created and performed
by Maximilian Balduzzi and Ben Spatz

Abrons Arts Center, January 26 - February 4, 2012

In a world on the brink of collapse, two men fight their
way through a final, glorious show. A virtuosic duet on
the pleasures of conspiracy and the terrors of communion.

Photos by Ian Douglas

PLAYWAR is a new work of contemporary performance that dynamically grapples with issues of intimacy and aggression, truth and spectacle, hope and despair. Bringing together all of Urban Research Theater's work on new theatrical forms, PLAYWAR is a virtuosic duet on the pleasures of conspiracy and the terrors of communion.

"On a bare stage with only basic lighting, the bodies and voices of the actors
are the only instruments, and Spatz and Balduzzi are masterful."
- NYTheatre.com [read more]

As the two performers face off in what may be a pre-apocalyptic scenario, spectators find themselves increasingly pulled into a world of expressive action and poetic association far beyond the confines of realism. Evoking the collision of decadence and terrorism in the 21st century, PLAYWAR is a testimony to the current moment.

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Previous versions of PLAYWAR (2009-2010) were presented at Medicine Show Theatre; Where Eagles Dare Theatre; North American Cultural Laboratory; and the Movement Research Festival at Judson Church. The development of PLAYWAR has been made possible by support from the Movement Research Artist-in-Residence program, with funding from the Leonard and Sophie Davis Fund and the NYC DCA in partnership with the City Council; and by Urban Research Theater's ongoing artistic residency at Cave Arts.

This production was made possible by a grant from the Manhattan Community Arts Fund, administered by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. Additional support was generously donated via United States Artists Projects by the following individuals: Carol Abizaid; Giuseppe and Danilla Balduzzi; Ben Blum-Smith; Kody Blue; Joshua Bastian Cole; Cheryl Cutler; Cathy Dobina; Frank Episale; Joy Brooke Fairfield; Valentina Fratti; Rick and Cherie Goldsmith; Tanya Goldsmith; Yelena Gluzman; Steven Hall; Anna Hecker; Cara Herbitter; Nathaniel Justiniano; Tomoyo Kawano; Marie-Pier Labbe; Federico Lauri; Melanie and Kevin Lewis; Chris and Sally Lutz; Monica Marini; Ken Mason; Sujin Ock; Dario and Barbara Piccinnelli; Morris Rabinowitz and Elaine Spatz-Rabinowitz; Sergio and Caterina Rillosi; Yuval Ron; Raphael Sacks; Wendy Sanford and Polly Attwood; Christina Spangler; Shawn Shafner; Ira Shor; Larry and Alice Spatz; Peter Spitzform; Linda Stein; Alexandre Su; Nancy Goldsmith Tharler; Thuy Tran; Gillian Tunney; Gabriele Usberti; Paul Vaccani; Jessica Weinstein; and Kayla Yu.

PLAYWAR was developed over a three-year period between 2009 and 2012. The following photos and videos from earlier versions of the piece offer a glimpse into this developmental process by showing as it passed through several distinct phases: