Anne-May Nilsen

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Anne-May Nilsen (born 4 July 1939) is a Norwegian actress, director, writer and producer. She founded The Open Theatre in Oslo, Norway, in 1983. Nilsen made her debut as an actress at the age of 15 in 1954, when she played the title role in the movie “Cecilia” written and directed by Solvejg Eriksen, produced by Artist Film.

USA years

She moved together with her family to USA in 1955, married actor and director Andrew Quirk in 1960 (divorced 1972), lived in New York City and in Tucson, Arizona until 1973 when she returned with her two children to Norway and settled there. She studied acting with Lee Strasberg, Artistic Director at the Actors Studio in New York. In his Private Class she was studying together with Marilyn Monroe, Jane Fonda, Dustin Hoffman and many other actors that became well known. Nilsen had several engagements as an actor and director in New York (1955–1969) and in Tucson, Arizona (1969–1973). In Tucson, she was engaged by Arizona Civic Theatre, and also created her own “Anne-May´s Children´s Theater”.

Norway years

After she moved back to Norway in 1973 as a single mother, she has been engaged as an actor, stage director and playwright at Sogn and Fjordane Theater from 1980 to 1984, played in various radio and television productions, and has had responsibility for the costumes in two of Mephisto Film’s productions. In 1981 she took the initiative along with other freelance actors and created “Solteateret – freelance actors summer theater” at the National Theatre’s Amphitheatre. Nilsen created the Open Theater, a workshop-theater for contemporary Norwegian playwrights, and was Artistic Director and manager of the theater from 1983 to 1999. In 2009 Nilsen wrote her autobiography “To ride a tiger – an autobiographical theater history from the USA to The Open Theatre”. (www.kolofon.no), Norwegian title: “Å ri en tiger”. Nilsen initiated and was the Production Manager for the musical “Beltespenna” written by Truuk Doyer, produced by Beltespenna sang-spel Association. (World premiere Gyland, Vest-Agder, August 2013).

Awards

Anne-May Nilsen has received numerous awards for her work:

• 1988: Oslo Municipality Artist Award, for outstanding contribution for the good of the city of Oslo
• 1991: Playwright's Guild – a wandering Trophy
• 1993: Freedom of Expression Tribute– an honor prize from The Freedom of Expression Foundation
• 1998: Playwrights' Guild – the wandring Trophy, for keeps

^ “To ride a tiger – an autobiographical theater history from the USA to The Open Theatre”. (www.kolofon.no),2009, Isbn: 9788230006030, Norwegian title: “Å ri en tiger”. ^ no:Fritt Ords honnør ^ http://kampenhistorielag.no/?p=1341 Article in Kampen historielag ^ http://www.filmweb.no/?op=findProfile&personName=Anne-May%20Nilsen Filmweb.no filmography for Anne-May Nilsen ^ http://www.fritt-ord.no/en/priser/category/fritt_ords_honnor/ The home page of The Freedom of Expression Foundation }}

The Open Theatre, Norway

The Open Theatre in Oslo is a workshop theater for Norwegian playwrights. The name of the theater was changed to Norwegian Centre for New Playwriting (NCNP) in 2009. The theater was created in 1983, by Anne-May Nilsen and was established as a non-profit organization in 1986. Purpose of the foundation was to develop and present contemporary Norwegian drama, and contribute to the academic and artistic development of playwrights. The theater moved into Tøyenbekken 34, in a former workshop building in 1987. The initiator, Artistic director and general manager of The Open Theatre was Anne-May Nilsen. The first members of the board for the foundation, in 1986, were Stian Sorlie, Barthold Halle, Esther Reiss Steffen Johannnessen and Anne-May Nilsen Anne-Karen Hytten was engaged as the theater’s director and dramaturg from 1992 to 1998. Before then there were different consultants made available for the playwrights on short time basis. (Source: "To ride a tiger – an autobiographical theater history from the USA to The Open Theatre" by Anne-May Nilsen, Imprint Publishing, 2009) www.Kolofon.no

Weekly arrangements open for the public

• Every Saturday – play-readings on the stage or presentation of a workshop on a play that had been rehearsed
• Production of a new play at least once a year, often there were two or more
• A marked for one-act plays
• A Satire marked on Sunday – writers came with their sketches and actors acted them out on the spot and NRK taped it all, and some of them were bought and sent on their radio station
• Living Books – Publishers presented a newly published book. A summary of a book was created and the actors played some of the main characters in the book
• Different productions created by other theater ensembles

Cultural exchange program with USA

• McCarter Theatre in Princeton – Artistic director Nagle Jackson. Both theatres visited each other, with productions of the following plays:

1. "Pvt. Wars" by James McLure, directed by Nagle Jackson shown at the Open Theatre 1989.
2. "The case og Harriet Grinde" by Merete Wiger, directed by Eva Røine, presented at the McCarter Theatre 1989
3. Nagle Jackson directed "Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare at Trøndelag Theater., Trondheim 1989
4. "Ghosts" by Henrik Ibsen, directed by Kjetil Bang-Hansen, presented at the McCarter Theatre 1990

• Eugene O’Neill Playwrights Conference. Lloyd Richards was the Artistic Director. Three Norwegian Playwrights (Issak Esmail Issak, Lennart Lidström and Karl Sundby) participated in the Conference.The American playwright Lee Blessing's play "Going to St. Ives" was presented at The Open Theater.

Theatre building

The former welding workshop building in Tøyenbekken 34 was converted into a theater building. Much of the work was done by volunteers and with support from the building industry in addition to funds from the city borough. The Open Theatres building was bought for 4.8 million kroner in 1994 with equal financial support from the Government and Oslo City Municipality.

