Photo by T. Charles Erickson
(PRINCETON, NJ) -- McCarter Theatre invites audiences to start the New Year laughing with the outrageously funny and wickedly subversive tale of familial love, loss and connection: Between Two Knees, by acclaimed intertribal sketch comedy troupe The 1941’s and directed by Eric Ting. The production is on stage at McCarter’s Matthews Theatre starting January 31, through February 13. Smashing through where most textbooks stop teaching Native history (the 1890 massacre at Wounded Knee) Between Two Knees takes us from the forced re-education at Indian boarding schools, through World War II, the Civil Rights Movement, Vietnam, the 1973 takeover at Wounded Knee and maybe even breaks time itself.
"I'm so thrilled to be bringing the work of the 1491's to McCarter”, said McCarter Artistic Director Sarah Rasmussen. “Like so many, I've been blown away by their critically acclaimed work on Reservation Dogs. Like Reservation Dogs, this is such an incredible story of family and community. It speaks to the power of comedy as a powerful tool of resistance, fostering resilience and empowering healing. We are taking comedy seriously here at McCarter."
Tickets for this limited thirteen-performance run start at $25 and are now on sale at McCarter.org or can be purchased by calling the Patron Services Office at 609-258-2787.
Heralded by audiences and critics, The Siskiyou Daily News wrote that Between Two Knees is an “uproariously funny and irreverent comedy… you have to see it for yourself.” The play’s premiere production - a sold-out run at Oregon Shakespeare Festival – was chronicled in the book We Had a Little Real Estate Problem: The Unheralded Story of Native Americans & Comedy where author Kliph Nesteroff wrote “The 1491’s have managed to take the least amusing subject matter imaginable and turn it into a relentless joke-driven narrative”
McCarter’s production of Between Two Knees is a co-production with Seattle Rep In Association with Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Yale Repertory Theatre.
The creative team includes: Ty Defoe (Choreographer), Regina Garcia (Set Designer), Lux Haac (Costume Designer), Elizabeth Harper (Lighting Designer), Jake Rodriguez (Sound Designer), Shawn Duan (Projections/Media Designer), Younghawk Bautista (Wig and Hair Designer), Stacey Rice (Casting Director), Julie Felise Dubiner (Dramaturg), Rod Kinter (Fight Director), Kelsey Rainwater (Intimacy Director), Liz Hayes (Vocal Coach), Alanis, R. Real Vargas (Associate Director), Amanda Nita Luke-Sayed (Production Stage Manager), Kevin Jinghong Zhu (Assistant Stage Manager.)
The 1491’s are a sketch comedy group based in the wooded ghettos of Minnesota and buffalo grass of Oklahoma. They are a gaggle of Indians chock full of cynicism and splashed with a good dose of indigenous satire. This group of indigenous misfits originally came together to make funny videos to put on YouTube. Since their first video in 2009, the group’s work has gone viral – earning fans around the globe with their satirical and absurd comedy. From sold out performances to appearances on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” and TEDx Talks,” the group continues to grow.
Eric Ting is an Obie Award-winning director. Recent directing credits include the world premieres of Lloyd Suh’s The Far Country (Atlantic Theater Co) and Bina’s Six Apples (Alliance, Children’s Theater Co); Marcus Gardley’s Lear (Cal Shakes); and Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower: The Opera adapted by Toshi Reagon (national and international tour). New York: Manhattan Theatre Club, Public Theater Under the Radar, BAM Next Wave, Soho Rep. Regional: Long Wharf Theatre, Hartford Stage, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Philadelphia Theatre Co, Cincinnati Playhouse, Goodman, Victory Gardens, Denver Center, CTG, ACT, Berkeley Rep, Seattle Rep, Oregon Shakespeare Festival. International: Singapore, France, UAE, Holland, Canada, Romania, Czech Republic, Hungary, Bali. Upcoming: Between Two Knees (Seattle Rep).
An independent not-for-profit performing arts center located between New York City and Philadelphia – and on the campus of Princeton University – McCarter is a multi-disciplinary creative and intellectual hub offering theater, music, dance, spoken word, and educational programs for all ages that inspires conversations, connections and collaborations in our communities. We lead with our values of justice and joy, and we seek beauty in belonging. Celebrated for developing new work and winner of the 1994 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre, world premieres include Christopher Durang's Vanya, Sonia, Masha and Spike (Tony, Best Play), Tarell Alvin McCraney's The Brother/Sister Plays, Emily Mann's Having Our Say. Renowned artists who have appeared at McCarter include: Alvin Ailey, Yo-Yo Ma, Audra McDonald, David Sedaris, The Moth, Terence Blanchard, Roseanne Cash, the rock band Lake Street Dive, Shawn Colvin, more. McCarter connects with the community year-round via various community reading event opportunities, digital programming, on-site classes and in-school residencies. McCarter and Princeton University share a long history of unique partnerships and creative collaborations.
