Performance Space 122

"One of the most exciting and eccentric young theater companies in town."
-The New York Times

"The National Theater of the United States of America left me stunned and breathless and completely in awe."
-Malcolm Gladwell (author)

"...an underground theatrical coup...a triumph of style and stagecraft."
-Time Out New York

Winners of the 2007 Spalding Gray award honoring innovative theatrical vision, the National Theater of the United States of America explore the hotly debated relationship between High Culture and the Mass Mind. Channeling the form and style of the original Chautauqua Lectures through their own inimitable aesthetic and theatrical rhythm, NTUSA combines lecture, debate, scientific demonstration and tales of explorers with more traditional forms of entertainment such as dance, dramatic recital, feats of strength, and joke telling. The company examines their own role as "entertainers" as well as "artists" and question whether or not the convergence of art and commerce is possible, sustainable, or even good for either party.

Firmly establishing themselves in the New York theatre scene in 2000 with their launch of 'Garvey and Superpant$: Episode #23, the NTUSA made their Performance Space 122 debut in 2006 with the premiere of Abacus Black Strikes Now: The Rampant Justic of Abacus Black and won a Village Voice OBIE for the production. The NTUSA was awarded Arts International's DNA Project Grant in 2002 and remounted Episode #23 at the ESB - Dublin Fringe Festival. The NTUSA also offered a one night only special presentation of Jack Russell's Superconfidence Seminar! at Galapagos in Brooklyn.

Special Nightly Guests (2009 Run):

• Fri 2/27/09: Robert Zukerman, Sat 2/28/09 Rollo Romig, Sun 3/1/09: Samantha Hunt
  
• Wed, 3/4/09 The Spalding Gray Award with Vallejo Gantner and Kathleen Russo: This evening's ticket includes post-performance celebrations and libations
• Thu, 3/5/09 Robert Zukerman, Fri 3/6/09 Rollo Romig (+ Claudia La Rocco's performance club will be in the house); Sat 3/7/09: Greta Byrum
• Sun 3/8/09 the NTUSA benefit; Wed, 3/11/09: Zoe Rosenfeld; Thurs 3/12/09 Greta Byrum; Fri, 3/13/09: Samantha Hunt; Sat 3/14/09: Juliana Francis Kelly
• Sun 3/15/09: THE SECRET GUEST

Sunday, March 8 2009: Benefit performance + party for NTUSA. Tickets are available for this date exclusively through the company via this link

Presented as part of COIL 2010
In association with Under the Radar

Thu, Jan 7 9:30pm
Sat, Jan 9 7pm
Tues, Jan 12 9:30pm
Thu, Jan 14 9:30pm
Fri, Jan 15 9:30pm
Sat, Jan 16 9:30pm
Sun, Jan 17 3pm

*Offsite - Tickets available through The Public Theater as part of the Under The Radar Festival

CHAUTAUQUA was originally presented by PS122 as part of the ROOM project Feb 21-Mar 15, 2009