The Satori Group Explained

The Satori Group
Location:	Seattle, Washington
Type:	Theatre
Opened:	2006
Website:	http://www.satori-group.com

The Satori Group is a Seattle-based theatre ensemble that unites innovative multi-media, dynamic physical styles, and contemporary content in live performance.^{[1] [2]}

History

The Satori Group was founded in 2006 in Cincinnati, Ohio, by eleven graduating students of two colleges, the University of Cincinnati – College-Conservatory of Music and Williams College. Their initial production was the original piece iLove:, which premiered at the 2007 Cincinnati Fringe Festival. iLove: earned the Cincinnati Producer’s Pick of the Fringe and was nominated for the Cincinnati Entertainment Award for Best Alternative Production.^{[3] [4] [5]}

Since then, the group has created three original works and presented a wide array of productions. They presented Hello Again at The Hustler Soundstage,^[6] and the Regional Premiere productions of The Investigation of the Murder in El Salvador^{[1] [7]} and Never Swim Alone^{[1] [8]} at The Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center. Their original work (rsvp) premiered at the 2008 Cincinnati Fringe Festival, earning Cincinnati CityBeat’s Critic’s Pick.^[9]

In Spring 2008, The Satori Group relocated to Seattle, Washington.^[1] In August 2008 Satori hosted the creators of the Frank Suzuki Aesthetic, John Nobbs and Jacqui Carroll.^[10] In March 2009 Satori made its Seattle debut with Will Eno's TRAGEDY: a tragedy.^{[2] [11]}

On August 12, 2009, the group announced their 2009-2010 season, Choose, Witness, Live, which included Artifacts of Consequence, Winky and The Making of a Monster at the Northwest New Works Festival at On The Boards. On January 29th and 30th, 2010, Satori hosted a special presentation of UNDINE by Hand2Mouth Theatre followed by a panel discussion on "New Work in the Pacific Northwest" hosted by Brendan Kiley (The Stranger). Winky received the Seattle Times Footlight Award for Avant-garde Afterglow.

In 2011 Satori presented Fabulous Prizes by Neil Ferron, who was nominated for the Gregory Award for Outstanding Playwright.

The Company

• Artistic Director - Caitlin Sullivan
• Managing Director - Doreen Sayegh
• Programs Manager - Adam Standley
• Company Manager - Lauren Hester
• Members - Adam Standley, Lauren Hester, Caitlin Sullivan, Quinn Franzen, Spike Friedman, Clare Strasser, Kate Sumpter, Greta Wilson, Alex Matthews, Greta Wilson, LoraBeth Barr, Liza Curtiss
• Associate Members - Lindsey Valitchka, Carol Thompson, Antoniette Bianco, John Leith, Montana Tippet, Nathan Sorseth, Martyna Majok, Kristyne A. Hughes, Monty Taylor, Neil Ferron
• Founding Members - Adrienne Clark, Anthony Darnell, Andrew Lazarow

Performance history

2007:

• The Investigation of the Murder in El Salvador^{[1] [7]} by Charles L. Mee. Directed by Anthony Darnell and Caitlin Sullivan. (Regional Premiere)
• Never Swim Alone by Daniel McIver. Directed by Andrew Lazarow.^[8] (Regional Premiere)
• Hello Again by Michael John LaChiusa. Directed by Andrew Lazarow.^[6]
• iLove: created by The Satori Group. Premiered at the 2007 Cincinnati Fringe Festival. iLove: earned the Cincinnati Fringe Festival's Producer’s Pick of the Fringe and was nominated for the Cincinnati Entertainment Award (CEA) for Best Alternative Production.^{[3] [4] [5]} (World Premiere)

2008:

• (rsvp) written by Anthony Darnell. Directed by Andrew Lazarow. Premiered at the 2008 Cincinnati Fringe Festival and received Cincinnati CityBeat's Critic's Pick.^[9] (World Premiere)

2009:

• TRAGEDY: a tragedy by Will Eno. Directed by Adam Standley and Caitlin Sullivan.^{[2] [11]} (Regional Premiere)

2009-2010: Choose, Witness, Live

• Artifacts of Consequence by Ashlin Halfnight. Directed by Andrew Lazarow. (Regional Premiere)
• Winky by George Saunders. Adapted with The Satori Group by Spike Friedman. Directed by Caitlin Sullivan. (World Premiere)
• The Making of a Monster at the Northwest New Works Festival at On The Boards. Directed by Adam Standley. (World Premiere) Seattle Times Footlight Award for Avant-garde Afterglow.
• Special Presentation of UNDINE by Hand2Mouth Theatre and New Work in the Pacific Northwest panel discussion hosted by Brendan Kiley (The Stranger).

