STRUCK

 

struck was created by a group of NACL collaborators from across North America: writers/actors Brett Keyser and Tannis Kowalchuk, neuroscientist Allison Waters, writer/dramaturg Kristen Kosmas, digital artist Brian Caiazza, filmmaker Tina Spangler, costumer Karen Flood, electronics artist Jim Ruxton, lighting designer Stephen Arnold, technical director Zoot, and A/V technicians Ray Cornelison and Joe Murray.

struck is an exploration of neuroscience and brain trauma. It is a poetic dance on the razor-edge of mortality, as the brain and body look for meaning and struggle to communicate, recover and re-discover the sense of "self” after a crisis.

Inspired by her real-life experience of stroke and recovery, Tannis Kowalchuk and her colleagues explore the subject with convergent technologies for creation and expression, bridging the domains of art and science.

 

More struck videos at YouTube.com/NACLTheatre

 

STRUCK @ CPT

Our work has been strengthened and supported by our co-producer Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) and will premiere at CPT's Gordon Square Theatre March 21-April 6, 2013.

The CPT engagement is presented in partnership with the Cleveland Clinic Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Panel discussions with medical professionals will follow performances on Saturday March 23rd, Monday March 25th, and Thursday March 28, 2013.

CPT Showtimes and Ticket Information

Box Office (216) 631-2727 extension 501

CPT is located at 6415 Detroit Avenue in Cleveland's Gordon Square Arts District.

CPT struck poster design by Sean Higgins.

 

STRUCK @ NACL

We will open our 2013 Season in Highland Lake with two weekends of struck, May 24-June 2. See our Season Schedule for details.

 

STRUCK @ HERE ARTS CENTER

We are very pleased to announce that HERE Arts Center will present struck in December, 2013.

 

"struck" (work in progress) 2 min excerpt from NACL on Vimeo.

STRUCK PRESS

Reviews

"A symphonic and turbulent play that weaves through moments of harrowing realism and enchanting vulnerability..." Timothy Malcom's Times Herald-Record review of struck at NACL - 05.25.13

"Your synapses are going to light up in new and different ways when experiencing this amazing event." From Christine Howey's review of struck at CPT - 03.24.13

"Keyser and Kowalchuk are arresting performers who are fascinating to watch." Andrea Simakis reviews struck for The Plain Dealer (Cleveland) - 03.27.13

"...an exceptional piece of literature that also happens to be a show. ...unlike anything I’ve ever seen before." Kory's Review: struck @ Cleveland Public Theatre - 03.28.13

 

WCPN Radio Interview

Dee Perry, host of "Around Noon" on Cleveland's WCPN interviews Tannis and Brett during the CPT run of struck:

 

Articles

“I dropped the stems a few times and thought that was odd, and noticed a certain numbness in my left hand.” After dropping the shears a few times, and then experiencing difficulty riding her bike, she realized something was terribly wrong. A trip to the hospital and a slew of tests confirmed her fears. She was told that she had suffered a stroke. “A portion of your brain is dead, and you’re never getting it back,” the doctor told her... Read Jonathan Fox's article on struck in The River Reporter - May 22, 2013

“It’s a great gift that I’m able to process my experience through art and with these artists I’m working with, who make it more interesting and beautiful that it was,” Kowalchuk said. “It’s taken on this other shape, and it’s a great gift. It’s an honor, in fact.” Read the full feature on struck by Matt Connolly in American Theatre Magazine - March 2013 (PDF)

"It's so connected to everything — a search to understand how these things happen to people, and how they deal with them in a proactive way." Tim Malcolm's preview of the September 2012 work-in-progress showing of struck - August 31, 2012

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