Strindberg in the U.S. 2012

August Strindberg (1849-1912), no doubt the greatest author in Swedish history died 100 years ago this year. A list of so far planned events and programs in America. 

  • August Strindberg (1849-1912) was an accomplished playwright, poet, novelist, and painter. None of these areas are deemed “profitable” by Svenskt Näringsliv, who proposes lowering the student aid for students who wish to study humanities and the arts. Above: A self-portrait by Strindberg.
  • Last weekend, the Modern Language Association convention in Seattle presented two Strindberg panels. (www.mla.org/convention)

  • August Strindberg (1849-1912), one of the greatest, if not the greatest, Swedish authors ever. Will he be celebrated properly in 2012?
  • January 29: The Cutting Ball Theater in San Francisco begins the 2012 celebration of Strindberg’s centennial with two plays that encapsulate Strindberg’s two major contributions to drama: realism and expressionism. “Two Radical Visions of Theater” features “Miss Julie” and “A Dream Play,” which start at 3 p.m. with a Swedish dinner between the shows.
    www.cuttingball.com/hidden-classics

  • August Strindberg (1849-1912), no doubt the greatest author in Swedish history, here with three of his children: Karin, Greta and Hans. Next year marks the 100th anniversary of Strindberg’s death.
  • February 21, 25 and 26: “The Stronger” and other shorts by August Strindberg presented by the Phoenix Theater Ensemble continues a series of plays by Strindberg that began in 2011. In addition to this series, the Phoenix Theater Ensemble has a special offer for members of any Strindberg-related societies (for example, TASSLA). To receive $10 OFF the reserved ticket price (regularly $25) you may order using the code STRINDISCOUNT when purchasing through the website www.phoenixtheatreensemble.org or by calling (212) 352-3101.
    www.phoenixtheatreensemble.org

  • August Strindberg (1849-1912)
  • March 2-3: Harvard University’s Department of Scandinavian Languages will host a two-day public Strindberg Symposium in Cambridge, MA, organized by Ursula Lindqvist and Steve Mitchell. The event will feature scholar, theater practitioners and students, and will include a performance and reading of Strindberg works.
    http://scholar.harvard.edu/lindqvist/announcements/strindberg-symposium-spring-2012

  • March 23: “2012 Symposium Commemorating August Strindberg: Author, Visual Artist, and Playwright” will be presented at Rochester Institute of Technology from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The symposium will feature invited talks with respondents, additional short talks, a moderated panel discussion, a staged reading of "Playing With Fire," and a book exhibit. This event is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by the Swedish Institute and co-sponsored by RIT’s College of Liberal Arts and College of Imaging Arts and Sciences. Please contact Dr. Cecilia Ovesdotter Alm with questions about the symposium. Email: coagla@rit.edu, phone: (585) 475-7327.

  • April 8: “Easter” by August Strindberg at Cutting Ball Theater in San Francisco, 1 p.m.
    www.cuttingball.com/hidden-classics

  • May 1, 5 and 6: “The Dance of Death” by the Phoenix Theater Ensemble.
    www.phoenixtheatreensemble.org

  • May 3-5: The Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Studies’ annual meeting at Salt Lake City, UT, will stream “Strindberg and Radicalism–Strindberg and the Avant-garde,” organized by Anna Stenport and Eszter Szalczer. (CFP posted in SASS News and Notes.)
    www.scandinavianstudy.org/site/

  • May 6: “The Stronger," "Pariah” and “Simoon” by August Strindberg at Cutting Ball Theater in San Francisco, 1 p.m.
    www.cuttingball.com/hidden-classics

  • May 18–June 5, New York: The August Strindberg Repertory Theatre and the Negro Ensemble Company (executive director Leslie Lee) will present a co-production of “Playing With Fire” in a translation by Ulrika Brand, directed by Robert Greer. Performances will be at the New School for Drama, 151 Bank Street, in the West Village. 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sunday matinees (no performances Saturday and Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, May 26-27).
    www.strindberg.org/home
    www.necinc.org/

  • May 20: “The Keys to Heaven” by August Strindberg at the Cutting Ball Theater in San Francisco, 1 p.m.
    www.cuttingball.com/hidden-classics

  • August 27: The Railroad Playhouse in Newburgh, New York presents a staged reading of “Mr. Bengt’s Wife” in a new translation by Laurence Carr and Malin Tybahl.
    www.rrplayhouse.org

  • October 12-14: ASTRA, the Association of Swedish Teachers and Researchers in America, is planning a “Strindberg on Stage” one-day symposium at UC-Berkeley in conjunction with the ASTRA meeting. Björn Meidal will be the keynote speaker. The Cutting Ball Theatre will present a preview of “The Ghost Sonata” on Oct 12.
    www.astra.us/index.html

  • October 25–November 4: “A Dream Play” by August Strindberg will be directed by Chicago director Max Truax, produced in collaboration with the University of Illinois Department of Theatre, and performed at the Studio Theatre in the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Urbana, Illinois.
    www.krannertcenter.com