Short description

Sarah Greenman's play journeys deep inside the mind and media of Leni Riefenstahl to discover why art can be a dangerous business.

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Last viewed on October 14, 2008, 5:31 am
It was last updated on August 7, 2008, 11:58 am
It was originally posted: 2008-06-12 01:03:08
By Strawberry Theatre Workshop

DESCRIPTION

a new play by Sarah Greenman
with Amy Thone and Alexandra Tavares as Leni Riefenstahl
directed by Rhonda J Soikowski

Sarah Greenman's play journeys deep inside the mind and media of Leni Riefenstahl to discover why art can be a dangerous business.

Riefenstahl's career was shadowed by her history as a documentary maker for Germany's Third Reich in the 1930s. Often called Hitler's propagandist, she disclaimed knowledge of or any responsibility for the Holocaust, saying in 1997 to the New York Times, "I did not know what was going on. I did not know anything about those things."

LENI illuminates the question of artists responsibility, delving into personal struggles Riefenstahl undoubtedly faced as she continued to insist to her last interview that art and politics are separate and that what she did was in the world of art.


July 11 - July 26
Erickson Theatre Off Broadway, 1524 Harvard Ave (Capitol Hill)

July 31 - August 9
Broadway Performance Hall, 1625 Broadway Ave (Capitol Hill)

"To call Leni Riefenstahls Triumph of the Will and Olympiad masterpieces is not to gloss over Nazi propaganda with aesthetic lenience. Because they project the complex movements of intelligence and grace and sensuousness, these two films of Riefenstahl transcend the categories of propaganda, or even reportage."
-Susan Sontag, in Fascinating Fascism

"Where is my guilt? I can regret. I can regret that I made the party film,Triumph of the Will in 1934. But I cannot regret that I lived in that time. No anti-Semitic word has ever crossed my lips. I was never anti-Semitic. I did not join the party. So where then is my guilt? You tell me. I have thrown no atomic bombs. I have never betrayed anyone. What am I guilty of?"
-Leni Riefenstahl, in The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl

REVIEWS & PREVIEWS

User-Submitted Reviews

Seattle Weekly Review by Kevin Phinney Wednesday, July 23, 2008 Imagine a play so well conceived, staged, and performed, you\'d ask to see it again as soon as the curtain call ends... (read article) Broadway2Seattle.com Review by Chris Comte Wednesday, July 23, 2008 \"an impressive debut by a promising young playwright\" \"Director Rhonda J. Soikowski shows a winning pair of aces with Thone and Tavares.\" (read article) Seattle PI Review by Gianni Truzzi Friday, July 25, 2008 A rich look at Leni Riefenstahl\'s \'truth\' (read article) Seattle Times Review by Misha Berson Tuesday, July 22, 2008 Cogently presented by Strawberry Theatre Workshop as directed by Rhonda J. Soikowski, \"Leni\" cleverly uses postmodern theatrical means to ponder ... (read article) Seattlest.com Review by Michael van Baker Wednesday, July 16, 2008 \"Sarah Greenman\'s play almost brilliantly finds the conflict in Leni and gets it to come alive on stage...\" (read article) The Stranger Review by Brendan Kiley Wednesday, July 16, 2008 Together, Thone and Tavares are a Janus-faced marvel—their acting crisp and muscular, their relationship charged and wary... (read article) Seattle Weekly Preview by John Longenbaugh Thursday, July 10, 2008 (read article) Seattle Times Preview by Misha Berson Tuesday, July 22, 2008 How do you solve a problem like Leni Riefenstahl? (read article) Seattle PI Preview by Gianni Truzzi Tuesday, July 22, 2008 The contradictions in the long life of Leni Riefenstahl, known best as Hitler\'s filmmaker, can provoke plenty of arguments. (read article)

average rating: - from 1 reviewer Read complete reviews Write a review The Straw-shop has done it again! Mixing social relevance with top-notch entertainment, this production follows and expands their previous work. The ... -Susan Connors August 7, 2008, 11:58 am

COMPLETE SCHEDULE

  Thursday, July 10, 2008 from 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm   -  
      Venue: Erickson Theatre Off Broadway
     1534 Harvard Ave, Capitol Hill

      ------
  Friday, July 11, 2008 from 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm
  Saturday, July 12, 2008 from 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm
  Thursday, July 17, 2008 from 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm   -  
  Friday, July 18, 2008 from 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm
  Saturday, July 19, 2008 from 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm
  Thursday, July 24, 2008 from 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm   -  
  Friday, July 25, 2008 from 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm
  Saturday, July 26, 2008 from 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm
  Thursday, July 31, 2008 from 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm   -  
      Venue: Broadway Performance Hall
     1625 Broadway Ave, Capitol Hill

      ------
  Friday, August 1, 2008 from 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm
      Venue: Broadway Performance Hall
     1625 Broadway Ave, Capitol Hill

      ------
  Saturday, August 2, 2008 from 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm
      Venue: Broadway Performance Hall
     1625 Broadway Ave, Capitol Hill

      ------
  Thursday, August 7, 2008 from 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm   -  
      Venue: Broadway Performance Hall
     1625 Broadway Ave, Capitol Hill

      ------
  Friday, August 8, 2008 from 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm
      Venue: Broadway Performance Hall
     1625 Broadway Ave, Capitol Hill

      ------
  Saturday, August 9, 2008 from 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm

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