The Art of Immersive Theater’ series features global experts in the field
MIAMI, Jan 23, 2024 – Miami Dade College’s (MDC) Live Arts Miami and Juggerknot Theatre are collaborating to offer “The Art of Immersive Theater,” an exciting workshop series designed to explore the intricacies of creating immersive experiences. The series, which kicks off Jan. 27, is taking place over three weekends from January through March at the Koubek Center, will feature acclaimed experts providing participants with invaluable insights into the world of immersive storytelling and performance. “The Art of Immersive Theater” is a part of Live Arts Miami LABS, a series of professional development opportunities designed to fuel and celebrate Miami’s artist ecosystem.
“Live Arts Miami is committed to providing ongoing training and educational opportunities for Miami’s creative community of artists,” said Kathryn Garcia, Executive Director of Live Arts Miami. “This workshop series is a vital platform for Miami-based artists to delve into new realms of creativity and to push the boundaries of what is possible in performance.”
Immersive experiences have taken center stage in recent years, captivating audiences with their innovative approach to storytelling and performance. Tanya Bravo, Artistic Director of Juggerknot Theatre, emphasizes the significance of this boundary-breaking field.
“Immersive theater breaks down the barriers between the audience and the performance, creating an unforgettable journey for participants,” Bravo said. This workshop series is an opportunity for artists to explore the potential of immersive storytelling and redefine the way we engage with audiences.”
The series kicks off Jan. 27 – 28, 2024 with a workshop titled Creating Immersive & Specific Theater led by Ana Margineanu, an acclaimed immersive theater director known for her work on Miami Motel Stories North Beach and The Blues Opera. Ana co-founded PopUP Theatrics, creating immersive experiences worldwide. Margineanu will guide participants through the elements of immersive gatherings and the art of creating site-specific theater, emphasizing the importance of observing, listening and engaging with unconventional environments and their communities.
Next, on Feb. 10 – 11, Jennine Willett, Bessie-award winning multidisciplinary artist and founding partner of New York City’s famed Third Rail Projects, leads a Crafting Immersive Experiences workshop. Known for immersive hits Then She Fell and The Grand Paradise, Willett’s latest creation, Port of Entry, is dazzling Chicago audiences. Willett, who specializes in re-envisioning how audiences engage with contemporary performance, will cover various aspects of immersive theater, including the creative process for devising site-specific performances, perspectives on immersive theater formats, and methods for generating, organizing and developing content.
The series concludes Mar. 16 – 17 with Shaping the Audience Experience led by Octavio Campos, a multifaceted creative instigator and longtime Miami theater maker. Mr. Campos will lead a dynamic workshop focusing on the immersive theater’s unique ability to manipulate time,
space and energy to engage the audience as co-conspirators in the experience. Participants will explore breaking free from conventional audience herding and empowering composition, fostering genuine agency in the immersive narrative.
For more information and to register, please visit: https://liveartsmiami.org/events/labs-the-art- of-immersive-theater/
ABOUT JUGGERKNOT THEATRE COMPANY
Juggerknot Theatre Company is a Miami-based theatrical producer dedicated to pushing the boundaries and expectations of its audiences. Through immersive and site-specific works in and about Miami’s culturally diverse communities, they strive to create thought-provoking and empathetic experiences that connect audiences with the city’s past and present.
Embracing a nomadic nature, Juggerknot brings site-specific immersive works to various South Florida communities, utilizing hotels, motels and virtual worlds as their stages. Juggerknot Theatre Company envisions a world where South Florida communities can see and understand each other through the power of immersive theatre. Visit www.juggerknottheatrecompany.com/ for more info.
ABOUT LIVE ARTS MIAMI
Live Arts Miami is one of the city’s oldest and boldest performing arts series: an action-driven, people-centered platform for powerful performances, impactful community programs, and learning experiences that spark dialogue, raise awareness around pressing issues, and open minds and hearts in all who take part. Created in 1990 as Cultura del Lobo, Live Arts Miami is proud to be a part of Miami Dade College’s celebrated Department of Cultural Affairs. For more information, please visit www.liveartsmiami.org and follow @liveartsmiami on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
The programs of Live Arts Miami are funded by the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council; the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture; the Miami Beach Cultural Affairs Council; and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Live Arts Miami is a National Performance Network (NPN) partner. Major NPN contributors include the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Ford Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Media Inquiries + Interviews, please contact: Eddy Davis, edavis7@mdc.edu