Animal Engine makes old stories new.

We create plays, videos, and experiences that reimagine works of literature.

Up Next: HENRIETTA SOLWAY

A world premiere play, commissioned by the National Willa Cather Center, inspired by the short fiction and serialized novels of Willa Cather.

animalengine

This week we're in Nebraska visiting family, and a

This week we're in Nebraska visiting family, and after the premiere of HENRIETTA SOLWAY at the @frigidnewyork Kraine Theater and the @willacatherfdn Spring Conference, we decided to take a little time to commune with the author who has inspired both this play and PETUNIA AND CHICKEN.

We walked the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus looking for a very specific rock and a very specific tree. Pictured above is our attempt at recreating this iconic photo of a young Willa Cather (though the rock and tree are now in separate locations). She's got her whole life ahead of her and so many beautiful stories to write.

#willacather

Really grateful to @internet.profile for their bea

Taking a moment while the rain pours down outside

Taking a moment while the rain pours down outside to be really grateful for the support of @chashama who helped us trade out our living rooms for a proper rehearsal space. This office space was our artistic home for a month, and HENRIETTA SOLWAY is so much better for it.

What does rehearsal during a pandemic look like? S

What does rehearsal during a pandemic look like? Sometimes it looks like working with your amazing director Melinda Jean Ferraraccio over Zoom.

Henrietta Solway
May 29, 7pm at @frigidnewyork
Ticket link in bio

#willacather
#devisedtheatre

Karim had a really wonderful time being in convers

Karim had a really wonderful time being in conversation with Willa Cather scholar Dr. Chuck Johanningsmeier as part of the National Willa Cather Center's Author Series. Karim spoke on how Animal Engine is creating HENRIETTA SOLWAY -their new play inspired by Willa Cather's short stories and serialized novels, and learned a lot from Chuck about Cather's relationship to the magazine industry.

@willacatherfdn
#willacather
#devisedtheatre

Before the pandemic, we received a commission for

Before the pandemic, we received a commission for a new play from the @willacatherfdn National Willa Cather Center. On May 29th at 7pm at the Kraine Theatre in front of a live audience, HENRIETTA SOLWAY premieres.

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Animal Engine Theatre Company presents a world-premiere play that mashes up short fiction and serialized novels of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Willa Cather into one epic story. The year is 1901. When a tomboy growing up in a small Midwestern town is befriended by a glamorous opera singer with tales of art and culture in the big city, her restless passion is given purpose and the direction of her life is forever changed. Performed by just three actors in Animal Engine’s signature physical style: using only their bodies, a few simple props, and song.

Created and performed by Carrie Brown, Katie Hartman @katiehartmankatiehartman Karim Muasher

7 years ago we premiered PETUNIA AND CHICKEN at th

7 years ago we premiered PETUNIA AND CHICKEN at the Cincinnati Fringe Festival. Since then, we've toured the show to countless festivals and schools across North America. It has grown and changed and stayed with us through good times and bad, this little love story about a Nebraska farm boy and a Czech immigrant girl, based on the works of Willa Cather, whose writings we adore and return to over and over again. Last year we added live music composed and performed by the unbelievably talented Natalia Steinbach (@_waterlynx) and all of a sudden this old show became new again. A video of the show (w/music) is streaming May 29-June 13 as part of the Cincinnati Fringe Festival: Digital Edition. We're happy to share this love story with Cincinnati, and all of you, once again.

Tickets at cincyfringe.com "Where there is great love, there are always miracles." -Willa Cather

#cincyfringe #willacather

Our congratulations to @nickryannow of Brooklyn-ba

Our congratulations to @nickryannow of Brooklyn-based duo @thecoldharts for writing and directing a new adaptation of Voltaire's classic novel CANDIDE with theatre company @breadartscollective with original music by @birdy_kitty the other half of @thecoldharts !

We had a great time catching the production at @thecloudcity one of our favorite venues. It was funny, thoughtful, and absurd - in other words, a great night at the theatre.