No President
a story ballet of enlightenment in two immoral acts
A small but successful security company staffed with former actors has been hired to protect a certain precious theater curtain – and whatever mystery it conceals behind it. But things are about to get out of hand as the guards find themselves infiltrated by a rival security company composed of ex-ballet dancers, who are not only artistically more up to date, but also faster and cheaper, and who want to take over this important gig at any cost.
In the end, as always in this contemporary world – where all conflicts are resolved through violence and cannibalism – life plays its fickle games of friendship, love, betrayal, and finally, we hope, redemption.
After a five year hiatus (during which they still, unavoidably, made performances...) Nature Theater of Oklahoma returns to live theater with some of their acclaimed cast members, some old friends, several new friends, plus actors from Schauspielhaus Düsseldorf... whipping up a furious choreography that draws from almost everything on offer: ballet, silent film, slapstick, predatory animal behaviour, and virtuosic modern dance inventions, all accompanied in proper style by the music of The Nutcracker.
A production of Nature Theater of Oklahoma with Rhurtriennale and Düsseldorf Schauspielhaus. With additional touring support provided by HAU Hebbel am Ufer, Berlin, and commissioning support from Fischer Center LAB, the Fisher Center at Bard’s residency and commissioning program.
Text, Direction and Choreography by Pavol Liska and Kelly Copper
Stage Design Ansgar Prüwer
Dramaturgy Florian Malzacher
Costume Design Jenny Theisen
Light Maarten Warmerdam
Production Luka Curk, Leon Curk, Gabi Bartels, and Hanna Schnell
Featuring Ilan Bachrach, Tale Dolven, Gabel Eiben, Robert M. Johanson, and Bence Mezei
Corps de Ballet Lisa Fagan, Ida Hellsten, Gustavo de Oliveira Leite, Laron Janus, Raymond Liew Jin Pin, Joana Kern, Hannah Krebs, Marlena Meier, and Kadence Neill
Past Collaborators/Cast Alexej Lochmann,Julia Schirazi-Rad, Anna Schneider, Philip Wiehagen
Production Chronology
December 2024, NYU Skirball Center, New York City, NY
October 2019, Spielart Festival, Muffathalle, Munich, Germany
October 2019, Hebbel Theatre, Berlin, Germany
September 2018-February 2019, Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus, Düsseldorf, Germany
September 14-20, 2018 (premiere) Rhurtriennale in Gladbeck, Germany
