24th Street Theatre (Los Angeles, CA)
Monster of Happiness is a new performance piece combining theatre, dance, and video that is based on the myth of Adam and Eve and examines a cornerstone of the American Dream: the pursuit of happiness. Theatre Movement Bazaar created this production in multiple stages over several years, incorporating the public's personal views on happiness.
Event summary prepared by the Goldstar Editorial Team.
* Additional fees apply.
All offers for Monster of Happiness have expired.
Tell me when more tickets / dates are added
The last date listed for Monster of Happiness was Saturday July 14, 2007 / 8:30pm. (view all dates)
Most Popular Theater Event Nearby:
The Ahmanson presents Dreamgirls, the hit musical that inspired the Oscar-winning movie. It's the timeless story of an up-and-coming girl singing group in the 1960s, and the personal and professional struggles they encounter on the road to fame. This new production comes to Los Angeles direct from a hit run at Harlem's legendary Apollo Theater. Learn More
I loved this show. It's a really sophisticated piece of physical theater, about one of the most elusive and ephemeral of states: happiness. This is a multi-media physical theater piece that is as thoughtful and provocative as it is funny, delightful and entertaining. Tina Kronis and Richard Alger are such smart and charming performers. Just watching them move onstage is worth the price of admission for me. It's a strong production in every aspect, including the highly stylized film incorporated throughout -- stunning!!
I am totally agree with the viewer "Albert". How can it get rated for 4 stars.
We got lost and got there last, about 30 minutes into the play, shortly after we settled into our seats, we realized it is one of those creepy play, at lease it is for me and my wife, we were going to leave at the intermission, but it does not have one, so we stayed in our seats until the play finished, and not a minute longer after the play ended.
It is only two actors in the play, (one male actor and one female actor) the play is not the good old fashion kind that you will understand as the story unfolded before your eyes, this play has no story line to follow, it is totally based on conceptual views, and we can not make the connection about what is presented in the play and how it tied to it's title of about pursuiting happiness.
The only thing might be worth watching is the third dimension of the video, if you care for that.
Next to the "Seven deadly sins" this is the second worst play I have ever attended
very creative & imaginative. first half very funny. then a little less so.
24th Street Theatre opened its big green carriage doors in 1996. In that short time the theatre has produced an array of classics and original plays. It has also hosted dozens of guest productions from some of L.A.'s most impressive theatre artists.
Website: http://www.TheatreMovementBazaar.org
Monster of Happiness is a psycho-physical, science-fiction love story that is based on the myth of Adam and Eve and examines a cornerstone of the American Dream: the pursuit of happiness. In this work, Theatre Movement Bazaar pursues the 20th-century aesthetic innovations of early American modernist literature, Meyerhold's Biomechanics, and post-revolution "Soviet-style" cinema. Integral to this process is a feedback loop, an invitation for the public (via the TMB website) to provide personal views on happiness.
The project was created by TMB’s Tina Kronis and Richard Alger and co-produced by the 24th Street Theatre. It was developed in several stages, the resulting material of which was layered into the final production.
Stage 1 (Dec. 2005): An open audition where 70 participants were recorded taking part in improvisations and participating in the early development of the Happiness Questionnaire.
Stage 2 (Jan. 2006): Rehearsal and photography with a selected ensemble of 20 to create a film that will be incorporated into the final live presentation.
Stage 3 (2006-07): The launch of the online Happiness Questionnaire.
Stage 4 (June 2007): The integration of the materials and development of the live performance, resulting in a world premiere at the 24th Street Theatre.
Stage production:
Director/choreographer: Tina Kronis
Writer: Richard Alger
Cinematographer: Michael Glover
Cinematic elements:
Director/editor: Richard Alger
Director/choreographer: Tina Kronis
Cinematographer: Michael Glover
Supported in part by the Rockefeller Multi-Arts Production Fund, the Dept. of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles, and the Durfee ARC Grant.
About the Creators:
Richard Alger is executive director and co-founder of Theatre Movement Bazaar. He co-created, wrote and performed in the recent TMB productions "Café Oublié," commissioned by the Getty Villa Museum, and "Dry Cleaning" at the 24th Street Theatre in L.A. Alger has written and designed for TMB productions of "Strange Beliefs," "Cirque Picnique" and "dumbshow," and performed in the original TMB production of "Watch" (2001-05). Alger helped create and performed Mummenschanz’s latest show, "Next" (1999), now touring internationally. He has been active in the motion picture industry for 18 years, and has directed two award-winning short films.
Tina Kronis is the artistic director and co-founder of the L.A.-based interdisciplinary theatre company Theatre Movement Bazaar. For TMB, she co-created and performed “Café Oublifé,” commissioned by the Getty Villa Museum, “DryCleaning" at the 24th Street Theatre, and was awarded the 2005 Garland Award for Best Choreography. She has directed and choreographed the original TMB productions of “Strange Beliefs,” “Cirque Picnique,” “Hollywood Macabre,” “dumbshow,” “SeaGull,” “Chekhov’s Sisters” and “Cornography” at the Sacred Fools Theatre, as well as choreographing and performing TMB’s “Watch.” She has been nominated for numerous LA Weekly and Garland Awards for best choreography. At Los Angeles City College, where Kronis serves on the faculty, she has co-directed and choreographed the original production of "Within Us" and choreographed the production of "Big Love." She performed in the Broadway and international tours for Mummenschanz from 1986-1993, and co-created and performed Mummenschanz’s latest show, “Next,” now touring internationally. She is a graduate of NYU’s BFA Theatre Program and earned an MFA from the joint graduate program of the Moscow Art Theatre and Carnegie-Mellon.
About TMB
TMB began in New York City as a collaboration between choreographer/director/performer Tina Kronis and mechanical engineer/writer Richard Alger. In 1999, the company relocated its base to Los Angeles, and in 2000, TMB became a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation. TMB has produced ten original works, garnering critical attention and presenting its work across the U.S. and in the UK.
TMB is a company dedicated to creating original performance works. It merges elements of movement, sound, text, and design from diverse sources into a complex performance, reinvigorating theatre for a contemporary audience.
TMB was awarded the 2003 and 2005 Rockefeller Foundation Multi-Arts Production fund, given annually to a select group of the country’s boldest and most creative performing arts projects. Additionally the company has earned three Los Angeles Garland Awards, one L.A. Garland honorable mention, and nominated for two LA Weekly awards (all from Los Angeles press organizations). In May 2006, TMB was awarded a commission by the Getty Villa to create a new work, “Café Oublié,” which premiered at their facility.