What is a Two-headed Calf?
The Theatre of a Two-headed Calf was founded in 1999 by director Brooke O'Harra and composer Brendan Connelly, in New Orleans. Since 2002, they have been a resident company at La MaMa, E.T.C. in New York where they created to works by Stanislav Ignacy Witkiewicz (Tumor Brainiowicz and The Mother), The Life and Death of Tom Thumb the Great and in 2005, Major Barbara. There work has also been produced by the HERE Arts Center, PS 122, Chashama, and the Perishable Theater.
The Two-headed Calf's work is a process of layering, a careful consideration of all the formal elements of Theater, from lights and set, to words, music and movement. Theor work comes out of long rehearsal periods, sometimes over two years, as with the recent Drum of the Waves of Horikawa. The pieces are conceived from the outset as intense collaborations between director, actor, designer, choreographer and composer - closer in method to opera than anything else. The result in a dense, playful conversation that engages the audience viscerally and mentally. The Twoheaded Calf's creative family has gained momentum over the last decade, creating work that is both "generous and welcoming.” (New York Times)
Director Brooke O'Harra has studied and made theater in Japan, the Czech Republic, Poland, Indonesia and Ghana. She is a recipient of the NEA/TCG Developing Directors Grant, a Drama League Directing fellow and nominee for the Alan Schneider Award. She received her MFA in Directing from Tulane University.
Composer Brendan Connelly composes for the Two-headed Calf's "house ensemble", The Scenery. He as also had work performed by The Wet Ink Ensemble, the SEM Ensemble, TimeTable Percussion , Hunter-Gatherer and Yarn/Wire, among others. He has received 4 Meet The Composer grants and a New York Innovative Theater Award for his score for Major Barbara.
Associate artists of the Two-headed Calf include designers Peter Ksander, Justin Townsend and Emily Rebholz; actors Tina Shepard, Heidi Schreck, David Brooks, Laryssa Husiak, Jess Barbagallo, Tatiana Pavela, Mike Mikos and Nadia Mahdi; and the Scenery Ensemble.
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Our Board of Advisers: Roger Babb |
