The How Theater and Culture Lab LIC Present:
Rat King
Directed by Polina Ionina and David Glover
Ensemble: Ilker Oztop, Rosalee DeHuff, Maddie Jewell, Michael Valladares, Zachary Koval, Alyssa LaBrie, XiaoXiao Sun.
Sound Scape created by: Polina Ionina, David Glover, voices from The How ensemble.
Lighting: Caroline Kitteredge Faustine
November 9th, 10th, and 11th @ 9:30pm
at
Culture Lab LIC
Culture Lab LIC is a 501(c)(3) formed to be the arts and culture umbrella for Western Queens. Culture Lab presents local, national, and international art of all genres, while supporting New York users and other nonprofits by providing space, resources and a sense of community. Operating out of a 12,000 square foot converted warehouse, Culture Lab LIC hosts two fine art galleries, an 80 seat theater, classroom space, an 18,000 square foot outdoor venue, and a robust residency program. Culture Lab LIC is dedicated to upholding, equity, diversity and inclusion across all our platforms. Learn more at www.culturelablic.org
Who can survive the Rat King?
Forced to face the reality of working together or tearing each other apart, Rat King is an exploration of human physiology, desire, and behavior when individuals become a group enmeshed with one another.
Through movement, sound and personal reflection–inspired by the image of the rat king–we explore the limits of individualism and the culture of greed and fear, examining how the impact of generational trauma determines the state of the collective. What makes us different? How are we the same? And can we survive when we are tethered to eachother?
This rare phenomenon occurs when rats’ tails get tangled into one big knot forming a “rat king”. As the rats pull away in anxiety and fear, they become more entangled, and the knot becomes tighter and tighter, making it impossible for the rats to escape. Eventually, the rats die or eat each other because of their inability to work together to solve the common issue.
Rat King searches for collective solutions to the problems we face today asking, can we truly break our habits, work together and change the future?
How do we survive when tethered to each other? Will we be able to break the patterns ingrained in us in order to create a healthier future? How can we buoy each other in times of uncertainty and fear, knowing that what is passed on to us is within us?
Meet Our Team
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Founder of the How Theater and Director of Rat King
Polina is a Russian-American director/actor born and raised in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Classically trained at Pace University BFA Acting program in NYC, Polina has also studied abroad in Kyrgyzstan and at the Grotowski Institut in Poland. In NY she’s worked with Interactive PlayLab led by improv pioneer and master clown Jeff Wirth, and with the experimental theater group Dzieci. Polina is a founder of The How, and has performed with and directed the ensemble at celebrated venues such as HERE Arts Center, IRT, The Tank NYC, Dixon Place, and Tuhafier (Istanbul). Work with The How includes: The Vyuga Project, Vandals, Hunger, What We Do, I Am the Wind, 5 Hour Piece, and My Favorite Person which recently performed as part of the Istanbul Fringe Festival. Polina has also worked with up and coming film-makers in NYC such as Alex Blackstorm, Sonoko Ogata, and Steve Perterson as well as industry giants such as Bob Balaban, and Lisa Robinson.
ig: @mspyaari
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Director of Rat King
David is a Barrymore Award winning actor, poet, playwright and director from Philadelphia. He’s drawn to telling needed stories that challenge comfort and press at the potent roots of trauma and healing. After a sold-out run of My Favorite Person (The HOW) at the 2023 Istanbul Fringe Festival, he is delighted to return as co-director of RAT KING. Select theatre credits include: The Fever (National Tour), In The Penal Colony (NYTW). The first revival of The Escape; Or A leap for freedom (the first published play by an African American.) American premieres; The View and The Radicalisation of Bradley Manning. The World premiere of The Brother Sister Plays trilogy. US Army veteran and former Public school teacher, his artistic body of work centers on the complexities of Black life, love and liberation. His debut book of poetry Beneath My Body Armor was published in August. He has been a company member of The HOW since 2017 and is overjoyed to be co-directing with Polina Ionina! He has been a company member of The HOW since 2017.
