RACHEL ROSENTHAL BACKGROUND Experimental Performance Artist and Director
RACHEL ROSENTHAL
BACKGROUND Experimental Performance Artist and Director. Of Russian/Jewish descent. Born in Paris, then due WWII, moved to Portugal, then Rio de Janeiro, then New York, then Los Angeles. Inspired by Artaud’s Theatre and its Double. “She was an animal rights activist, a vegetarian, and companion to an outstanding theater dog, Fanny. ” (Rachel Rosenthal Company) Presented over 35 full scale pieces. Works include: Charm (1977), The Death Show (1978), Rachel’s Brain (1987).
EARLY CAREER INSTANT THEATRE A Theatre group operating from 1956 to 1966, inspired by the aesthetics of Artaud and John Cage. “Why? Because first of all it was instant, like the new coffee, and created in the moment. It was very Zen. It was very much inspired by John Cage and Merce and the other people I knew. It was so different and unexpected that it attracted artists in the audience. ” (KCET)
IMAGE “Leave her in Naxos revealed intimate details of Rosenthal’s love life in interview form and, close to the end of the piece, a performer shaved off all of Rosenthal’s hair. This action was an offering of ‘her femininity, her beautiful red hair, in a ritual of dying to allow for rebirth. ’”
TOHUBOHU! “The name, loosely translated, means “collision or chaos” which Rosenthal describes as not what the Company does, but the process they go through to do what they do. Each monthly performance will span three nights during one weekend. ” (Press Release)
HER WORK
http: //www. jstor. org/stable/1145878 https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=4 Kdle. N 0 vt. UQ http: //www. kcet. org/socal/departures/landofsunshine/arrivalstories/arrival-story-rachel-rosenthal. html http: //www. rachelrosenthal. org/staff/ http: //dangerousminds. net/comments/rachel_rosenthals_tohubohu_extr eme_theater_ensemble_premieres_in_los_a SOURCES
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