Two faculty members from the UW–Madison School of Education are collaborating on a new immersive performance opening this February at ART House 360 in Verona, Wisconsin.
“A Love Letter,” a co-production of Theatre LILA and Barrio Dance, is co-created by Jessica Lanius and AJ Juarez. The experimental dance-theatre work blends visceral movement, poetic storytelling, and live music to explore the complexity and unpredictability of love.
Structured around a non-linear narrative, “A Love Letter” invites audiences into a fully immersive theatrical experience. Playful, tender, and deeply human, the production draws viewers directly into the heart of the experiment, blurring the boundary between performer and audience and promising an intimate and unforgettable evening of theatre.
The project merges the artistic talents of Lanius, a teaching faculty member in the Department of Theatre and Drama and artistic director of Theatre LILA, and Juarez, a teaching faculty member in the Dance Department and founder of Barrio Dance.
“Theatre LILA truly lives up to its name as a laboratory in this production,” says Lanius. “Our actors, musicians, writers, and dancers will experiment and devise a singular production that explores love through movement, song, and scene in an intimate and playful way.”
The production will be staged in the ART House 360 Community Lounge, a space already serving as an incubator for artists and creative collaboration. With seating for just 65 audience members, the space is designed to foster connection and places attendees at the center of the action.
Performances will take place Feb. 5-15 at ART House 360, 401 W. Main St. in Verona. Tickets are $40 and available at theatrelila.com/tickets.