels Foundation and the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, as well as through support of the Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour, a program developed and funded by the Vira I. Heinz Endowment; the William Penn Foundation; the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency; and the Pew Charitable Trusts, and administered by Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation.

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