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Updated 3/25/2020

Toto Kisaku

  • C

    CT

Institution/Business Type: Artist / Creative (Individual)

Toto Kisaku, is an award-winning Congolese playwright, actor, director and producer who studied drama at the National Institute of Arts in Kinshasa. After establishing the K-Mu Theater in 2003, he spent the next 15 years traveling the world to produce and participate in plays. Toto arrived in the United States in late 2015 seeking political asylum, which he was granted in March 2018. Since his arrival, Toto has spent his time learning and redefining his artistic expression based on the tension that both his country of origin and the country which has welcomed him are enduring. In his work, Toto focuses on transcending the constraints of daily life and examining how people living in poverty or under oppressive regimes can recreate their environments and improve their lives through artistic activities. Toto’s pieces invite both spectator and actor to find ways to go beyond the walls of both the performance and living space.  
His last piece "7 dialogues" was performed at Yale School of Architecture by Sydney Lemmon and Toto Kisaku through the Garden Pleasure project. The first International Festival of Arts & Ideas Artist in residence 2019 led workshop programs and Talks in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa, Europe before the U.S at Wesleyan University, Quinnipiac University, Hampshire College, etc.

Toto’s piece Requiem For An Electric Chair premiered at the 2018 Festival with three sold-out performances and is his first play to be performed in English. Toto was the recipient of the 2010 "Freedom to Create Prize,” presented in Cairo, Egypt. He was also the recipient of the 2018 Rebecca Blunk Fund award, granted by the New England Foundation for the Arts.

Requiem for an Electric Chair have been performed at the Studio Theatre in Washington DC last November 2019 and will be touring in the US on 2020-2021. In April 2020 the play will be performed in Portland - Maine at The Portland Ovation with a residency.

Find Me

Toto Kisaku
Job Title: Theater Maker
Phone: 203-808-8759
Address:
323 DeKoven Dr. Apt 2w
Middletown, CT 06457

Social Media:

Additional Content:

About

Overview

Institution/Business Type:

Artist / Creative (Individual)

Legal Status:

Commercial / For profit - Sole proprietorship

Overview

Institution/Business Type:

Artist / Creative (Individual)

Legal Status:

Commercial / For profit - Sole proprietorship

Disciplines

Primary Discipline:

Theater - General

Additional Disciplines:

  • Theater - Storytelling

Activities and Services

Activities and Services:

  • Arts for Social Change / Creative Activism
  • Arts Instruction / Lessons
  • Community Arts
  • Creation of a Work of Art (Including Commissions)
  • Performance / Concert / Reading
  • Professional Development / Training
  • Professional Network Gatherings / Events
  • Residency - Community
  • Residency - In School
  • Residency - Production / Development
  • Residency - Other
  • Workshops / Demonstrations / Master Class
Seasons Active: spring, summer, fall, winter
Events Per Year: 300

Communities

Populations Engaged:

  • Adults
  • Businesses
  • Elders
  • Families
  • General Public
  • Immigrant Populations
  • Incarcerated (or Formerly Incarcerated) individuals
  • LGBTQ Populations
  • Native American Tribes
  • Nonprofits
  • People with Disabilities
  • School Groups
  • Teens
  • Veteran/Active Duty Military Personnel
  • Youth-At-Risk

Languages Available:

  • French

Geographic Reach:

  • Town / City
  • County
  • Multi-County Region
  • State
  • Multi-State Region
  • National
  • International

Accessibility of Services

Accessibility of Services:

  • Access accommodations for people who use a wheelchair and have limited mobility
  • Access accommodations for people who are blind, partially sighted, and have low vision
  • Access accommodations for people who are Deaf and hard-of-hearing

Performances and workshops can be developed to meet the audience members' and participants' needs, upon request.

Media Gallery

I Have Worked With

YALE UNIVERSITY - SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

School (Higher Ed Arts Program / Department)

Date: 12/2019-12/2019

The project happening now until February 8, 2020Collaborating with the project as a Playwright. I gave words to the environment questioning humans through 7 dialogues. The script describing the giant figures' voices and representing the human subconsciousness. The 7 dialogues introduce a personal and open exchange in an unusual direction, today. These dialogues are presented in a format to which the giant structures admire, contemplate and challenge the human by reminding them that space is the main symbol of common identity.These characters that you are seeing standing there in these figures, giant, without heads, without words, without looks or faces...Standing each one at the sides and under the feet of the big figures, they or they stir the spoons in their audial cloud of coffee. Producing sounds. The sounds covering the emptiness created by you... rather us. In this sonority, we feel the silence in the room.All they will do is to prohibit any noise that may interfere with the silence produced by humans in this space. This is our internal dialogue between people, alike or dissimilar... It is rather a simple observation of the environment.It is also the reaction of the environment to the helpless gaze of humans. Because the space in which these openings in height, width and depth offer you, is the one located, forgotten, ignored and housed in our subconsciousness. So these giants are observing and talking to you. 

