Suzanne
Karpinski
Current Projects/Artist in Residence 2023
I am a multidisciplinary immersive theater artist specializing in immersive production, direction and narrative design. My experience as a writer, educator, musician, and circus artist informs my approach to storytelling. LA Weekly describes my work as utilizing “a fine balance between physicality and introspection".
The Orchard
Suzanne performs in The Orchard, a psycho spiritual immersive experience by Temple of the Stranger.
The sacred texts tell of Four Wise Teachers who entered the Orchard of Paradise: one became a heretic, one went mad, one died, and one became a great sage. The mystics say: we contain each of these teachers within us, each with their own gifts.
On Tu B'Shvat, the Holy Day of Trees, Temple of the Stranger is opening the gates to the Orchard to welcome all seekers for a journey of awakening.
The Tiger's Bride
A feminist retelling of famous fairytales, this immersive project features circus, dance, theater and a live soundtrack featuring the music of singer/songwriter Lily Desmond and instrumentalist Eliza Winter. Developed with the support of Anver Entertainment, Shotgun Players and 5th Wall Studio. In residence with The Cell Theatre in 2023.
Watch the preview here:
Press/
Reviews
“Themes of change, death and rebirth abound in this peculiar production, a triumph of style and low-budget ingenuity.”
"Lamia is more than a show—it creates a full theatrical experience that engages the audience in thought and action, calling into question the faith we all place on love."
-Theatre Is Easy
"There's an amiable goofiness in Suzanne Karpinski's staging of her 13-member ensemble, and this is the right company to pull off a show so influenced by the Italian Commedia clowning."
- LA Weekly
"Suzanne Karpinski’s direction utilizes a fine balance between physicality and introspection to create an eerie sense of foreboding throughout a play that even has the audience questioning reality at times."
-LA Weekly
Gallery
Cirquedelic: An Immersive Concert Experience
Conceived and Directed by Suzanne Karpinski
Lighting Design by Liquid Light Lab
Sound Design by J Warner
Choreography by The Ensemble
Music by Ellis Ashbrook
After Burn
Written by Barbara Garshman
Lighting Design by Cate DiGirolamo
Costume Design by Magdelen Zinky
Sound Design by Jessica Hart
Stage Manager: Rebecca Shafer
Cirque du Punk
Conceived by Suzanne Karpinski and Torrie Ogilvie
Choreography by The Ensemble
Music by TREADS
Lamia: A Dance-Theater Exploration
By Molly Haas-Hooven
Choreography by Shannon Stowe
Lighting Design by Alejandro Fajardo
Costume Design by Tilly and William
Music Composed by John Barber and Janna Pelle
Tracks
By Esti MacInnes
Set Design by Rochelle Voyles
Lighting Design by Alejandro Fajardo
Sound Design by Eben Mannes
Stage Manager: Jonathan Steiger
Music performed by Jared Fontaine
Standard Aptitude
By Sam Byron
Set Design by Anshu Bhatia
Costume Design by Caitlin Cisek
Lighting Design by Dante Olivia Smith
Sound Design by Beth Lake
In the Hand of Dreams
Written and Directed by Suzanne Karpinski
Original Score Composed and Performed by
John Barber and Alex Major
Set Design by Brittney Vasta
Costume Design by Tristan Raines
Lighting Design by Graham Kindred
Sound Design by Ien DeNio
Madness In Valencia
By Lope de Vega, trans. by David Johnston
Set Design by Kurt Boetcher
Costume Design by Wes Crain
Lighting Design by Karyn Lawrence
Sound Design by Suzanne Karpinski
Prop Design by Laura Napoli