Poised for continued expansion and growth, Mirror Stage is on target to produce the West Coast premiere of Odin’s Horse by Robert Koon—Mirror Stage’s first fully staged production since 2003. With powerful momentum, Mirror Stage has already raised nearly two-thirds of the $74,100 of contributed funds needed to mount the production. Mirror Stage has secured support for Odin’s Horse from 4Culture, the Posner-Wallace Foundation, the City of Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs, and Humanities Washington, plus more than $10,000 of in-kind goods and services and $20,000 in individual donations have been committed. Approximately $30,000 still needs to be raised, in order to proceed.
Behind every sheet of paper and within every tree, there is a story. Odin's Horse tells the story of Arman, a newly successful writer of Icelandic heritage. Seeking fresh inspiration, he obtains the cell phone number of a tree-sitter whose commitment to the forest thrusts him into the struggle between those who make their living cutting timber and those who risk their lives to save the oldest trees.
In Nordic mythology, Odin hung himself by his own spear from Yggdrasil, the World Tree. Yggdrasil translates to "Odin's Horse." Following Sunday matinees, Mirror Stage plans to present post-play discussions and Community Forums that further explore themes of Nordic mythology and the challenges of environmentally responsible forestry. Odin's Horse is slated for the stage later this fall, October-November.
Robert Koon is a Resident Playwright at Chicago Dramatists where he serves as the company dramaturg. As an actor, he has appeared at Steppenwolf, Long Wharf, and New American Theatres, as well as with other companies in and around Chicago. His plays include Vintage Red and The Dust of the Road (Jefferson Award Citation for New Work), Odin’s Horse (Jefferson nomination), Menorca, and St. Colm’s Inch. He is a member of The Dramatists Guild and has served as the director of The Playwrights Network, providing dramaturgical assistance for writers across the country. He received his MFA from the University of California at Davis, and resides in Chicago.
In addition to a fully staged production of Odin’s Horse, Mirror Stage continues its popular Feed Your Mind staged reading series in April and May 2012. The April selection is the West Coast premiere reading of Ground by Lisa Dillman. Several exciting scripts are under consideration for the May 2012 slot and the selection will be announced by March 31, 2012.
Coming up later this month is Mirror Stage's Feed Your Mind: What We're Up Against by acclaimed playwright, novelist and producer Theresa Rebeck, February 25-26, 2012 at The Ethnic Cultural Theatre, located at 3940 Brooklyn Ave NE in Seattle. Saturday evening admission is $10. Sunday matinee admission is $8. Half-price tickets are available for Senior Citizens and students, and every performance has 10 Pay-What-You-Can rush tickets ($1 minimum) for purchase at the door. Free parking is available in University of Washington’s lot W12, located at just south of the Ethnic Cultural Theater on Brooklyn Ave NE. For more information about What We're Up Against, please visit www.mirrorstage.org/whatwereupagainst
