Mission

The Internationalists is a collective of directors from around the world whose mission is to create a more open, sustainable and interactive global theatrical community. We foster creative diplomacy in order to build bridges between artists and audiences of all nations. By developing a global network of artists, we promote the creation of contemporary performance with an emphasis on cross-cultural exchange and collaboration.

History

June 2007 The Internationalists is founded after meeting and taking part in the Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab – “a developmental program for nurturing stage directors from around the country and around the world.”
November 2007 The Complete Truth about the Life and Death of Kurt Cobain by Peca Stefan (Romania)

A reading directed by Pia Furtado (London) at The Actors Company Theater Studio in New York

December 2007 The Complete Truth about the Life and Death of Kurt Cobain by Peca Stefan (Romania)

A reading directed by Jeremy Lydic (USA) at Tete-a-Tete Café in London

Callconnectcollect – a simultaneous performance in Brooklyn and Munich

Directed by Esther Neff (USA) and Dina Keller (Germany)

The Internationalists hosts ‘New Year’s Eve: Embrace Your Sins’ at The Spoon Theatre.

January 2008 The Internationalists presents a workshop performance of The Seven Deadly Sins at the Public Theater in New York.

Marymount Manhattan College hosts a symposium of The Internationalists in a conversation about the nature of cross-cultural theatre and the development of work beyond borders.

March 2008 The Internationalists hosts the New York celebration of World Theatre Day at the Zipper Theatre.
May 2008 Pia Furtado (UK) hosts two training workshops, ‘Shaking Up Shakespeare: The Actor and The Audience’ and ‘Creating Character: A Short in One Night’, in New York.
July-October 2008 American members of The Internationalists travel to Ecuador, Germany, India, Romania and the Ukraine to attend conferences, collaborate with other artists, make documentaries, and bolster our mission of fostering creative diplomacy.
November 2008 The Internationalists hosts ‘Around the World in 24 Hours’ – a festival of new plays and projects from across the globe include scripts from Mexico, Iceland, Finland, the Czech Republic, Lebanon, Iraq, Tanzania and Argentina. The live-streamed global event featured broadcasts from Berlin, Bucharest, London, Munich, Osaka and Rio.
December 2008 The Internationalists hosts ‘New Year’s Eve(ry) Hour’ at The Spoon Theatre.
February 2009 The Internationalists hosts ‘Around the World in 24 Minutes’ as part of the NoPassport Conference at the Martin E. Segal Theatre Center in New York.

Dina Keller hosts her ‘eXPLORATORIUM’ workshop at the Brooklyn Arts Exchange in New York.

March 2009 The Internationalists hosts the second annual New York celebration of World Theatre Day at The Irish Rogue.
March-July 2009 Doug Howe travels to Paris to conduct workshops at ipan

Pia Furtado travels to NYC to participate in a SITI company workshop

Tamilla Woodard meets up with Dina Keller in Zurich to exchange ideas on Dina's production

Jeremy Lydic travels to Greece for research on The Odyssey project

Jake Witlen travels to India to participate in a Kathakali workshop and make a documentary with Theater Mitu. Watch the film here.

Esther Neff travels to Spain on a research trip

July 2009 The Internationalists begin their year long residency at Laguardia Performing Arts Center

August 2009

Teatro Punto from Amsterdam visits for a three day workshop on Commedia dell'arte. See the pictures here
September 2009

NOwhere NOWhere performances at LPAC. The Butoh performers are Asian Cultural Council (ACC) grantees, and create a vivid and memorable evening of modern Butoh.

November 2009 The Internationalists present the second Around the World in 24 Hours festival. The event is held LIVE in New York, Berlin, Zurich, London, Jerusalem, Palestine, Istanbul, Cyprus, and Paris. The event was broadcast live on the Internet and had viewers in 61 countries!
February 2010 Company Retreat: Frankfurt, Germany
March 2010

The Internationailsts host their third annual World Theatre Day in New York City and Paris.

New York's event is in collaboration with the NYC World Theatre Day Coalition.

Paris partnership is in collaboration with IPAN.

July 2010

Our year long residency comes to a close at Laguardia Performing Arts Center with a month-long festival based on Homer's Odyssey, entitled "Which Direction Home". Eight Directors from Six Countries arrive in New York for an epic exploration of the Odyssey. Performances take place in rep, including a 10-hour marathon of each individual director's work.

August 2010 Lioba Reckfort (Germany) and Sama Ky Balson (Australia) are invited to become partners of The Internationalists.
November 2010

Around the World -- Berlin.

This year's event is hosted in Berlin with live interactive events between New York and Berlin.
November 2010 Workshop with Ira Seidenstein in New York
January 2011 The Internationalists launch a Global Playwriting Contest
February - June 2011 The Internationalists offices expand with new homes in Berlin and Sydney. The Internationalists are incorporated as an e.V. in Berlin under "per-aspera productions."
June 2011 John Freedman's Dancing, Not Dead chosen as the winner of the 1st Internationalists Globaly Playwrighting Competition
July 2011 The Hotel Project begins in Queretaro, Mexico
August 2011 The first production of Dancing, Not Dead takes place in Berlin, Germany at Ida Nowhere. Directed by Jake Witlen.
August 2011

Michel Melmed (Brazil) production of SEEWATCHLOOK extends due to popular demand! Michel was awarded the FUNARTE PERFORMING ARTS RESIDENCY in New York City, and presents his work at the Highline for audiences' enjoyment!

September 2011 Dancing, Not Dead continues in Bucharest Romania directed by Ana Margineanu
October 2011 Dancing, Not Dead receives its New York City production. Directed by Jeremy Lydic and Doug Howe.
October 2011 Michel Melmed is awarded the FUNARTE PERFORMING ARTS RESIDENCY and presents SeeWatchLook at the Highline in New York City
November 2011 Around the World takes place simultaneously in New York and Berlin and features interactive performances including a Virtual Dinner Party, Make Me Talk or Watch me Drink and Long Distance Affair with actors in 9 different countries
January 2012 The Hotel Project opens in New Jersey and New York City
February 2012 Virtual Dinner Party performs in the 100 Grad Festival, Berlin
March/April 2012 Second Annual Playwright Contest submissions are read. In total, 165 plays from 26 countries submit
May 2012 Playwright Winners announced
June 2012 The Internationalists turn 5 years old!
June 2012 Zaragoza, Spain: The Hummingbirds receives its first public presentation directed by Beatriz Cabur