Mirror Stage To Premier ODIN'S HORSE and Present Free Community Forums, 10/24 - 11/11!

As a part of the West Coast Premiere of ODIN'S HORSE by Robert Koon, Mirror Stage is also presenting Free Community Forums to further illuminate themes from the play. Community Forums are open to the public and will take place at 4:30pm after each Sunday 2pm matinee performance and post-play discussion.

The schedule includes:

Sunday, October 28: STORYTELLING - Playwright Robert Koon will be in town from Chicago, joined by Richard Hugo House Executive Director Tree Swenson, and representatives from Seattle Storytellers Guild, and NW Folklore Society. The panel will discuss how stories are put together, the struggle for inspiration, the differences between the oral and written storytelling traditions, and how playwriting incorporates elements of both traditions.

Sunday, November 4: NORDIC MYTHOLOGY: THEN AND NOW - The myth of Odin hanging himself by his own spear to learn the secret of the runes is referenced explicitly as well as metaphorically throughout the play. Dr. Lars Jenner of UW’s Scandinavian Studies department will be joined on the panel by Nordic woodcarver Jay Haavik who teaches Viking-era woodcarving at the Port Townsend School of Woodworking to discuss Nordic Myth.

Sunday, November 11: SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY - Ryan Temple of Sustainable Northwest Wood will be coming up from Portland to join Dr. Gregory Ettl, Director of UW's Center for SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY at Pack Forest, to discuss the complexity of the factors—market forces, environmental and ecological repercussions, corporate business practices—that contribute to the challenges of sustainable forestry.

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. ODIN'S HORSE marks Mirror Stage’s triumphant return to fully-staged productions—the first since 2003! Performances take place at The Ethnic Cultural Theatre, October 24th through November 11th.

The Ethnic Cultural Theatre is located at 3940 Brooklyn Ave NE in Seattle. Community Forums are free and open to the public. 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, please visit www.mirrorstage.org/odinshorse.

Originally founded in 1991, Mirror Stage is a small professional theatre company reflecting the diversity of the community on stage in high quality, progressive, thought-provoking productions that play it smart without always playing it safe. The mission of Mirror Stage is to use the power of theatre to challenge assumptions, bias and prejudice, while encouraging more thoughtful reflection on today's issues. We nurture unique artistic voices while providing opportunities for newly emerging artists to work alongside more seasoned professionals. More at http://www.mirrorstage.org.

Mirror Stage gratefully acknowledges the support of Season Producer Posner-Wallace Foundation and Production Sponsor 4Culture. Support for ODIN'S HORSE also provided by Washington State Arts Commission, Humanities Washington, the City of Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs, and Seattle Scenic Studios.

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