Empathitrax

Written by Ana Nogueira
Directed by Adrienne Cambell-Holt
Produced by Colt Coeur 

Nominations: Outstanding Sound Design, Matt Otto; Outstanding Set Design, Reid Thompson

About the Company: Colt Coeur embraces the infinite theatrical potential of intimate live performance. Their work addresses the ambivalence, terror and exhilaration of our age on the scale of person-to-person through theater that utilizes a simplicity of means to achieve richness of expression. They produce original, story-driven, visceral theater that straddles the line between mainstream and experimental. They strive to create great happenings in small rooms, “theater as close as a whisper in your ear or a stranger’s hand brushing yours.  Intimacy is our way in.”

About the Production: Empathitrax is a searing, darkly funny and heart-filled story of a young couple who turn to a new breakthrough in pharmacology to save their fractured relationship. When “Empathitrax” hits the market promising instant emotional intimacy by divining what others feel, one couple takes the leap to eliminate all boundaries between them. Like any new drug, there are unforeseen side effects which in this instance have catastrophic and poignant consequences.

"In the beautifully redemptive and sweetly funny final moments of the show, the aspects of design come together magically, creating an incredible moment of deep emotion. Beyond words, we transcend understanding and simply feel." ~ Elizabeth Kipp-Giusti, Theasy

What first attracted you to this project?

Matt: Working with the director Adrienne Campbell-Holt

What was your favorite part of working on this production?

Matt: Being in rehearsal with Adrienne and the playwright Ana Nogueira.

What was the most challenging part of working on this production?

Matt: The speed at which we had to tech it.

Did you learn anything new from your experience of working on this production?

Matt: I learned a lot from the play itself, how to be more empathetic and caring for your partner.

What was it like working with this company?

Matt: The people are the best.

Make sure to follow Colt Coeur on Twitter @Colt_Coeur

How to Live on Earth

Written by MJ Kaufman
Directed by Adrienne Campbell-Holt
Produced by Colt Coeur

Nominated for: Outstanding Sound Design, M.L. Dogg; Outstanding Actor in a Lead Role, Charles Socarides

About the Production
Four individuals will be chosen for the mission of a lifetime. The only catch: they can’t come back. As applicants compete, they wrestle with what this means for their families, partners, and finally, themselves. What does it mean to leave Earth forever and what happens if you don't get to go after you've already said goodbye? How to Live on Earth is a play about our unrelenting obsession with the next frontier and the desire to give your life for something greater than yourself. Inspired in part by the Mars One project to colonize Mars by 2025, this piece is a funny, wry, and deeply truthful portrait of the fears and hopes that drive us towards exploration and expansion.

Designer M.L. Dogg and Actor Charles Socarides talk about creating a futuristic world.

------------------------------

What attracted you to this production?

M.L.: I really wanted to work with the director and the company. The subject matter was interesting. I liked the script.

What was the most challenging aspect of this production for you?

M.L.: It had a lot of technical elements that all had to work together, and in my area there was a lot of work to put it all together. It was easily my biggest show last year.

What was it like working with Colt Coeur?

M.L.: They're very creative, smart, and friendly, and work really hard to put their shows up. It was a lot of hard work, but we felt really proud of it, and I'm happy that it and the company are being recognized.

Charles:  Writer MJ Kaufman and director Adrienne Campbell-Holt are highly collaborative. Colt Coeur is a fantastic company.