EMMA’S BLISS BY CLAUDIA SCHREIBER
LYRICS BY YARINA GURTNER
DIRECTED BY YARINA GURTNER AND CHRISTIAN SCHARRER
MUSICAL DIRECTION BY YARINA GURTNER AND LUKAS THÖNI
STARRING YARINA GURTNER.
LIVE MUSIC BY BRANDON G. REILLY.
WHEN FACING DEATH… WHAT BECOMES ESSENTIAL IN LIFE?

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE: WED 8/02, 7:15PM; FRI 8/04, 6:00PM; SUN 8/06, 1:00PM

MITF: SUMMER 2017 AT THE WORKSHOP THEATER, 312 W.36TH STREET, NYC; WWW.MIDTOWNFESTIVAL.ORG

This unique love story comes is an American premiere at MITF.  Claudia Schreiber’s musical tale focuses on Emma. A lonely woman living on a foreclosed farm. In this dark time came Max, a thief on the run, dying of pancreatic cancer. The joining of these two darkened hearts brings-on a major decision that could be salvation for both … even just for a little while. After receiving tumultuous acclaim in her native country, Austrian entrepreneur, Yarina Gurtner, has chosen this engrossing drama to premiere here in New York City. “I am the International in Midtown International Theatre Festival!” she said with a laugh.

This is another case of an articulate powerful woman. Her views about the arts and its influence was thrilling to listen to. Welcome to America… Yarina … your arrival is OUR pleasure!

Share with our readers, what you consider inspirations. 

I see myself first and foremost as an artisan in the world of theatre. My passion for language and communication guides my stagework. The most unique inspiration for me is the energy exuded by people of all ages in the process of learning and discovery. My approach while working on a character is that of a child exploring, seeking her own personal expression, with all means available. Language  can often be very limiting. That is exactly where my search begins.

I think it is necessary and healthy to live our dreams and wishes. Therefore, what I want to share on stage is the experience of how personal ideas, dreams and interpretations of life find a path into the world through oneself . – through the way we approach it – whether it is in a word, an image, a movement or a certain way in which we use our body or voice to communicate. – It is not about only text or scenery or which dilemmas one faces that show what is important in life . All of our ideas are important and worthy of expression. The magic of learning and discovery within a given story, with its  particular conflicts and dilemmas starts by stepping outside of the habitual. I step out of the box  but on the way I stay in touch with myself, retaining an “out of the box” approach.

On stage as in life I strive for the entirety.

From someone of world, why bring your opus to independent theater?

 In the course of the bodywork I teach through the Feldenkrais method, I have created my own style. There, I learned to discover how I actually relate to the world with my instrument as an actress and how I can stay in touch with myself.
I see life itself and human growth as the most inspiring directors. Whatever sets our learning free, needs to be activated. I use different combinations of texts, settings, genres und stories to enable empowerment and make it viable. With that in mind, I create different performance pieces, wherever I smell theatricality in everyday life.
Simplicity and authenticity in everyday life is a very important basis. With my performances and the manner in which I present them I want to inspire other people to get more in touch with oneself, far beyond the concept of what is dictated or what materials are utilized.

My themes on stage are only one part of my work. I usually  offer an artists’ talk so people can better understand the theme, while discovering their own dilemmas.
I think my bilingualism – German and Spanish- adds a very important resource to my work . As a child, I thought I should decide between Spanish and German- between Mom and Dad, between Austria and Peru… Finding my independence and building bridges between worlds is one of my main driving forces.