When I went to Thaddeus Phillips’s website to do research for this posting about his show 17 Border Crossings, I found myself looking at text that combined an Asian language  (and I’m not smart enough to know which one) and a few random characters in English with numbers. Since his one-man show is about 28 years of his travels, I’m not sure if this is ironic or he’s been hacked.
What I do know is that 17 Border Crossings is making its California premiere this week at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica. I also know that the show has appeared at the New York Theatre Workshop, the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), in Moscow, Hong Kong and more.
17 Border Crossings follows Phillips as he travels the world over the course of those 28 years. He uses a spare set with just a desk, a chair and a light bar. Lighting by David Todaro and sound by Robert Kaplowitz help us understand where in the world Thaddeus Phillips is. That Phillips can also speak multiple languages helps place each of these stories as well. Some of his adventures are wild, some are downright frightening.
Phillips is not just a performer, but also a director and designer. Amongst his other shows are Capsule 33, El Conquistador and Henry Five Live From Times Square.
Tatiana Mallarino directs the show. She is not just the director, she is also married to Phillips.
For tickets on Friday go here.
For tickets on Saturday go here.
Photo of Thaddeus Phillips in 17 Border Crossings (Photo by Johanna Austin)