2011:

• Fabulous Prizes by Neil Ferron. Directed by Caitlin Sullivan. (World Premiere). Nominated for The Gregory Award for Outstanding Playwright.

2014:

• Returning to Albert Joseph by Spike Friedman. Directed by Alex Matthews and Caitlin Sullivan. (World Premiere).

Awards and honors

• 2005  - nominee: CEA for Best Supporting Actor - Anthony Darnell^[12]
• 2006  - nominee: CEA for Actor in a Leading Role - Adam Standley^[13]
• 2006  - nominee: CEA for Alternative Production (Critical Achievement)^[13] - Andrew Lazarow
• 2006  - Acclaim Award for Excellence in Media Design - Andrew Lazarow
• 2007  - nominee: CEA for Best Alternative Production - iLove: ^[3]
• 2007  - Producer’s Pick of the Cincinnati Fringe - iLove: ^{[4] [5]}
• 2007  - Cincinnati Enquirer Acclaim Award (Rising Star) - Anthony Darnell^[14]
• 2008  - Theatre Artist Project (TAP) Grant - Anthony Darnell
• 2008  - Cincinnati CityBeat Critic’s Pick - (rsvp) ^[9]
• 2009  - Seattle Times Footlight Award for Best of Fringe - TRAGEDY: a tragedy^[15]
• 2009  - runner-up: Seattle Times Footlight Award for Friskiest Fringe in Seattle^[15]
• 2009  - Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs smART Ventures Award
• 2010  - Seattle Times Footlight Award for Avant-garde Afterglow - Winky^[16]
• 2011  - nominee: Gregory Award for Outstanding Playwright - Neil Ferron, Fabulous Prizes
• 2014  - nominee: The Stranger Genius Award Nomination for Performance.^[17]

References

Notes

Notes and References

1. Web site: Pender . Rick . Young Talent Going, Staying . Citybeat.com . 2008-01-09 . 2009-05-06.
2. News: Berson . Misha . The Arts | Theater review | The end of the world — on the nightly newscast | Seattle Times Newspaper . Seattletimes.nwsource.com . 2009-04-02 . 2009-05-06.
3. Web site: Cea - Cincinnati Entertainment Awards . Cea.citybeat.com . 2009-05-06.
4. Web site: CityBeat Fringe Festival Coverage . Blogs.citybeat.com . 2009-05-06.
5. Web site: Pick of the Fringe . The Conveyor . 2007-06-10 . 2009-05-06.
6. Web site: The Buzz: Theatre in Cincinnati: August 2007 . Cinstages.com . 2009-05-06.
7. Web site: Pender . Rick . The Musical of Musicals: The Musical! . Citybeat.com . 2007-11-11 . 2009-05-06.
8. Web site: McElfresh . Tom . Onstage: Review: Never Swim Alone . Citybeat.com . 2007-10-24 . 2009-05-06.
9. Web site: CityBeat Fringe Coverage 2008: Review: RSVP . Blogs.citybeat.com . 2008-05-29 . 2009-05-06.
10. Web site: Frank Theatre . ozfrank . 2009-05-06.
11. Web site: MvB . Get Out Today: Tragedy, a tragedy @ the Little Theatre - Seattlest: Seattle News, Food, Arts & Events . Seattlest . 2009-04-05 . 2009-05-06.
12. Web site: CEA 2005 - Theater . Cea.citybeat.com . 2009-05-06.
13. Web site: CEA 2006 - Theater . Cea.citybeat.com . 2009-05-06.
14. Web site: Cincinnati Acclaim Rising Star Awards . Cinstages.com . 2008-11-05 . 2009-05-06.
15. News: Drum roll! The Footlight Awards for excellence in local theater . The Seattle Times . Misha . Berson . 2009-12-19.
16. News: Best of 2010 in Seattle-area theater: the Footlight Awards . The Seattle Times . Misha . Berson . 2011-01-01.
17. http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/welcome-to-aandp/Content?oid=19817296 "Meet the 2014 Stranger Genius Award Nominees"