Originally commissioned and produced by the Englert Theatre
created with New Territories Dance (Analia Alegre-Femenias, Artistic Director)
It’s a story of evolution, biological and lingual. It’s a story of love, across boundaries and species. It’s a story of oppression, of inequality and colonialism. It’s the story of Bruno Littlemore, an unusually intelligent chimpanzee. Based on the novel of the same name by Iowa Writers’ Workshop graduate Benjamin Hale, the piece was commissioned to celebrate a work from a recent Workshop alum. The novel and now dance theater piece follows Bruno Littlemore, a preternaturally gifted chimpanzee who falls under the care of — and, in turn, in love with — university primatologist Lydia Littlemore. As he develops his gifts for painting, language, philosophy, music, and study, Bruno simultaneously struggles to contain his wildness in his pursuit of humanity.
Sponsored by the Iowa Arts Council and the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, Nolte Academy, and Hands Jewelers.
Adapted, Directed and Designed by Sean Christopher Lewis