15 Head Theatre Lab

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15 HEAD - a theatre lab was a non-profit, professional, experimental theatre company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Founded in 1995 by two directors, Joe Stanley and Greg Smucker, and a designer, Julia Fischer, to fill an artistic need in the Twin Cities community, 15 HEAD emerged as one of the leading companies developing innovative, exciting, and experimental work in the Twin Cities. 15 HEAD focused on creating original company works employing a unique method of communal creation to bring their productions to the stage. In its final years, after the departure of two of the original founders, the remaining company members utilized methods popularized by Anne Bogart and the SITI Company. The company was awarded a Jerome Fellowship grant for their work in 2002^[1] and 2004.^[2] 15 Head produced plays and offered classes in the Viewpoints method in Minneapolis from 1995^[3] until the dissolution of the company in 2005.

15 HEAD's productions were marked by a signature style featuring intense physical movement, music, dance and visually dynamic design.^[4] By combining these elements in theatre, 15 HEAD's productions were epic in scope, yet intimate. They created bold experimental works which endeavored to make each performance accessible, entertaining, and thought-provoking.

A unique feature of 15 HEAD was its use of a broad, cross-disciplinary, collaborative rehearsal process. The company of professional directors, designers, actors, and writers ignored the traditional barriers between their specializations so that all participants could provide input into each aspect of the production. Inspired by stories, legends, and myths through an extensive discovery and rehearsal process, the finished product reflected the individual and collective strengths of each of the company members.

Following two years at Old Arizona studios, they became a resident company at the Red Eye Theater in Minneapolis in 1997 ^[5]. Several former members went on the create the Minneapolis-based company, Sandbox Theatre.

1 Awards
2 Founders
3 Shows
4 References

[edit] Awards

Top Ten Shows of 1999 for The Mountain Giants -City Pages^[6]

[edit] Founders

Joe Stanley
Julia Fischer
Greg Smucker

[edit] Shows

1996: Lulu
1997: She Must Be Dreaming: Impressions of Wuthering Heights
1998: The Lady from the Sea; meFausto (review); Don Juan
1999: The Mountain Giants (review); Dracula
2000: Aria; The Insatiate Countess
2001: Coco; Cheri; RED/instructions to follow
2002: The Rush; The Enchanted (review)
2003: The VI Wives of Henry VIII; Sacred Space; Oil on Canvas
2005: Vacationland