Synetic Theater (Arlington, Virginia)

Synetic Theater

Theatre Logo
Name Synetic Theater
Formed 2001
Location(s) Arlington VA / Washington, D.C.
Artistic director(s) Paata Tsikurishvili (Founder)
Notable members Irina Tsikurishvili (Founder, Choreographer)
Website http://www.synetictheater.org/
Genre(s) Physical Theater: fusing drama, movement, dance, mime, and music

Synetic Theater is a non-profit physical theater company located in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. It performs at the Crystal City Theatre in Arlington Virginia and the Lansburgh Theatre (Washington, D.C.). Its declared mission is "to advance and enrich the theater arts in the Nation's Capital through its unique performance style, which fuses the classical elements of drama, movement, dance, mime, and music into a distinct form of non-realistic theater. This form is simultaneously avant-garde and accessible, with a broad appeal to a wide, culturally diverse, and cross-generational audience."[1] Since its formation its productions have received numerous awards.

Contents

History

Founded in 2001,[2] Synetic Theater began as an artistic subgroup within the now defunct Stanislavsky Theater Studio which performed at the Church Street Theater in Washington, D.C. - the result of an artistic split by the husband and wife team of Paata and Irina Tsikurishvili from Andrei Malaev-Babel, the other co-head of The Stanislavsky Theater Studio.[3][4] It made its artistic debut in April 2002 with a wordless adaptation of Shakespeare's Hamlet, known as Hamlet…the rest is silence. The production was remounted the following season, receiving the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Resident Play.[5] Despite the artistic split, Synetic Theater and The Stanislavsky Theater Studio continued to share resources and performance space into the following season, but in 2003, after a series of disagreements over financial matters, Synetic set off on its own. The following year Synetic merged with Classika Theater,[6] a children's theater based in Shirlington, Virginia.[7]

Through its educational programs in the dramatic and visual arts, Synetic strives to build the audiences of tomorrow by fostering and promoting the overall development of children and adolescents, as well as use the freshness of its performance style to reawaken a fascination with theater and art that lies dormant in large sections of the American population. In a society that is increasingly immersed in the visually rich but often contextually tepid waters of television, movies, and the internet, Synetic seeks to re-introduce the theater as a place where everything old can become new again. Towards this goal, Synetic endeavors to increase its national and international exposure, captivating audiences around the globe, while maintaining the excellence of its artistic and educational programs.

Facilities

The Synetic Theater's offices and administrative spaces are located 2611 Jefferson Davis Hwy., St. 103 Arlington, VA 22202 in the Crystal City area of Arlington.[8] Until 2010 Synetic performed most of its shows in the Arlington County run Rosslyn Spectrum. In September 2010 it moved into the Crystal City Theatre space outfitted by the Arena Stage after the latter moved back into its newly renovated spaces in Washington D.C.[9] Between 2006-2010, it performed one show each spring in the Kennedy Center.[10] Beginning with the 2009-2010 season it produces the premiers of its "Silent Shakespeare" series at the Shakespeare Theatre Company's Lansburgh Theatre.[11]

Current season productions

The 2011/2012 Main Stage season is entitled Emotion in Motion and includes two festivals and two individual productions:[12]

† Conceived and Presented by Tantehorse – Physical Theater Company of the Czech Republic

Recent productions

2010/2011[13]

† - Remounted

2009-2010 Season [14]

† - Remounted

2008-2009 Season[14]

Since many of Synetic's company members were from Georgia, Host and Guest was remounted in reaction to the Russian invasion of Georgia in August 2008.[15] The production replaced the originally scheduled stage adaptation of the vintage horror film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

† - Remounted

Significant past productions

Silent Shakespeare Series

Synetic is noted for performing well known Shakespeare plays without words. Hours long plays are pared to 90 minutes of highly stylized dance, movement, acrobatics, pantomime, music and story without a word being spoken.[16] In a letter to patrons in a program, Michael Kahn, the Artistic Director of the Shakespeare Theatre Company, says: "Synetic's signature blend of music, movement, and dance represents a novel approach to Shakespeare" [17] Productions are regularly remounted in the years following their initial production.

