Pangea World Theater Presents: Rhinoceros

Over the course of three acts, the inhabitants of a small town turn into rhinoceroses; ultimately the only human who does not succumb to this mass metamorphosis is the central character, Berenger, a flustered figure who is initially criticized in the play for his drinking, tardiness, and slovenly lifestyle and then, later, for his increasing paranoia and obsession with the rhinoceroses. Come experience how Rhinoceros dives into themes of conformity, fascism, social responsibility, mob mentality, philosophy, and morality. “Ionesco is an iconic voice in the canons of literature. We are privileged to journey with this brilliant mind during this time. Ever so often, humanity is called upon to pause, analyze, embody and be in action. Rhinoceros, a provocative journey, asks us searing questions about our own humanity and integrity,” says Director Dipankar Mukherjee. The Rhinoceros ensemble includes Ernest Briggs*, Tyler Stamm, Bruce Abes, Nate Kay, Kirby Bennet, Sayli Khadilkar, Mallory K. Lewis, Julie Anne Nevill, Sudarsna Mukund, and Shruti Priti Ramesh. Director Dipankar Mukherjee’s artistic team features Assistant Director Sir Curtis Kirby III, lighting design by Brackley Frayer, set design by Orin Herfindal, costume design by Abigail Vaughan, sound design by Diego Vasquez Rios, music by Vladimir Garrido, and stage management by Suzanne Victoria Cross. * Actor Equity Association Membership About the Playwright Eugène Ionesco was a Romanian-French playwright, born on November 26, 1909, in Slatina, Romania. He is best known for his contributions to the Theatre of the Absurd, a movement that emerged in the 1950s, characterized by its exploration of existential themes, illogical scenarios, and the breakdown of communication. Ionesco's early life was marked by the complexities of his multicultural background and the political turmoil of his native Romania, which influenced his worldview. He spent his childhood mostly in France, before returning to Romania to study. After finishing his degree, Ionesco lived in Paris again, but with World War II, he fled to Romania. Eventually, he ended up in Paris again when Romania started to face problems with fascism in the 1940s. Ionesco is often referred to as the “uncrowned king of absurd theater”, publishing many plays within that genre. Journalists and critics compare his work to those of Samuel Beckett and Moliere, while acknowledging that Ionesco’s style is unique to this day. Ionesco is broadly remembered for his most famous plays, such as “Rhinoceros” or “The Lesson”, but he published over 20 plays and a variety of novels, political essays, diaries and autobiographies. About the Director Dipankar Mukherjee is a professional director originally from Calcutta, India with a more than 40-year history of directing. He is the co-Artistic Director of Pangea World Theater. In 1994, he co-founded Pangea World Theater, an international theater in Minneapolis that is a progressive space for arts and dialogue. His aesthetics have evolved through his commitment to social justice, equity and deep spirituality and these factors along with relevant politics form the basis of his work. As a director, he has worked in India, England, Canada and the United States. In 2023, Dipankar was named the McKnight Distinguished Artist of the year. He has also received the Humphrey Institute Fellowship to Salzburg and has been a Ford Foundation delegate to India and Lebanon. He is a recipient of the Bush Leadership Fellowship award to study non-violence and peace methodologies in India and South Africa. Dipankar was invited to visit the White House as part of the Asian American and Pacific Islanders Delegation. He serves on the boards of the Network of Ensemble Theatre, Frogtown Farms, Lake Street Council and Mizna. He has been awarded grants from the National Performance Network (Creation Fund), National Endowment for the Arts and the Minnesota State Arts Board. In his rehearsal and workshop practices, Dipankar facilitates processes that work to disrupt colonial, racist and patriarchal modalities that we have inherited and collaboratively searches for an alternate way of working. Performances The Southern Theater 1420 Washington Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55454 Friday, April 4 @ 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 5 @ 7:30 p.m. — Post-Show Discussion Sunday, April 6 @ 2:30 p.m. Thursday, April 10 @ 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 11 @ 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 12 @ 7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 13 @ 2:30 p.m. — ASL Interpreted Performance Thursday, April 17 @ 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 18 @ 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 19 @ 2:30 p.m. Tickets: $15 – 50 (sliding scale) https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/rhinoceros Link: www.pangeaworldtheater.org. Contact: Sarah Duncan, Pangea World Theater, sarah@pangeaworldtheater.org, 612-715-4134

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