Neo-Futurist Theatre Group Brings the Infinite Wrench to Grinnell

The New York Neo-Futurist Theatre Group is returning to Grinnell with Rob Neill ’91 to present a special performance of The Infinite Wrench, a fast-paced, interactive performance that engages both audiences and performers through 30 plays in 60 minutes.

After graduating from Grinnell, Neill followed his passion for theater, training at the National Theater Institute and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art before joining the Neo-Futurists. "I auditioned for the Chicago company, which started in the late ’80s, and ended up becoming part of the New York branch," he recalls. "I thought I'd do it for six months — now, 30 years later, I'm still here."

The New York Neo-Futurists are diverse collective of performance artists who create and perform the ever-changing show, The Infinite Wrench, every Friday and Saturday in the West Village. They have also crafted four seasons of the podcast, Hit Play, and have produced several lauded main-stage productions. Collectively they have been nominated for three Drama Desk Awards and more than a dozen New York Innovative Theatre Awards, and in 2017 The Infinite Wrench won the NY IT Award for Outstanding Performance Art Production. They have written more than 7,000 plays and many of their alumni now write and perform for film and TV, work on Broadway, helm hit podcasts, and teach acting, writing, and theater in New York schools and universities.

The Infinite Wrench offers a unique form of avant-garde theater, designed to reflect the immediacy of life and provide unpredictable performances. "It's immediate storytelling," says Neill. "The plays are irreproducible — each performance is a one-time event that engages the audience in a way that's impossible to replicate. The audience helps dictate the order of the plays, so every night is different."

In addition to the performance, Neill is eager to provide insights and share knowledge with current students who may have an interest in theater and the path that led him from Grinnell student to successful working actor. On Wednesday, Oct. 30, Neill will give a talk at 4:15 PM in the Wall Theatre, titled "Making a Career in Theater." He will discuss his journey from Grinnell to becoming co-artistic director of the Neo-Futurists, as well as the challenges and rewards of working in the theater world. "Part of my journey was just following the work," Neill shares. "Now, I help others create, and I love bringing this kind of art back to Grinnell."

Neill and company will also present a workshop designed for those eager to explore their own creativity on Saturday, Nov. 2 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Wall Theatre. The workshop is open to all, regardless of theater experience, and focuses on creating original work through collaboration. "This type of theater is accessible to everyone," says Neill. "It’s about whoever is there and whoever wants to create, whether you’re a dancer, a writer, or someone with no theater background at all.

“It's super cool to be able to share this.  I love bringing people from the Neo-Futurists to Grinnell too because it's such a unique and special place,” adds Neill. “This will be the third time we’ve come back to Grinnell, and it’s always a great experience. The kind of work we create is very Grinnellian — it's smart, fun, and a little bit odd. But most of all, it’s about dealing with the world in real time."

What: The Neo Futurists Present “The Infinite Wrench.”
When: Friday, Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Bucksbaum 104 - Sebring-Lewis Hall