War and Play: A Clown Odyssey of Survival

Produced by Danielle Levsky, presented by Butch Mermaid Productions

War and Play is an immersive, interactive clown show following three clowns - Vira, Nadiya, and Lubo - through the Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine. It explores human resilience amidst devastation. The story begins in a Ukrainian town, where Vira and Nadiya, two clown partners in love and life, have their world shattered by the sudden onset of war. As they navigate the ruins of their city and displacement from their homeland, they transform detritus into sources of play and imagination. Though they experience profound loss, the clowns find camaraderie with fellow refugees. War and Play utilizes minimal language, audience interaction, physical comedy, music, and shadow puppetry to illuminate the resilience of the human spirit.

Danielle Levsky (she/they - Scribe, Original Deviser, Performer) is a Post-Soviet, Jewish, and queer multi-disciplinary performer, writer, and educator. They have created original clown and physical theater shows with institutions like Diversionary Theater, National Queer Theater, The Conspirators, Silent Theatre Company, and more. She also teaches workshops on clowning, physical theater, and her original creation, The Fool's Yoga. She has trained with teachers from The Clown School, Cirque de Soleil, and more. They are thrilled to be a part of the inaugural New York Physical Festival. criticturnedclown.squarespace.com

SMJ (they/them - Original Deviser, Director) is an NYC-based, mixed-Latiné, and Trans non-binary playwright, educator, & theatermaker originally from Mount Vernon, OH. They are a 2022-2023 Dramatists Guild Foundation Fellow. Currently, SMJ is creating work with Ars Nova, The Road Theatre Company, Latiné Musical Theatre Lab, The Orchard Project, and American Theater Group. Their work has been seen in various forms at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, New York Stage and Film, Lincoln Center, National Queer Theater, and Art House Productions. A graduate of The School for Mime Theater with training from Gregg Goldston, Rick Wamer, Lorie Heald, & Stephen Chipps. www.smjwrites.com

Ania Upstill (they/them - Original Deviser, Performer) is a queer and non binary performer, director, theatre maker, teaching artist and clown. A graduate of the Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre (Professional Training Program), Ania’s recent work celebrates LGBTQIA+ artists with a focus on gender diversity. Ania frequently creates work under their company Butch Mermaid Productions (BMP), most recently premiering a new solo show in drag, The Tea, in Philly Fringe 2023.

Mariko Iwasa (she/her - Performer) is a clown, physical comedian, and actor who hails from Japan and currently resides in New York City. She toured with the renowned Ringling Brothers circus as a clown performer and won Best Supporting Actress at the Syracuse Area Live Theater Awards for her role as Snoopy in the Redhouse production of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" in 2019. Mariko has brought her comedic talents to a diverse array of venues, including orchestras, theater productions, and live music collaborations in both New York and Japan. She currently performs with the Bindlestiff Family Circus and does hospital clowning with Healthy Humor and Clowning. Mariko also co-hosts Characters and hosts the improv game show "BATSU!". She is thrilled to be joining this exciting production! Instagram: @onlythismarikoiwasa717

-----------------------------------

PhysFestNYC is a community-focused festival that celebrates, enriches, and envisions our field of physical theaters. As an annual gathering, provides space for practitioners, audiences, and the physical-theater-curious to share in presented works, diverse workshop offerings, and community-building events.

Broken Box Mime Theater's mission is to activate the imagination of our audiences, contemporize the art of mime, and remind us all of the power of simple storytelling.