The series includes the following well reviewed and award winning productions:

Play Initial Production Reviewed
Hamlet…the rest is silence^ April 2002 The Washington Post[18]
Macbeth^ January 2007 The Washington Post[19]
Romeo and Juliet^ January 2008 The Washington Post[20]
A Midsummer Night's Dream^ May 2009 The Washington Post[21]
Antony and Cleopatra† January 2010 The Washington Post[22][23][24]
Othello June 2010 The Washington Post[25]
King Lear March 2011 The Washington Post[26]
The Taming of the Shrew March 2012 TBD

^ - Helen Hayes Award Winner

† - Named one of the year's "10 best" by the Washington Post[24]

In January 2011 A Midsummer Night's Dream was remounted by invitation at the '62 Center for Theatre and Dance at Williams College in Williamstown, MA,[27]

Classic Literature series

Play Initial Production Reviewed
Host and Guest 2002 The Washington Post[28]
Dracula September 2005 The Washington Post[29]
Frankenstein September 2006 The Washington Post[30]
The Dybbuk

(joint with Theater J)

 February 2006 The Washington Post[31]
Faust June 2006 The Washington Post[32]
Carmen May 2009 The Washington Post[33]
Don Quixote June 2011 The Washington City Paper[34]

The Washington Post named Host and Guest as one of the ten best performances of the decade.[35] The Harriman Institute at Columbia University requested its presentation it at the university's Miller Theatre[36]

Awards

Overall, Synetic has earned 79 Helen Hayes Nominations and won 21 Helen Hayes Awards in eight seasons. Most of the awards have been for its wordless Shakespearean repertoire.[5] Its more prestigious awards include:

Other items of note

The name Synetic was coined by founding artistic director Paata Tsikurishvili from the words Synthesis (the coming together of distinct elements to form a whole) and Kinetic (pertaining to or imparting motion; active ... dynamic ...) yielding "Synetic Theater - a Dynamic Synthesis of the Arts"[37]

Synetic Theater is a member of the League of Washington Theaters (LOWT).[38]

