More than 90 years after Rudolf Bauer's revolutionary artwork first captivated the American art world—and nearly a century after Bauer himself walked the streets of Charleston—South of Broadway Theatre Company brings his extraordinary story to the stage with Lauren Gunderson's acclaimed drama Bauer.
Performances are: October 9, 10, 16 and 17 at 7:00 p.m., with matinees October 11 and 18 at 3:00 p.m. at South of Broadway Theatre Company, 3346 Rivers Avenue, Suite 1A, North Charleston.
For Charleston audiences, this story is more than a piece of art history. It happened here. In March 1936, the Gibbes Museum of Art hosted the first public exhibition of Solomon R. Guggenheim's collection of non-objective paintings. The landmark exhibition featured 128 works by some of the most important artists of the modern era—including Rudolf Bauer, Wassily Kandinsky, Marc Chagall, Fernand Léger and Pablo Picasso. Bauer's work was prominently represented, with more than 60 of his paintings included in the exhibition. Rudolf Bauer himself traveled to Charleston for the opening—the first time he had ever visited the United States. Now, South of Broadway Theatre Company explores this turbulent story, and the final chapter in the life of the brilliant German-born painter, whose work was once considered central to the development of non-objective art. Bauer's artistic champion and former lover, Baroness Hilla von Rebay, played a pivotal role in introducing his work to Solomon R. Guggenheim. Guggenheim became one of Bauer's most important patrons, acquiring hundreds of his paintings. Rebay would eventually become the founding director of the Guggenheim's Museum of Non-Objective Painting.
But fame, money and love would ultimately collide. After Bauer came to America, he signed an agreement concerning his artwork that he later regarded as a profound betrayal. His relationship with Rebay deteriorated, his relationship with Guggenheim collapsed, and the artist who had once been celebrated as one of the great innovators of abstract art eventually stopped painting.
Gunderson's play imagines a charged confrontation between Bauer, his wife Louise, and Rebay—a confrontation filled with passion, resentment, artistic ambition, jealousy and questions about what it means to give one's life to art. “Bauer" asks a provocative question: What happens when an artist loses not only his audience, but his reason to create? It is a story of art, love, ambition, betrayal and the price of being forgotten.
A LOWCOUNTRY CAST
South of Broadway Theatre Company brings together three outstanding Lowcountry performers for this intimate three-character drama.
Lowcountry favorite Paul O'Brien stars as Rudolf Bauer, the brilliant but embittered artist whose extraordinary career becomes entangled in questions of ownership, betrayal and artistic freedom.
Newcomer Syl Farrell takes on the titanic role of Baroness Hilla von Rebay, the formidable artist, curator and force of nature who was both Bauer's great love and one of the most influential figures in the creation of the Guggenheim's modern art collection.
Charleston film and theatre standout Madison Weidberg portrays Louise Bauer, Bauer's elegant and passionate wife, whose devotion to her husband leads her to summon the woman who remains an indelible presence in his life.
The production is directed by Don Brandenburg, Artistic Director of Threshold Repertory Theatre.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
- Friday, October 9 — 7:00 PM
- Saturday, October 10 — 7:00 PM
- Sunday, October 11 — 3:00 PM
- Friday, October 16 — 7:00 PM
- Saturday, October 17 — 7:00 PM
- Sunday, October 18 — 3:00 PM
All performances:
South of Broadway Theatre Company - 3346 Rivers Avenue, Suite 1A, North Charleston, SC
Conveniently located in the Reynolds Station Office Park between Cosgrove and Reynolds Avenues, South of Broadway Theatre Company offers ample free parking directly in front of the theatre.
Tickets and additional information are available at South of Broadway Theatre Company.
For additional information: Mary@SouthofBroadway.com.