ig: @sirdavidlawrenceglover
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Ensemble
Hailing from Istanbul, Turkey, Ilker Oztop is a movement/stage actor fascinated by creating visceral and cerebral experiences with bodies and sound unabashedly. He trained with Studio Players (Istanbul), Teatr Zar (Wroclaw), SITI Company (New York), Suzuki Company of Toga (Japan), Attis Theater (Greece) and is thrilled to return to the stage with The How after a 4 year hiatus due to 'the contagion’. Prominent appearances include Raskolnikov (Crime and Punishment), Pozzo (Waiting for Godot), Horatian (The Horatian/Vandals), and the Boy (Troy Too by Karen Malpede). Ilker is also a PhD-trained biomedical scientist and currently leads data science & digital health strategy for several clinical development programs at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine.
ig: @ilkeroztop
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Ensemble
Xiaoxiao (he/they) is a Chinese actor & vocalist calling NYC home for 10+ years. They acts in Mandarin, English, Cantonese, and can sing in Tibetan thanks to the training in anthropology.
His 2023 projects include Short Stack 2 with Ma-Yi Theatre @ La Mama, a Queer Asian play “Ancient History” @ The Tank, “Wheel of Fortune” @ Under St Marks, and “Trojans” with Loading Dock Theatre. He’s constantly in awe of the artistry and creativity of this “rat ensemble” under the guidance of Polina & David, and will join a 3-month physical theatre retreat in India spring 2024, inspire by ensemble member Zach.
ig: @sxxinyc
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Ensemble
Maddie (they/she) is an actor and writer based in Brooklyn, NY. Favorite NYU credits: The Merchant of Venice (Portia), Stella Adler Studio; Dr Horrible’s Sing Along Blog (Dr Horrible), Playwrights Horizons. Recent NYC credits: Telo: A New Musical, Columbia University; (upcoming) James and the Giant Peach (James), 92NY. As a writer their work has been produced in NYC by Executive Witches Theater Co and Best Intentions Theater Co. Maddie is honored to be included in such a kind, thoughtful, and open ensemble. Thanks to everyone who has helped me become who I am.
ig: @hey_itsmaddie
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Ensemble
Zachary is a New York City-based performer and bodyworker, with a deep passion for collaborative, process-driven theatre. He honed his skills training with the experimental Theatre Group Dzieci and was a key collaborator, creator, and performer in the Acro-Dance-Theatre piece, "Babel," which premiered Off-Broadway with Convergences Theatre Collective. This past winter, he enriched his craft participating in a four-month dance and movement-arts training residency in Goa, India, further expanding his dedication to telling stories through the body, and commitment to the transformative power of theatre.
ig: @ZacharyKoval
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Ensemble
Alyssa (she/her) is excited to be making her debut with The How! She is a multidisciplinary artist with a background in dance, theatre, cirque, and clown. She is a founding member of Sudbina Theatre Company, where she originated the role of Katarina in the world premiere of REFUGEE. Select credits include REFUGEE (Joakim Interfest, Kragujevac, Serbia), Flock (Melbourne, Australia), The Body Project 2.0 (Into the Light, MA) Hedda (MA), and New Soul (Play by Play Fest, MA). She strives to use her performance skills to bring thoughtful, challenging, and socially-relevant stories to life with passion and authenticity. BA: UMass Amherst, Theater.
ig: @Alyssa_Labrie
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Ensemble
Michael is a performer, playwright, and dramaturg. Select performance credits include Oh Soledad (Actors' Temple); ‘Tis Pity (Gymnopedie); Ovid’s Metamorphoses (Theatre in the Open); 6 Ft Apart, All Together (Double Edge Theatre); and Sunlight Interior (InMotion Theatre). Writing credits include Mad Little Reefers (The Wild Project, NYC); Sometime When Everything Has Changed (Herter Park Amphitheater, Boston); and roped (Pentameters Theatre, London). He believes that liberation begins with imagination. BFA: Boston University.
ig: @michael_valladares
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Ensemble
Rosalee is an actor and singer/songwriter from New York. She graduated from SUNY Oneonta’s Theatre program with a minor in Dance and attended The Studio/New York Summer Conservatory program. Previously with Polina and The How, Rosalee workshopped and performed What We Do and also began developing the 5 hour Piece which explores the five stages of grief and connection. Rosalee has performed in a number of short comedy and music shows with Loop Troupe both in NYC and upstate NY. After moving to LA last year, she has been spending time creating work on both coasts. Her music can be found on Spotify, Apple Music, etc-wherever you stream your music.
ig: @rosaleedehuff