Concept by Ivan Talijančić
Co-Created by Ivan Talijančić + Rachel Jendrzejewski
in collaboration with WaxFactory (NYC)

Principal Investigators: Lisa Channer, Theodor Gabriel, Alana Horton, Erika Latta, Peter Morrow, Sara Ann Richardson

Traces is an immersive play inspired by French artist Sophie Calle, who often engages in controversial, “famously first-person” feats, such as impersonating fictional characters in real-life situations. In this experimental work, audiences will receive audio devices and be prompted to follow a performer through real public locations, recording and uploading their actions to a website where they can peruse and compare notes with the journeys of others.

From Playwright Rachel Jendrzejewski: “Most of Calle's work is both whimsical and dead serious: following strangers in order to observe them; rehearsing her own funeral. As the pandemic rages, people are dealing with so much grief and isolation, yet also rampant misinformation and distrust. I’m looking forward to digging into how “Traces” might invite audiences into a playful, COVID-safe experience while very much reckoning with this formidable climate.”

Part of the Ruth Easton New Play Series and the In The Lab Series

In Partnership with the Network of Ensemble Theatres

View the playbill

Work-in-Progress Images

Photo Credit: Maria Baranova

The Funders of the Ruth Easton New Play Series

Actress Ruth Easton (nee Edelstein) was born in North Branch, Minnesota and graduated from North Branch High School. She attended the University of Minnesota for one year and the following year attended Macalester College before finishing her collegiate career at Cumnock School in Los Angeles. She went on to New York where she studied acting with Oliver Morosco. Mr. Morosco opened a stock theater company in upstate New York where Ms. Easton starred in several plays. After performing with other stock theater companies she returned to New York City where she appeared in five Broadway plays over a period of seven years. They included Exceedingly Small, Privilege Car, Town Bay, Buckaroo and Charlie Chan. Exceedingly Small was directed by Ethel Barrymore and Easton played opposite Eric Dressler. New York critics praised her performance as “thoroughly touching” and “highly spirited and excellent.” She starred in radio dramas on the Rudy Vallee Hour and the Fleischmann’s Yeast Hour opposite such actors as Walter Huston, Judith Anderson and Lionel Barrymore. She also appeared with Clark Gable, Eddie Cantor and Al Jolson during the course of her career. Ms. Easton’s legacy, her commitment to theater and the development of new works continues through the charitable gifts made by the Ruth Easton Fund of the Edelstein Family Foundation.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.