TRUE NORTH
June 2008, Ontological-Hysteric Theater Summer Residency, New York
August + September, 2006, Triple X: A New Works Festival, Open Circle Theater, Seattle
Led by Rachel Hynes + Mike Pham
With Andy Loviska (Run I), SS Stansbury (Run II), K. Brian Neel (Run III)

Set in the arctic landscape, Helsinki Syndrome explores fear, obsession, and isolation including: the sounds that things make when you break them, Cole Porter songs, the constellations, recycled stuffed animal skins, hundreds of paper snowflakes, blood, glitter, and polar bears. Day and Night, Night and Day, You are the One.

JOTTA OLLA (MADE OF MEMORY)
February 2008, Seattle School STRIKETHROUGH Performance Series, Rendezvous Jewel Box Theater. Seattle
It's private.

UPPER CULMINATION
February 2008, 12 Minutes Max, On the Boards, Seattle
Led by Rachel Hynes + Mike Pham
Upper Culmination is inspired by the position of a star at a point on its circle above and closest to you. Who the star represents is up for interpretation, but there is a bear dance, songs, audience participation, and secrets left untold.

I FEEL FINE
October 2007, Annex Theatre, Seattle
Led by Rachel Hynes + Mike Pham
With Ciara Griffin, Brynn Hambly, Andy Loviska, K. Brian Neel, Jennifer Pratt, Jaime Roberts, Mara Siciliano, Justin Tracy.
Light Design by Christian Sheppard, Sound Design by Michael Hayes White, Set Design by Bret Fetzer, Dance Choreography by Mara Siciliano, Food Design by Pamala Mijatov. Production Manager: Jen Cabarrus, Stage Manager: Kristina Volkman

It’s a party. You’re invited. Fabulous fashion parades! Delicious food! Bang-up karaoke numbers! Annex Theatre and Helsinki Syndrome present “I Feel Fine,” a whimsical world of electrical wonder and human disaster on in a universe on the edge of total collapse. Mixing the quaint and the adorable with fear and desperation, this original new work explores the quagmire between reasonable science and Mr. Id, as they meet on death row in this stylish, dreamy, dynamic performance. Be the cat’s pajamas, fiddle like Nero, and see a few electrocutions in the process. Light up your life. Reduce Regret. Experience the Magic.


THIS IS [      ] A TEST
September 2007, Henry Art Gallery + Instant Coffee, Bumbershoot, Seattle
Led by Rachel Hynes + Mike Pham
The Toronto and Vancouver based artist collective, Instant Coffee, constructed five “concentrated spaces for social interation” based on breakfast nooks, in the Seattle Center Lopez Room and open to festival-goers throughout the annual music and arts event for Bumbershoot and the Henry Art Gallery’s presentation of Instant Coffee’s art installation Nooks: If You Lived Here, You’d Be Home by Now. “This is [    ] test” explored the effects of closeness in these intimate spaces amidst the Bumbershoot landscape in this site-specific performance including breakfast, kitchen timers, secrets, blenders, sound collage, and toast.

MAIN EVENT
June 2007, Northwest New Works Festival
Led by Rachel Hynes + Mike Pham
With Alice Bridgforth, K. Brian Neel, and Jaime Roberts
Lights by Craig Bradshaw, Dance Choreography by Eric Clothier, Ribbon Work by Cameron Levin, Fight Choreography by Kristina Sutherland

In a painful attempt at a supreme athletic showcase, Rachel Hynes + Mike Pham lead Team Helsinki through a fast and furious race towards what they hope will be the Main Event. Performance actions, timid musicians, and the visions of a 1920’s clairvoyant are reincarnated into a sensational world of vaudeville histrionics, Billy Joel lyricism, and a stunning periphery of purple hues.

SIDESHOW
February 2007, 12 Minutes Max, On the Boards, Seattle
Curated by Betsey Brock and Eric Frederickson
Led by Rachel Hynes + Mike Pham

In preparation for “Main Event,” Helsinki Syndrome presents a new exercise of monumental athletic proportions, featuring tests of vocal, physical, aural, and emotional endurance; including the Finnish National Anthem, Shuttleruns in the Quest for Presidential Excellence, the unlikely ménage a trois of NPR, Michael Jackson, and German Organ Music, a tinfoil umbrella, and a true story of Lost Youths.