Rilke - One Million Words

RILKE, ONE MILLION WORDS

A solo show by Ivo Müller. Directed by Arieta Correa

January 9 - 25, Thursday - Saturday at 7PM. 

Open rehearsals January 3 and 4 at 7PM 

Tickets: Suggested donation of $50

Rilke - One Million Words connects an actor in the present with a poet from the past. Together, they explore themes of love, the creative process, and a sense of not belonging, highlighting the importance of being grounded in the present moment—topics that resonate deeply in today's world.

It tells the story of a writer who, for nearly a year, struggles to create poetry and can only express himself through letters. An actor uses these letters to navigate his own challenges as an immigrant in a country where even his name feels foreign, shaking the foundations of his identity.

Originally developed in Brazil, this one-person show will now be performed in English for the first time.

"Simply brilliant." Ruy Jobim Neto, Aplauso Brasil

"The show embraces solitude as a philosophical choice and path to transcendence. Ivo Müller brings an inner intensity, sharp gaze, and precise temperament to this challenging role."  Jefferson Del Rios, O Estado de S. Paulo

Ivo Müller - Actor

Actor, writer, teaching artist and producer, Müller is based in Los Angeles and has been living and working between Brazil and the US for the last 5 years. After discovering a love for live performance in middle school, he earned a B.A. in Law from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC). However, he left behind a promising legal career to pursue his path in acting. Ivo's acting credits include a stage production of Twelve Angry Men, and Tabu, by director Miguel Gomes, a critically-acclaimed, multi-award winning 2012 Portuguese movie that won the Critics Best Picture award at the Berlin Film Festival. Ivo has worked with studios including HBO, Sony, and Globo TV. Alongside his acting career, Müller worked as an acting coach in the awarded documentary Cine Marrocos (2018), where he coached homeless people and refugees living in an abandoned movie theater in São Paulo. Additional stage credits include: Stitching by Anthony Neilson, Huis Clos (No Exit) by J.P. Sartre, The Widows by Arthur Azevedo, Camaraderie by August Strindberg, Bitter Sicilian by Luigi Pirandello, and Hecuba by Euripides.

Arieta Correa -Director

Arieta is an award-winning actress/director from São Paulo and a leading talent of her generation in Brazil. She trained at the Center for Theater Research (CPT) under Antunes Filho, working with him for six years and starring in iconic productions such as Medea. She also performed in The Miser (O Avarento), a celebrated production directed by Felipe Hirsch that marked the final stage appearance of legendary actor Paulo Autran.

Beyond theater, Arieta has left her mark in film and television, with roles in telenovelas like O Rei do Gado and Amor de Mãe, as well as in films including Como Esquecer and VIPs, where she worked alongside actor Wagner Moura. For over a decade, she has partnered with Ivo Müller as the director of the Rilke project.

The production team for RILKE, ONE MILLION WORDS includes Mariana Goulart (assistant director), Sophia April Grose (costume design), John Zalewski (sound design), Lucca Del Carlo (lighting & video projection design), Leonardo Junqueira (graphic design), and Domingas Person (associate producer).

Host or Publisher Tony Torn