Lowe to discuss interactive theatre at (Lunch) Box talk

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Leah Lowe (Vanderbilt University)

Learn about an important trend in new theatrical work when Leah Lowe speaks May 4 at the Nashville Public Library, 615 Church St.

Lowe, associate professor of theatre and department chair at Vanderbilt, will discuss “Immersive Theatre and the Audience of the Future.” The event is part of the Thinking Out of the (Lunch) Box: Conversations with a Philosophical Flair series.

As a director, Lowe continues to be fascinated by theatre audiences and what they get out of a theatrical event. “I’ll be talking about interactive theater, which provides a more active role for the audience,” she said. “Interaction has become a trend in new theatrical work, including productions that we’ve done at Vanderbilt, such as How to End Poverty in 90 Minutes and How to Build a Forest. I’ll explore why interaction is becoming a much more prominent aspect of theatre production and consider what live performance has to offer in the digital age.”

How to End Poverty in 90 Minutes was produced in collaboration with Sojourn Theatre and the Center for Performance as Civic Practice and How to Build a Forest was produced in collaboration with PearlDamour + Shawn Hall.

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'How to Build a Forest,' an interactive theatre installation at Neely Auditorium (Susan Urmy/Vanderbilt)

No reservations are needed for Thinking Out of the (Lunch) Box, which will be in the library’s conference center. A limited number of lunches will be available, starting at 11:30 a.m., on a first-come, first-served basis. A voluntary donation of $5 is requested per lunch to help defray expenses. Lowe’s talk begins at noon.

Thinking Out of the (Lunch) Box: Conversations with a Philosophical Flavor is hosted by David Wood, the W. Alton Jones Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt and founder of the series. It is sponsored by Friends of the Nashville Public Library, with additional funding provided by the Kendall Berry Charitable Trust.

For more information, call the library at 615-862-5800 or contact David Wood.