A Series of Openings: The Year of Grotowski in New York

The Year of Grotowski, like the legacy of Grotowski, is a complex phenomenon with uncertain and in some cases contested boundaries. Its center of gravity is undoubtedly the series of events organized by the Grotowski Institute in Wrocław, Poland; but the program organized in New York by NYU and the Polish Cultural Institute marks another significant focal point. This essay presents an overview of New York events, with special attention paid to the last of these: “Grotowski and his Legacy: A three-day event at Lincoln Center,” which culminated in an open meeting with Thomas Richards and Mario Biagini of the Workcenter that Grotowski founded in Pontedera, Italy in 1986.