The Wonderful World of Dissocia
Jun 4 - 28, 2014
by Anthony Neilson
Directed by Colin Hovde and Nathaniel Mendez
Lisa Jones has been feeling a bit off. One hour off, in fact; the hour she lost when her flight to London crossed the Greenwich meridian at the exact moment daylight savings time ended. To retrieve her wandering hour, Lisa must take a journey…to Dissocia, where cars fly, bears sing, and the Black Dog King reigns. This wildly inventive, fearlessly smart, and relentlessly surprising play by the author of last year’s The Night Before Christmas will take you places you never expected and will never forget.
Press
“All these elements, the music, the sound, the strong lights, the energetic actors, the smells, the laughter, all these things left me in a state of narcohypnia after the first act was finished. The lights outside didn’t seem as bright as before. Sounds were far away. I kept wanting to go back to Dissocia, to get more story, to find new people as Lisa discovered them. I was lost in my own dissocia for the 15 minutes of intermission.” “The real stars of The Wonderful World of Dissocia are its talented cast of supporting actors. They often surprise the audience, and Lisa, with outlandish song and dance, all the while doing double and triple duty in a play that asks and displays every bit of talent on offer.” ““Dissocia” piles quirk upon quirk, and disturbing detail upon disturbing detail, until the fever-dream storyline becomes just a touch exasperating. And then, with a sudden plot twist it would be a shame to reveal, the weirdness pays off and the play gains a new layer of emotion and meaning.” “The Wonderful World of Dissocia is filled with wonderful performances, lots of heart, and stunning design, and is a journey you should not miss.” “Directors Colin Hovde and Nathaniel Mendez and the superb company of actors deftly blend humor and horror to produce an awesome piece that leaves everything on the stage—challenging the audience to confront the worst of human tendencies and maladies with tenderness.”BroadwayWorld.com: THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISSOCIA (review)
MD Theatre Guide: THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISSOCIA (review)
The Washington Post: THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISSOCIA (review)
DC Metro Theater Arts: THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISSOCIA (review)
DC Theatre Scene: THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISSOCIA (review)
Media
Cast and production
Cast
Lisa Karina Hilleard
Victor Hesse, Argument, Nurse 3 Elliott Bales
Guard 1, Inhibitions, Vince Carlos Saldaña
Guard 2, Laughter, Dr. Faraday Luke Ceislewicz
Oathtaker, Ticket, Dr. Clark David Gamble
Britney, Nurse 1 Carolyn Kashner
Goat, Biffer, Nurse 2 Adi Stein
Jane, Dot Lisa Hodsoll
Violinist, Oathtaker Attendant, Polar Bear Ben Chang
Passenger 2, Oathtaker Attendant, Nurse KyoSin Kang
Production Team
Director Colin Hovde
Director Nathaniel Mendez
Stage Manager Tré Wheeler
Set and Costume Designer Collin Ranney
Lighting Designer John Burkland
Co-Sound Designer Christopher Baine
Co-Sound Designer | Original Music Matthew M. Nielson
Production Manager Damion Parran
Assistant Stage Manager Rachel Lau
Scenic Artist Kelley Rowan
Lighting Assistant Will Wermerskirchen
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About the Playwright
Anthony Neilson directed one of the inaugural National Theatre of Scotland projects, Home Edinburgh, and wrote and directed Realism, in a EIF co-production in 2006. A creator of pioneering, taboo-breaking new work, Anthony Neilson writes and directs witty, bold and compassionate plays that explore un-chartered psychological territories. His previous work for theatre includes: The Lying Kind (The Royal Court), Stitching (The Traverse, The Bush – Time Out Off West End Award), The Censor (The Red Room at The Finborough/ Royal Court – Writers Guild Award 1997 – Best Fringe Play and The Time Out Live Award 1997), Penetrator (Royal Court Theatre Upstairs/ Traverse, Theatre/Finborough), and Normal (Edinburgh Festival). His films include The Debt Collector and Deeper Still. Anthony has also written for radio.
The Wonderful World of Dissocia Outreach
Talk-Backs
The following performances of The Wonderful World of Dissocia will be followed by a talk-back with a guest who works in the field of or is personally affected by Dissociative Identity Disorder. At these discussions, the actors and audience can share their reactions and engage in conversation about the themes and issues raised by the play.
June 14, 8pm: Dr. Richard Chefetz, Psychiatrist
June 21, 2pm: Rachel Elise and Tracy Howard of the Sidran Institute for Traumatic Stress Education and Advocacy
June 22, 2pm: DC Actor Annie Houston
