As part of the 10th Anniversary of the Dementia Society of America®, Brianna Kalisch’s circus play {IN}TANGIBLE will get its World Premiere at New York Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street) from August 8-11, 2024, directed by Felicity Hesed. This dramatic circus-play uses dialogue and narrative circus to tell the story of a woman and her family in the blurred timeline of dementia. While staying in a nursing home, ‘Q’ is visited by her family and memories.
Photo Courtesy: {IN}TANGIBLE / Brianna Kalisch
Overlapping, competing, and larger-than-life, her memories pull her from her present reality into the magical world of life as she remembers it.
Brianna Kalisch was inspired to create {IN}TANGIBLE through a collection of personal experiences. After a loved one developed dementia, she began writing to process the experience. Her inspiration was further fueled by witnessing companies like The 7 Fingers experiment with monologues in circus, as well as performances by ABT at Lincoln Center, No Fit State in London, and Complicité in Sydney. These experiences led her to realize the immense vocabulary for storytelling that combines the physicality of circus with the depth of heartfelt dialogue.
The creative process behind {IN}TANGIBLE involved a delicate balance between circus and dialogue. Kalisch produced two readings at different stages under the direction of Sarah Davey-Hull, who provided insightful and frank feedback. Davey-Hull, experienced in both theatre and circus, emphasized the importance of integrating circus elements that genuinely contribute to the story. This guidance helped Kalisch ensure that every circus act in the show is necessary and adds to the narrative, achieving a marriage of both forms.
Photo Courtesy: {IN}TANGIBLE
Kalisch’s background in both theatre and circus naturally led her to seek a fusion of the two in her work. She loves highly physical theatre that communicates beyond words and looks for stories in circus performances. In {IN}TANGIBLE, each circus apparatus is designed to communicate something meaningful and is tied to real-life elements: a bench swing becomes a trapeze, parents on stilts symbolize the memory of being small, and a tree is represented by a corde lisse. Her dual background has shaped her approach, thinking in pictures first, then dialogue and choreography.
Writing and producing {IN}TANGIBLE presented several challenges. One significant challenge was how to communicate the physical storytelling. To overcome this, Kalisch created concept art to depict how the circus elements told the story, inserting it into the script to give others a glimpse of her vision. Workshopping the show in residency at ArtYard in Frenchtown, NJ, last summer provided valuable opportunities to get photos and videos that further helped in the development process.
Another major challenge occurred when Kalisch was hit by a car in late February, resulting in a concussion that benched her for several months. This incident slowed the production timeline but also gave her a new perspective, especially as she struggled with short-term memory issues. With the help of physical and occupational therapists, she was able to recover and get back in action in time for the production.
Kalisch hopes that audiences will find {IN}TANGIBLE to be an excellent evening of theatre, enjoying the story, connecting to the characters, and embracing a different type of storytelling. She also hopes the play will spark conversations and provide support for those dealing with dementia within their families, turning an isolating experience into one of connection and understanding.
{IN}TANGIBLE addresses the themes of dementia and memory by depicting the blurred timeline experienced by a woman and her family. Memory and reality collide and overlap, reflecting Kalisch’s personal experiences with a family member’s dementia. She emphasizes the importance of talking about this increasingly common yet often unspoken experience. Partnering with the Dementia Society of America® on this production helps introduce audiences to the valuable work they are doing.
Working with director Felicity Hesed has been a fantastic experience for Kalisch. Hesed’s understanding of both circus and theatre allowed her to combine them into a magical recipe of great storytelling. Her vision and collaboration during the residency at ArtYard helped bring the story to life, surpassing what once existed only in a small corner of Kalisch’s imagination.
Kalisch’s international experiences have significantly shaped her work. Living and working in Australia, she was introduced to a broad spectrum of theatre, including absurdism, surrealism, highly physical theatre, commedia dell’arte, puppetry, circus, and lots of experimentation. These experiences opened her mind to mixing genres and disciplines, allowing her to explore any and all ideas.
Founding AEthem Theatre Company marked the beginning of Kalisch’s career as a generative artist and producer. While she loves working as an actor and performer, creating is in her bones. AEthem provided a supportive and energizing environment to start her journey, and she is thankful for the foundation it laid. AEthem, now under the direction of Kayla Hambek, continues to produce exciting new work in the Twin Cities.
Following the world premiere of {IN}TANGIBLE at New York Theatre Row, Kalisch plans to take a well-deserved rest before diving back into making more art. She hopes to share {IN}TANGIBLE with even more people and is open to any opportunities that arise, continuing to apply, submit, and fundraise for future productions.
Experience the magic of {IN}TANGIBLE at its World Premiere at New York Theatre Row from August 8-11, 2024. Don’t miss this unique blend of circus and storytelling that delves into the depths of memory and dementia.
Published by: Khy Talara
