WILLIAMSBURG — Aura CuriAtlas Physical Theatre presents “The Zombie Life: A Seminar for Humans Seeking Conversion” on July 28-30 at the Williamsburg Regional Library.
Physical Theater is described by City Academy as a performance that prioritizes movement as the key storytelling medium over words or music. It may also incorporate techniques such as mime, gesture and modern dance to create performance pieces. While it isn’t unheard of for these kinds of performances to have no dialog, this performance will include text.
The premise of the performance is a self-help seminar presented by a therapist with a unique remedy for life’s hardships: becoming a zombie. His converted assistants provide testimonials, but as the seminar unfolds, they verge dangerously off script, posing the question, should we all convert? Or are there secrets to life that even this therapy can’t cure?
The performance is written by Chris Gavaler and directed by Joan Gavaler with scenography by Matthew Allar. Performers include Clifford Clark, Kevin Clauberg, Allison Stover, Chasida Taylor, and Ed Whitacre. After the “seminar,” there will be an opportunity for conversation with the cast.
Joan Gavaler has been a Professor of Dance at William & Mary for 29 years and Artistic Director of Aura CuriAtlas Physical Theatre for the last 10. Ed Whitacre, who plays the therapist, is an actual therapist in his daily life. He and director Joan Gavaler will lead a conversation circle after the show and invite audience members to share their thoughts.
The Zombie Life project was developed by the Gavaler siblings before the COVID-19 pandemic with Chris writing the text, and Joan planning out the movement and dramatic logic. Firehouse Theatre in Richmond chose the play for its season in the summer of 2021 with Pandemic social distancing in place. That play development experience helped the duo refine the script and now Aura CuriAtlas is producing the Williamsburg premiere July 28-30, featuring Hampton Roads-area actors.
“Even if you create a very strange and imaginary world, such as a world where you could become a zombie, there are rules,” Joan Gavaler explained about the production. “There is a logic internally to that imaginary world. So any divisor or physical theater creator is working hard to stay true to that logic and tell the story in a way that is consistent with the logic we’ve invented.”
“Connection is something we need and it’s something that live theater can give us,” she added. “So consider coming to this seminar to get a little connected.”
Tickets for the performance are $20 and begin at 7:30 p.m. on July 28 and 29, and 2 p.m. on July 30. Tickets can be purchased online in advance or with cash only at the door.
The performance is made possible with the support of William & Mary, as well as the Williamsburg Area Arts Commission.
For more information about Aura CuriAtlas, please visit its official website.
