Casey Caldwell: Ratatat Theater – Santa Barbara, CA U.S.A.

Photo: Lara CooperDirector: Casey CaldwellCompany: Ratatat Theater GroupWebsite: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ratatat-Theater-Group/139172849432694Artist Statement/Philosophy/Mission Statement:Ratatat Theater Group is a merry band of Santa Barbara artists exploring the possibilities of theater in conjunction with other media -- music, film, poetry, stories, architecture, etc. We make films and live performances. We work improvisationally, we use what we have, we have a lot of fun. We mix things up and see what happens.Short Artist/Company Bio:Ratatat Theater Group is a brand new Santa Barbara theatrical collective, starting production the summer of 2010. We are dedicated to the production of new work, the use of many kinds of material and media for making plays, and working site-specifically. We are busy at work creating three new productions for 2011 at locations around Santa Barbara. What do you hope to gain from the experience of participating in this festival?A chance to present work with a wider audience of artists from around the world, and the joy of meeting and rubbing shoulders with all those exciting folks!

Have you participated in other festivals or showcases?

Yes, Lit Moon’s International Theater festival. Also, individually some members of the theater group have participated in other festivals, including the International Shakespeare Festival in Gdansk, Poland.

If so – what were elements you enjoyed and what areas do you think could have been improved on?

Lit Moon generally does a great job of fostering artist interaction in the festival. Some of my favorite ways of doing this have been large potluck dinners for everyone in the festival, and creating a collaborative improvised show with all the festival participants over the course of a morning.

What Ratatat Theater will be bringing to the Festival

Title: Turning

Number of performers: 4

Brief Description of the Work:

Ratatat Theater Group presents Turning, a physical theater piece exploring the passage of an ordinary day, fragmented across the parts of the body. See the routines and rituals of the everyday, shattered and shifted into a glittering kaleidoscope of life.