Phil Soltanoff is the director of 'Mad Dog' theatre company. He is also executive director and co-founder (along with performing artist Hanne Tierney) of Five Myles, the OBIE-award winning alternative performance/exhibition space in Brooklyn, NY.
In 1996 Phil Soltanoff premiered "TO Whom it may concern" which was featured in The Belgrade International Theatre Festival 1997.He was nominated for a 2007 Moliere Award for his creation and direction of "More or less infinity".
His other directing credits include "Hybrid #17", "Suite for Suits" and "Plan B"with CIE 111. Here we present Phil in conversation with Aditi,discussing his work,inspirations and more.


Aditi: Hi Phil, Welcome to Duniya Gol Hai. How did this entire journey into theatre, art etc. start?
Phil: I started as an actor. I worked hard at it, but discovered I was much more comfortable watching from the outside. It also allowed me to exercise my other talents for spatial organization and music.

Aditi: One of your initial works "To whom it may concern" is based on John Cage’s Silence .How did this work in particular inspire you to create "To whom it may concern"?
Phil: It is a response to ‘Silence’. I read this work and was deeply affected by its observations, most significantly how life and art can merge. I took that notion as a starting point and developed a dance/theatre work in a public space. It’s one of my favorite creations.

Aditi: Which other artists have influences on your work?
Phil: Piet Mondrian, Jackson Pollock, Sol Lewitt, Richard Long, Andy Goldsworthy and the incredible Robert Irwin.

Aditi: You used to teach at a College. What motivated you to take the chance to devote yourself fully to art and give up a secure job?
Phil: I had to. I couldn’t fully realize what I wanted to do in an academic situation and it made me unhappy. I took a big leap and I’m glad I did. I never would have made PLAN B if I had stayed in academia.

Aditi: Talking of “Plan B”, I have watched it and I was blown away by its sheer brilliance & uniqueness. How did the idea come about?
Phil: The idea did not spring fully formed from my mind or the mind of my French partner Aurelien Bory. Rather, we had a starting place and assembled the right people to help develop some ideas. It was a long process of trial and error, to discover the properties of the scenery and the possibilities of what performers could do with that scenery.


Aditi: I have to say, I really like its name, tell us a bit about "Institute of Useless Activity".
Phil: I believe in art making that comes from play, deep play. When usefulness sticks its nose into art making, it turns a playful activity into a purposeful one, something that will do good, or improve the lives of people. Something like PLAN B never would have been created if we pursued it usefully. We made it as a lark and it’s full of life and playfulness.

Aditi: What is your approach to your work?
Phil: It’s different every time. I find something that interests me, maybe a space, maybe a text and then I dream about it for a while, sometimes a year or two. When an opportunity presents itself, I start making the piece. I don’t really have a grand plan in mind, I just follow my interests.

Aditi: Your work has taken you across the globe. Which has been your favorite destination and why?
Phil: I’ve been to many interesting places. But frankly, when I travel I’m usually working so most of my time is spent inside the various theatres, hotels and airports around the world. I’ve enjoyed many of the people I’ve met. There are only one or two places that were not enjoyable. But I won’t name names.

Aditi: What are your favorite travel gadgets?
Phil: My laptop computer and my audio interface. It allows me to practice electric guitar through headphones late at night in any hotel room in the world.

Aditi: This is our favorite question here at Duniya Gol Hai, so here goes, if you could have one superpower what would it be and why?
Phil: I’d like to be able to fly. That would be cool.


Aditi: Tell us about your upcoming shows/work.
Phil: I just created a new work called “LA Party” for Under The Radar Festival in NYC. I’m also headed to Los Angeles to create a new work set to premiere in 2011.


Note: All pictures of Soltanoff's creations taken from www.philsoltanoff.org