Citizens of the Universe

Citizens of the Universe, also referred to as 'COTU', is a guerrilla theatre specializing in 'found space' performances and is currently headquartered in Charlotte , North Carolina. There are branches of COTU also located in Orlando, Florida, Baltimore, Maryland, and Greenville, South Carolina.

COTU was founded in 2001 by James Cartee and Andrew Bryant in Greenville, South Carolina with core artist Dan A. R. Kelly, Jason Bryant and Traysie Amick. COTU's work ranges from original works and foreign language pieces to classics with a recent focus on films that have been adapted for stage.

In 2004, the group's production of Arthur Miller's The Creation of the World and Other Business was banned from playing at Greenville Technical College.^[1]

Current Core Artist

Diego V. Francica, James Cartee, Rebecca Brown, Berry Newkirk, Nick Iammatteo, Amanda Liles, Bret Kimbrough and Mimi Harkness

Show History

• Ives in the Back of My Head (2001). A collection of David Ives one acts performed at the Handlebar in Greenville, SC

• Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead (2002).

• The Tragedy (2003). An original piece by Dan A. R. Kelly that was taken to competition at the South Carolina Theatre Conference. Traysie Amick was given 'Best Actress' for her performance in the piece.

• Equus (2004). Performed in an horse stable located in Cleveland Park in downtown Greenville, SC.

• The Creation of the World and Other Business (2004). This show was banned by the President of Greenville Technical College where the show was being performed due to complaints from the community. COTU was performing Equus show simultaneously with this production.

• 3/24: A 24 Hour Theatre Project (2005)

• The Tragedy (2005). Performed at the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National Park.

• Trainspotting (2008). Performed at the World Famous Milestone in Charlotte, NC^[2]

• Night of the Living Dead (2008). A 'Zombiewalk' was organized and timed to end in the parking lot of the performance space as the show ended^[3]

• GONZO: A Brutal Chrysalis (2009- 2011). An original piece by Paul Addis about the late Hunter S. Thompson during the years 1968-1970^[4]

• Fight Club (2009). Performed in a parking lot with lighting and sound elements provided by vehicles^{[5] [6]}

• Reservoir Dogs (2010).^{[7] [8]} Performed in a warehouse in Charlotte, NC, this production won a Metrolina Theatre Award for Outstanding Special Technical Effect (Amanda Liles and Rebecca Brown) and Outstanding Supporting Actor (Tom Ollis). ^[9] James Cartee won a 'Best Director' and Berry Newkirk won a 'Newcomer of the Year' (for Mr. Orange) Perry Award for their work.^[10]

• Uncle Vanya (2010) ^[11] James Cartee won a 'Best Costume Designer in a Comedy' and Annette Saunders won a 'Best Supporting Actress'(for Yelena Serebryakov) Perry Award for their work on Uncle Vanya.

• Trainspotting (2010). James Cartee won a 'Best Director' Perry Award for his work. ^{[12] [13][14]}

• The Princess Bride (2011)^{[15] [16]} Performed in an 80's dance club in uptown Charlotte, NC.

• Love Conquers All: A Quiet Evening with Sid & Nancy (2011). This is an original piece written by James Cartee.^[17]

References

1. ^ http://www.thefileroom.org/documents/dyn/DisplayCase.cfm/id/740
2. ^ http://www.artsalamode.com/AALM_TheatreArchive_SpringSummer2008.html#trainspotting
3. ^ http://charlotte.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/review_of_communicating_doors/Content?oid=389982
4. ^ http://charlotte.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/theater_in_charlotte_a_year_in_review/Content?oid=959068
5. ^ http://www.artsalamode.com/AALM_TheatreArchive_SpringSummer2009.html#fightclub
6. ^ http://charlotte.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/fight_club_fistfuls_of_testosterone/Content?oid=667064
7. ^ http://charlotte.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/the_gunplay_s_the_thing_in_reservoir_dogs/Content?oid=870403
8. ^ http://www.artsalamode.com/AALM_TheatreArchive_SpringSummer2010.html#resdogs
9. ^ http://www.metrolinatheatre.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2&Itemid=2
10. ^ http://charlotte.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/theater_awards_2011/ArchiveExtras
11. ^ http://charlotte.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/theater_review_uncle_vanya/Content?oid=955173
12. ^ http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/theclog/2010/09/22/cotu-unloads-the-ultimate-gross-out/
13. ^ http://www.artsalamode.com/AALM_TheatreReviewARCHIVE.html#trainspotting2
14. ^ http://charlotte.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/theater_awards_2011/ArchiveExtras
15. ^ http://www.artsalamode.com/AALM_TheatreReviewARCHIVE.html#princessbride
16. ^ http://charlotte.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/a_grungy_royal_wedding_the_princess_bride/Content?oid=1222248
17. ^ http://charlotte.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/theater_love_conquers_all_a_quiet_evening_with_sid_amp_nancy/Content?oid=1292410

External links

• COTU's official website