The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) announced its ninth edition of the NYUAD Theater Program’s annual mainstage student theater production. This year features Bertolt Brecht’s influential play, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, taking place between Thursday, October 10 and Saturday, October 12 in The Black Box.
Presented by the NYUAD Theater Program and directed by NYU New York Affiliate Faculty and Associate Professor of Arts Orlando Pabotoy, the student production reflects on The Arts Center’s mission to foster creativity from within and create platforms to cultivate emerging talents within the NYUAD student population.
Written by influential 20th century German playwright, director, and theorist Bertolt Brecht, the story is a journey back to the Soviet Union post World War II, centered around two women’s struggle over the custody of a child. The play, which will be performed by students from across the University, uses many hallmarks of Brecht’s iconic theatrical style, including puppetry and song.
NYUAD Head of Theater Program and Assistant Professor of Practice of Theater Tomi M Tsunoda commented on the importance of the production, saying: “The fall mainstage production creates the largest opportunity in the NYUAD Theater Program for university-wide collaboration every academic year. The project is presented as part of The Arts Center’s season, where professional artists and technicians, students, and faculty from across multiple academic programs work together as one team to engage the audience of our community. This experience allows students to understand not only the theories or practices of theater and performance, but the responsibilities and rewards of being in dialogue with a cultural audience in a professional context.
“Even as an extra-curricular event, the rigor, artistry, and full realization of this annual endeavor make it central both in the learning of our students and in the Theater Program’s commitment to exploring a 21st century performance within a diverse, intersectional world,” she added.
Executive Artistic Director of The Arts Center at NYUAD Bill Bragin commented, “The Arts Center’s mission is very multi-dimensional, and our gold include putting into practice the University’s educational mission, supporting the development of new UAE based productions, and bringing important performances to the larger community of Abu Dhabi. In this new production of Brecht’s classic work, we’re able to beautifully accomplish all of them at the highest standard.”
Director, choreographer, and professor Orlando Pabotoy has also previously directed the world premiere of the first English translation of The Buffoons by Margherita Costa and choreographed for The CSC production of Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard alongside John Turturro and Dianne Wiest. He was also the former Artistic Director of The Artigiani Theater Company and has co-founded Los Angeles’ premier clown and physical comedy school, The Clown School.
For more information on the performances, please click here.
The Arts Center at NYUAD is a performing arts center that presents distinguished professional artists from around the world alongside student, faculty, and community productions.
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