This April, the New Hazlett Theater invites audiences to the premiere of Apis, playwright Lindsay Goranson's multidisciplinary experience about the last creature on Earth. This quirky, mind-bending live performance, which includes science, cinema, puppetry, and theater, takes place April 18-19.
Apis, a human surrounded by AI, is almost content drinking meals from a carton and bidding time with a robot companion. But everything changes when the last surviving creature on Earth, a bee named Bob, travels through time to sweeten her imagination.
The production will be told through the use of puppetry, original sound design, innovative costumes, and even some miniatures. Through it all, Goranson is hopeful the audience will be inspired to support the work of pollinators.
"My hope is to encourage questions and curiosity, to find a way to be joyful in a really difficult world. The most important thing for me is that audiences leave with hope and an exciting experience that challenges us all in new ways." Goranson says.
The performance educates and empowers audiences to learn and fight for the future of Earth's food supply. By the end of Apis, viewers will walk away with three actionable items to change the planet's health.
"I hope the show offers a baseline to learn more about pollinators, our food supply, and little things we can all do to make change," Goranson states.
Apis is the final of five productions in the Theater's 2023/2024 Community Supported Art (CSA) performance series. Now in its 11th season, the CSA allows emerging artists like Goranson to develop new work for the New Hazlett stage.
"There is an exhilarating component when the opportunity to contribute to a new piece of theatre work presents itself because the creative and performance team has the ability to establish the best environment to support the storytelling attributes of a premiere production," Director Seamus Ricci states.
Apis has three showings only: Thursday, April 18th at 8 PM and Friday, April 19th at 10 AM & 8 PM. Individual tickets are available for purchase on the New Hazlett website. Tickets range from $20–$30.
The Apis production team includes Goranson (Playwright/Puppet Designer), Seamus Ricci (Director), Alyse Hogan (Stage Manager), Allison McSwain (Lighting Designer), Ken and Amy Walls (Miniatures Designers), Louise and Sarah Silk (Costume Designers), Ramin Akhavijou (Sound Designer) and TJ Young (Dramaturg).
The multi-talented cast features Jalina McClarin (Apis), DT Burns (Key Puppet Operator), and Rory Janney (2nd Puppet Operator).
Lindsay Goranson (she/they) is a writer, performer, interdisciplinary theater-maker, and relentlessly curious human. They create impactful experiences in pursuit of social change and prioritize minimizing the environmental impact of dynamic live experiences.
