Pivot Arts Festival: The? Unicorn? Hour? – Leah Urzendowski and Anthony Courser

Event Type
Performance
Event Description

Inspired by childhood favorites Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and Pee-wee’s Playhouse, The? Unicorn? Hour? is a creative experiment in which Team Awesome—creators Leah Urzendowski and Anthony Courser —invite you into a magical atmosphere of unrestrained joy and playfulness. Together we’ll delight in absurd choices and pass through the looking glass to a world in which we choose to eliminate self-doubt and say “yes” to an unbridled uplifting of the spirit! Are you ready, unicorn?

Leah Urzendowski is a founding member of The Ruffians, and has been an ensemble member with the Chicago Neo-Futurists since 2011. Most recently, she co-created, wrote and performed The? Unicorn? Hour? at the Neo-Futurists. Some of Leah’s other Chicago credits include: Jeff Recommended Mr. Burns (Theatre Wit); The Infinite WrenchToo Much Light Makes The Baby Go BlindMiss Neo Pageant, (The Neo- Futurists); Burning Bluebeard (The Ruffians); 500 Clown Trapped500 Clown Frankenstein500 Clown Macbeth (500 Clown); Moby Dick, Dustbowl Gothic (The Building Stage); and Hunchback (Redmoon). Choreography and movement direction credits include: The Magic Play (Goodman), Lord of The Flies (Steppenwolf), Ivywild (Hypocrites), Miss Neo Pageant (The Neo-Futurists), and Burning Bluebeard (The Ruffians, The Neo-Futurists). TV and film credits include: Chicago PD, Chicago Fire, ER, and “Operator”. Leah is a teaching artist with The Ruffians, Chicago Neo-Futurists, and Team Awesome, specializing in physical theatre, ensemble- and partnership-building, clown, movement, and movement consulting. She received her BFA from Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, and is represented by Paonessa.

Anthony Courser is a founding member of The Ruffians (2013), a Chicago Neo-Futurist artistic associate (2012), and teaching artist with Barrel of Monkeys (2001). Most recently, Anthony co-created, wrote, and performed The? Unicorn? Hour?. Some of Anthony’s favorite Chicago credits include: Burning Bluebeard (The Ruffians, Neo-Futurists); Jeff Recommended Ivywild (Hypocrites); Daredevils’ HamletPicked UpThe Fool Returns to His ChairDaredevils (Neo-Futurists), That’s Weird, Grandma (Barrel of Monkeys); and set designer for Analogue (Neo-Futurists). He was on the performance ensemble of New Belgium Brewing’s Tour de Fat and Le Tigre Tent. Anthony is a graduate of Dell’Arte International School For Physical Theatre, and a student of Panchinko Clowning with Sue Morrison at the Canadian Clown Institute. He is a teacher of clown, physical theatre, and ensemble- and partnership-building. Anthony is also a carpenter.

The? Unicorn? Hour? premiered at the Neo-Futurist Theatre in April 2017 and couldn’t have happened without the following team:

Outside Eye / Direction: Adrian Danzig
Assistant Direction: Ann Kreitman
Stage Manager: Clare Roche
Set Design: Archer Curry
Lighting Design: Claire Chrzan
Sound Design: Spencer Meeks
Costume Design: Sky Cubacub
Production Manager: Kate Hardiman

Neo-Futurist Artistic Director, Kurt Chiang; Company Manager, Kendall Klarg; and Neo-Futurist Ensemble past and present.

Get a FESTIVAL PASS and see three shows for only $40!

 

Location

Bar 63

6341 N. Broadway
Chicago, IL 60660