About Local Infinities

Mission

Local Infinities Visual Theater, is a Not-for-Profit, Chicago based theater company dedicated to creating original performance work that fuses the innovation & daring of performance art with the narrative thrust of traditional theatrical forms. Our desire is to speak in visual metaphor across barriers of language and culture, to explore social & gender dynamics, to redefine worn archetype, to communicate with our audience the joy of discovery and to share the laughter of understanding. Hallmark of Local Infinities’ work is an intense exploration of an elemental material such as wax or water or earth or salt. Our modus operandi is the transformation of this inert material into human metaphor. Waxing and Waning, Still Water that Runs Deep, Mother Earth, the Salt of Life: Local Infinities puts all of this on stage. Really.

Local Infinities believes in a process of investigation and invention that is highly collaborative, involving performer, designer, writer and director alike in the creation of the whole performance. As a producing organization we understand that a long and dedicated process of discovery yields work of true depth. To that end, we initiate our projects as short theatrical investigations, which ultimately evolve into polished, transportable and remountable productions.

History

Currently, Local Infinities is touring Corpus Delicti: Just Desserts to anatomical and operating theaters around the country. Our dream is to perform Corpus Delicit at the Waag in Amsterdam and take Dr. Tulp back to the original anatomical theater where Rembrandt immortalized him in the famous painting “The anatomy lesson of Dr. Tulp”.

Recent productions include: Infinitesimals: A Brief Look at the Immeasurable, a month-long festival of visual theater at Links Hall (2005); Mother Earth (2004), Lot’s Wife at the PAC/Edge Festival (2004), and Wax & Wayne which enjoyed sold out runs at the Chicago’s National Pastimes Theater (2002-03), the PAC/Edge Festival (2003), the New York International Festival (2003), and Netherland’s Oerol Festival (2002).

Local Infinities has toured nationally and internationally, representing the United States at Kiev Travnevy Theater Festival of Ukraine (2001), premiering new work at the Netherlands’ Oerol Festival (2002), and gaining recognition at the New York International Fringe Festival (2003) with an Excellence Award for “Unique Theatrical Experience.”

In the company’s 9 years, Local Infinities has collaborated with over 50 artists and always seeks to connect collaborators of diverse media and skill sets. Dedicated to cultural exchange, Local Infinities has been host to many visiting international artists. We are consciously engaged in fostering friendships and conversations that cross cultural boundaries. Part of our mission as a company is to carry the flag of Chicago’s extraordinary performance community wherever we go, connecting artists and people and ideas.

Local Infinities was co-founded in 1996 by Meghan Strell and Charlie Levin, out of a desire to create a dialogue between the visual and theatrical arts. Local Infinities incorporated as a non-profit in 2001. Currently, Meghan Strell is the Artistic Director; Larry Underwood is the Form Giver for Corpus Delicti; John Musial is the Executive Director and Sarah Best is the Marketing Director. Tom Carr, Christine Mary Dunford, Tony Macaluso, John Musial and Meghan Strell serve on the Board of Directors.

Images and information about past productions can be found on our website, www.localinfinites.com.

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