Inside-I And Other Projects From Erwin Maas In The US

Fri, Apr 22 - Sun, May 8  2016

Erwin Maas has been quite busy, working on various plays and projects throughout the US. From April 22, until May 8, his play Inside-I, which he directed, will stage at 7stages. His play ‘The Hundred We Are’ just finished, and has been reviewed positively by The New York Times. Next to that he directed the plays ‘GIF‘, which is written by the Dutch writer Lot Vekemans, and Marilia, which played at the United Solo Festival on Theatre Row 42nd Street. In short: there is a lot to mention about this enterprising director!

About Inside – I: Autisme revealed

Episodes of life and dreams, from birth to age 18, of a boy on the autistic spectrum and his obsession with, and escape into, the world of video. Visual spectacle, puppets, performers and live-feed cameras give voice and image to the spectrum’s unheard and unseen effects. Inside I is created and directed by Michael Haverty and Erwin Maas.

Inside I is the product of a two and a half years collaboration between theatermakers Michael Haverty & Erwin Maas. Based in Atlanta and New York, respectively, Michael & Erwin visited each other’s home towns for various periods over the last two and a half years to do research into the field of Autism and workshop the script, ideas and technical aspects of this production with other artists based in New York and Atlanta. Inside I receives its World Premiere at 7 Stages in Little Five Points – Atlanta, in the spring of 2016. The creation of this project has generated quite some interest from theaters & organizations both nationally and internationally. It is therefore the intention and the hope that, after the initial run in Atlanta, the production can tour so as to give more people an insight into the inside of the Autistic Spectrum.

Watch the trailer here.

About The Hundred We Are

A surreal, phantasmagorical piece, it deals with ageing, missed opportunities, trying to reclaim and relive one’s youth, the vagaries of memory and the lies we we tell ourselves to make life bearable.

A little paragraph from The New York Times review:
‘Its central (and only) character — a dissatisfied dental hygienist embodied by Mirirai Sithole and Orlagh Cassidy as well as Ms. Chen (and Ms. Cisco) — is notable for how she lies to herself to be able to live with herself (or selves). In following the phases of one woman’s life from cradle to grave through the clashing perspectives of three alter egos, “Hundred” inevitably brings to mind Edward Albee’s “Three Tall Women,” which won the 1994 Pulitzer Prize for drama.’

About GIF (Poison)

After many years of separation, a man and a woman meet at the burial grounds of a loved one. He lives in the present moment, with a future ahead of him. She remains stuck in the past. What comes from tragedy? Will some of our greatest adversities lead us down a path of further grief and sorrow? Or can hope be born out of our deepest emotional pain and turmoil? While remembering the final moments of their loved one, the man and the woman take their first steps towards reconciliation.

About Marilia

Brazil, Carnaval: A Sister dead. Her younger brother remains wondering, is he she? Is she he? Today, the sister’s grave will be opened. What remains of her will come to light, along with secrets her family has kept buried for forty years.
Dealing with the death of a sibling, gender confusion, immigration and overcoming life obstacles, MARILIA reveals an extraordinary journey of self understanding, acceptance and love. A real-life story of surviving tragedy, thriving despite incredible obstacles, and coming out stronger on the other side; claiming one’s voice, one’s life, and one’s purpose.

About Erwin Maas

Erwin Maas is a New York based theatermaker, teacher and international arts advocate from the Netherlands. He has worked extensively in Australia, Europe, South Africa and USA. Erwin was a Fulbright Scholar for his MFA in Theatre Directing at Columbia University School of the Arts in NYC. He also holds a M.A. in Drama Teaching and BFA in Directing & Acting from the Academy of Dramatic Arts Eindhoven in the Netherlands, and a M.A. in Media Arts and Production/Documentary Filmmaking from the University of Technology Sydney – Australia. From 2010 to 2014, Maas shared the position of Director of Performing Arts for the Cultural Department of the Royal Netherlands Embassy & Consulates in the USA. He was a guest speaker, lecturer, instructor and director at many prestigious academies and universities around the world. Maas currently teaches as an Adjunct Professor at CUNY Brooklyn College’s MFA Performance & Interactive Media Arts Program (PIMA). He is the Artistic Director of the International Society for Performing Arts (ISPA) NYC Conference, the Director of Programming for the Off-Broadway Origin Theatre Company, and an Artistic Programming Associate of the International Performing Arts for Youth (IPAY). Erwin is a core-member of Theater Without Borders, a member of the Netherland-America Foundation Cultural Committee and he is on the Artistic Advisory Board of the ISSUE Project Room in Brooklyn.