30 World premieres produced by The Open Theater from 1983–1999

The Open Theatre has until 1999 produced 30 productions and as well contributed to 21 world premieres at different Repertory Theatres in Norway, 12 television and film productions, 26 productions produced by free theater-groups and 12 productions together with the Norwegian One-acts Festival.

• "Jackpot" by Niels-Reinhard Christensen – directed by Anne-May Nilsen 1983
• "Beate – do you hear me?" by Eigil Steinfjord – directed by Gunnar Olram 1986
• "The case of Harriet Grinde" by Merete Wiger – directed by Eva Røine 1986
• "Changing cloud" by Stian Sørlie – directed by John Heggedal 1987
• "Window" by Cindy Haug – directed by Edith Roger 1987
• "The dog is loose" by Runar Bakken – directed by Edith Roger 1987
• "Santa Rosa my star" by Turid Nystøl Rian – directed by Edith Roger 1987
• "Revenge" by Karl Sundby – directed by Karl Sundby 1988
• "Blind man's buff with time" by E. Issak Issak – directed by Barthold Halle 1988
• "Watch out for broken dreams" by Stian Sørlie – directed by Trond Lie 1988
• "This is your life" by Egil Teige – directed by Petter Næss 1990
• "Barcelona Bar" by Karl Sundby – directed by Per Johan Møyen 1992
• "Forget me not" by Torgeir Rebolledo Pedersen – directed by Per Johan Møyen 1993
• "Mild Heaven" by Lennart Lidstrøm – directed by Anne-Karen Hytten 1993
• "Only a small case" by Inger Johanne Røisli – directed by Erik Øksnes 1993
• "Fly" by Margaret Johansen – directed by Anne-Karen Hytten 1993
• "Dummy" by Margaret Johansen – directed by Anne-Karen Hytten 1993
• "Roy and Norma" by Bernt Kristian Borresen – directed by Anne-Karen Hytten 1994
• "Jenny and I" by Margaret Johansen – directed by Anne-Karen Hytten 1994
• "Monday – do not say it's Monday" by Karl Sundby – directed by Karl Sundby, 1994 (The play was adapted to film in 1995 by Axel Hellstenius, the film was called "Blue Monday")
• "In the ghetto – a slum revue" lyrics by Are Kalvø, Sidsel Mørck, Karl Sundby, Christian Wolther, Dagfinn Nordbø and Ivar Tindberg – directed by Ivar Tindberg 1996
• "Should, should not it?" a bouquet of short plays by Vivi Schøyen: "With a little help from Picasso", "Cherry and full moon", "Opium", "How about a Greek salad?" – Directed by Anne-Karen Hytten 1997
• "Carmen and Don Juan" by Anders Bye – directed Barthold Halle 1997
• "The soup is excellent" by Lennart Lidstrøm – directed by Lennart Lidstrøm 1998
• "Mothers" by Issak Esmail Issak – directed by Franziska Aaflot 1998
• "Swan Song" by Inger Margrethe Lunde – organized Line Rosvold. 1998

Board members at The Open Theatre from 1986–1999

• Stian Sørlie (playwright and Judge), Chairman 1986–1992
• Anne-May Nilsen (actor and director) 1986–1998
• Esther Reiss (playwright and director) 1986–1992
• Barthold Halle (director and playwright 1986–1992
• Karl Sundby (actor and playwright), Board Member 1989–1992, Chairman from 1992 to 1997
• Kristin Søhoel (playwright) Writers' Association observer 1991–1992
• Lennart Lidstrøm (playwright and director) 1992–1998
• Monna Tandberg (actor) 1992–1999
• Kirsten Sørlie (instructor) 1992–1994
• Ingunn Aarbakke (Judge) 1992–1994
• Bentein Baardson (instructor) 1994–1996
• Ole Kjelstrup (economist) Board Member 1994–1997, Chairman 1997–1999
• Edvard Rønning (playwright) 1996–1999
• Kai Johnsen (instructor) 1997–2000
• Inger Margrethe Lunde (playwright) 1998–2000
• Andreas Markusson (playwright) 1998–2000
• From 1996, the foundation's board members appointed by the Norwegian Playwrights 'Association, Norwegian Scene Instructor Association, Norwegian Actors' Equity Association and the Norwegian Theatre and Orchestra Association.
• Board members at The Open Theatre from 1986–1999
• Stian Sørlie (playwright and Judge), Chairman 1986–1992
• Anne-May Nilsen (actor and director) 1986–1998
• Esther Reiss (playwright and director) 1986–1992
• Barthold Halle (director and playwright 1986–1992
• Karl Sundby (actor and playwright), Board Member 1989–1992, Chairman from 1992 to 1997
• Kristin Søhoel (playwright) Writers' Association observer 1991–1992
• Lennart Lidstrøm (playwright and director) 1992–1998
• Monna Tandberg (actor) 1992–1999
• Kirsten Sørlie (instructor) 1992–1994
• Ingunn Aarbakke (Judge) 1992–1994
• Bentein Baardson (instructor) 1994–1996
• Ole Kjelstrup (economist) Board Member 1994–1997, Chairman 1997–1999
• Edvard Rønning (playwright) 1996–1999
• Kai Johnsen (instructor) 1997–2000
• Inger Margrethe Lunde (playwright) 1998–2000
• Andreas Markusson (playwright) 1998–2000

From 1996, the foundation's board members were appointed by the Norwegian Playwrights' Association, Norwegian Scene Instructor Association, Norwegian Actors' Equity Association and the Norwegian Theatre and Orchestra Association. ^ Store Norske Leksikon (Encyclopedia) article about The Open Theatre

External links

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