Gustavus Black Box to Present ctrl

ctrl: the key in the lower corners of modern keyboards to be used as a “control” key, to give commands or, in conjunction with other keys, to execute complex commands and increase the power of the keyboard. With it the operator can be more or less “in control.”

On February 27 – March 1, four Gustavus seniors – Annie Galloway, Nikki Rome, Malia Yang and Autumn Ike – will present ctrl, their devised theatre production, in Anderson Theatre’s Black Box. Performances will begin at 8:00 p.m. on February 27 and 28 and 2:00 p.m. on March 1. A preview performance will be open to the public at 8:00 p.m. on February 26. Tickets are available online at gustavustickets.com or by calling 507-933-7590.

ctrl‘s primary theme is that of mental illness; those who have it, how it is viewed in our culture, how it is largely misunderstood by our society. Much of the imagery is as abstract for the viewer as it is with one who is challenged by the disease. As Nikki Rome noted, in this production of ctrl, “we are asking you to come and see what you can’t see.”

Unlike an improvised piece, ctrl is a “devised” theatre performance. Starting with the theme of mental illness, its creators worked over several months to construct the story line, write the script, work and rework many of the concepts. It is a highly collaborative process and a challenge to bring the insights of the four writers together into one cohesive production. ctrl was originally scheduled to be part of the Anderson Theatre’s fall Theatre Gallery but was rescheduled due to an injury to one of the original creators. During January Term, the team started again to create what will be presented in the Black Box this week.

Tickets for ctrl are on sale at the Gustavus Ticket Center and are available online at gustavustickets.com. Tickets remaining unclaimed on the day of the performance will go on sale one hour prior to showtime at the entrance to the Black Box on lower level of the Department of Theatre & Dance. Performances begin at 8:00 p.m. on February 27 and 28, and at 2:00 p.m. on March 1.