See also

Helen Hayes Award

References

  1. ^ "Synetic Theater - About". Synetic Theater. http://www.synetictheater.org/about.html. Retrieved 27 November 2009. 
  2. ^ "Synetic Theater - About". http://www.synetictheater.org/about.html. Retrieved 4 December 2009. 
  3. ^ Horwitz, Jane (3 June 2003). "Synetic Theater to Set Out on Its Own". The Washington Post. http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1P2-265066.html. Retrieved 4 December 2009. 
  4. ^ "Stanislavsky Theater Studio's Golden Theater: Pantomime for Youth". The Kennedy Center. 2003. http://kennedy-center.org/programs/millennium/artist_detail.cfm?artist_id=GOLDENTHEA. Retrieved 6 February 2010. 
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Helen Hayes Awards Search Recipients - Synetic". http://www.helenhayes.org/sub/nrsearch.cfm. Retrieved 2009-11-01. 
  6. ^ Horwitz, Jane (31 August 2004). "Classika-Synetic: The Merger as Reunion". The Washington Post. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/686288881.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Aug+31%2C+2004&author=Jane+Horwitz&pub=The+Washington+Post&edition=&startpage=C.05&desc=Classika-Synetic%3A+The+Merger+as+Reunion. Retrieved 4 December 2009. 
  7. ^ "Classika Theater". http://www.classika.org/classika3.html. Retrieved 4 December 2009. 
  8. ^ Synetic Theater. "Directions". http://www.synetictheater.org/visit/directions.html. Retrieved 7 September 2011. 
  9. ^ "Synetic Theater Takes The Stage In Crystal City". rystalcity.org. http://www.crystalcity.org/item/synetic-theater-takes-the-stage-in-crystal-city. Retrieved 24 January 2011. 
  10. ^ The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (March 1, 2006). "The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announces a New Five-Year Partnership with Synetic Theater". http://www.synetictheater.org/downloads/Kennedy_Center_release.doc. Retrieved 2009-11-11. 
  11. ^ "Synetic Theater announces a new alliance with The Shakespeare Theatre Company during their Leadership Repertory". 4 May 2009. http://synetictheater.org/downloads/Shakespeare_press_release_STC_05_06_09.pdf. Retrieved 2009-11-11. 
  12. ^ "Synetic Theatre 2011-12 Main Stage Season". http://www.synetictheater.org/downloads/syneticSeasonBrochure2011-12_FINAL_RED_spreads_061511_PRINTED%20VERSION.pdf. Retrieved 26 August2011. 
  13. ^ "Synetic Theatre Season 2010-11". http://www.synetictheater.org/mainstage/2010.html. Retrieved 26 August 2011. 
  14. ^ a b "Synetic Theatre Season". http://www.synetictheater.org/season.html. Retrieved 27 November 2009. 
  15. ^ Marks, Peter (August 20, 2008). "Synetic Theater Stages a Reaction To Georgia War". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/19/AR2008081902941.html. Retrieved 6 February 2010. 
  16. ^ Healy, Patrick (January 21, 2011). "Hamlet (and Others) as the Strong, Silent Type". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/22/theater/22synetic.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1&src=twrhp. Retrieved 24 January 2011. 
  17. ^ Kahn, Michael (28 January 2010). Letter in Synetic Theater's Antony and Cleopatra Program. Washington, D.C.: Harmon Center for the Arts. 
  18. ^ Triplett, William (April 8, 2002). "Synetic's 'Hamlet': The Rest Is Silence". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A11215-2002Apr7?language=printer. Retrieved 26 November 2009. 
  19. ^ Toscano, Michael J. (February 22, 2007). "Synetic Theater's 'Macbeth' Leaves the Actors Speechless". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/21/AR2007022100566.html. Retrieved 26 November 2009. 
  20. ^ Marks, Peter (January 29, 2008). "'Romeo and Juliet': Such Sweet Sorrow". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/28/AR2008012802604.html. Retrieved 26 November 2009. 
  21. ^ Marks, Peter (June 1, 2009). "Synetic's Wordless, Wondrous 'Midsummer'". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/31/AR2009053102323.html. Retrieved 26 November 2009. 
  22. ^ Ramanathan, Lavanya (January 29, 2010). "Synetic Theater's 'Antony and Cleopatra' is silent". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/28/AR2010012802217.html. Retrieved 6 February 2010. 
  23. ^ Marks, Peter (February 4, 2010). "Review: The rising passion, and artistry, of Synetic's 'Antony and Cleopatra'". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/03/AR2010020303649.html. Retrieved 6 February 2010. 
  24. ^ a b Marks, Peter (December 18, 2010). "Peter Marks' Top 10 of 2010". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/18/AR2010121802467.html. Retrieved 18 January 2011. 
  25. ^ Marks, Peter (April 1, 2011). "Peter Marks reviews Synetic Theater’s ‘King Lear’". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/03/AR2010020303649.html. Retrieved 26 August 2011. 
  26. ^ Marks, Peter (June 9, 2010). "THEATER REVIEW: Silently but eloquently, Synetic Theater captures fury and passion of 'Othello'". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/peter-marks-reviews-synetic-theaters-king-lear/2011/04/01/AFB2xZJC_story.html. Retrieved 18 January 2011. 
  27. ^ "Synetic Theater A Midsummer Night’s Dream". williams.edu. http://62center.williams.edu/62center/event.cfm?eid=341. Retrieved 24 January 2011. 
  28. ^ Marks, Peter (29 September 2008). "'Host and Guest': Back With a Vengeance". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/28/AR2008092802552.html. Retrieved 3 December 2009. 
  29. ^ Traiger, Lisa (9 September 2005). "'Dracula' in the Flesh and Blood". The Washington Post. http://www.synetictheater.org/news_press_dracula_post.html. Retrieved 3 December 2009. 
  30. ^ Marks, Peter (16 September 2006). "'Frankenstein': Synetic Creates A Monster To Remember". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/profile/frankenstein,1127449.html. Retrieved 3 December 2009. 
  31. ^ Marks, Peter (17 February 2006). "'Dybbuk' Possesses Dazzling Moments". The Washington Post. http://www.synetictheater.org/news_press_dybb_post_marks.html. Retrieved 3 December 2009. 
  32. ^ Marks, Peter (2 May 2006). "Dances With the Devil; Synetic's 'Faust' Turns Up the Heat". The Washington Post. http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1P2-128549.html. Retrieved 3 December 2009. 
  33. ^ Marks, Peter (2 June 2008). "From Synetic, A 'Carmen' That's Lithe On Its Feet". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/01/AR2008060102271.html. Retrieved 3 December 2009. 
  34. ^ Ritzel, Rebecca (June 10, 2011). "Synetic Theater lilts at windmills". The Washington City Paper. http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/40968/don-quixote-at-synetic-theater-reviewed-synetic-theater-lilts-at/. Retrieved 26 August 2011. 
  35. ^ Marks, Peter (December 27, 2009). "Best of the decade: Theater". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/24/AR2009122400127.html. Retrieved 6 February 2010. 
  36. ^ "Synetic Theater to Perform Post's "Best of Decade" Host and Guest in New York City". Press Release. Synetic Theater. February 3, 2010. http://www.synetictheater.org/downloads/Host_and_Guest_Press_Release_020310.pdf. Retrieved 6 February 2010. 
  37. ^ The Kennedy Center Playbill - Synetic Theater presents Carmen. Washington, D.C.: The John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. June 2008. 
  38. ^ "Members of the League of Washington Theatres". http://www.lowt.org/members/members.html#S. Retrieved 2009-11-11. 

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