The Hidden Play Revealed
The New York Sun profiles Edmund Lingan, theatre scholar specializing in alternative spiritualities in plays, and founder of the International Institute for the Study of Performance and Spiritual Movements.
“To study theatrical manifestations of religious experience, he attended a gnostic Mass in Queens held by an occult society called Ordo Templi Orientis; witnessed a solstice celebration conducted in the middle of the night by an urban shaman at the end of a pier near the South Street Seaport; and ventured to Switzerland to see four seven-hour mystery dramas by anthroposophy founder Rudolf Steiner, whose method, “Eurythmy,” aims to express aspects of the soul through movement. How did he become interested in this unusual kind of theater? Mr. Lingan began to see references to members of esoteric traditions while studying Symbolist avant-garde theater, where plays often involve invisible forces that affect everyday life, a central idea of the occult. “I began to wonder if there was a tradition of theater and performance associated with occult societies,” he said.”
In addition to his research (he recently defended his dissertation on new religious movements in theatre) he also writes and directs plays. He will be directing an adaptation of “Dr. Faustus” by legendary playright Christopher Marlowe in March.
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