Studio Theatre

Date: 11/2019-11/2019

TOTO KISAKU's "Requiem for an Electric Chair"Studio Theatre 1501 14th St NWWashington, DC 20005Toto Kisaku is an award-winning Congolese playwright, actor, director and producer. Detained for putting on plays critical of the Congolese government, Toto arrived in the United States in late 2015 seeking political asylum, which he was granted in March of 2018. His one-man play, Requiem For An Electric Chair, tells the story of his persecution in and eventual exile from Congo and opens with his interview with a U.S. immigration officer. Through this narrative, Toto shares the story of his arrest, imprisonment, and near-death in Congo, and the way his art ultimately saved his life. In his work, Toto explores themes of transgression, oppression, and poverty, often challenging the boundaries between performance and daily life. Toto is the 2019 International Festival of Arts & Ideas Artist-in-Residence. In 2010, he was the recipient of the Freedom to Create Prize, presented in Cairo, Egypt. The prize is a celebration of the courage and creativity of artists, and the positive influence of their work to promote social justice and inspire the human spirit. Toto has been featured in NPR, ArtForum, and Washington Times.

Date: 03/2019-03/2019

On Wednesday, March 20th, our Artist in Residence Toto Kisaku visited Quinnipiac University class “Drama 101: Introduction to Theatre”, taught by none other than Arts & Ideas’ own Lousie Endel Community Engagement Manager, Aleta Staton. Read the student reflections below, following Aleta’s opening remarks.Students in my Theatre 101 class at Quinnipiac University were exploring a section focused on Social Justice and Intersectionality in the Theatre when they were visited by Arts & Ideas 2019 Artist in Residence Toto Kisaku, who hails from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He shared with us, among other things, how he was introduced to the world of theatre by chance, how stories he told through theatre got him into trouble and nearly executed in his native country, and finally, the redemptive power of the theatre that ultimately spared his life. Here are some of their responses:Francesca Andranovich: I think that this was the most important discussion I was ever involved in here at Quinnipiac. There was so much shared, and I learned so much today that a lot of people don't have the opportunity to learn when they should. We touched on millions of topics. Theater, of course, as well as politics, travelling, emotion and more. These are things that should be important to everyone, and the conversation opened up an opportunity for kids my age to be exposed to things that we are fortunate enough to never have to face like Toto had to.Peter Thomas: I found today's discussion to be extremely interesting. It was fascinating to hear about Toto's life and exactly what he went through on a first-hand basis. I learned about how the government in Congo works and how these people are being treated. I really enjoyed this conversation and found it to be useful, one that many people should have the opportunity to attend just to hear about someone else's life and experiences.Alexander Bosio: I enjoyed our class's meeting with Toto for several reasons. His story demands attention, as his words carry a different kind of weight when you first learn of his imprisonment in his home country of the Democratic Republic of Congo. He showed by example how he has used his story as a platform for social justice and change, and furthermore, he explained how he has done this through theater. I particularly enjoyed how Toto explained his viewpoint on theater in the grand scope of society, and how it exists in a sort of cycle that encompasses social change and its fluid nature. I got to speak to Toto after the class and his passion for social change was clear, and I found it very inspiring.Lindsey Guadagni: Today's discussion has opened my eyes to new realities. Toto Kisaku has a larger value to the community. I had not previously known his story, but I feel it is one to be spoken about. I believe he is an inspiring man. I learned about how theatre helped the people of Congo and how theatre is more than just a show and performance. Toto was an amazing speaker with very deep thoughts, and I believe I do not meet enough people that are as deep and inspiring as him. I appreciate the opportunity of having such a great speaker come to my class today.Alex Taglieri: Listening to Toto Kisaku's story today was eye-opening and inspiring. I had no prior knowledge of the oppression and corruption in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and it was shocking to hear what happened to Toto simply because he spoke out against the government. It was also impressive to see how quickly Toto grasped a new language, since he's only been in this country for three years. In addition, it was interesting that Quinnipiac students and professor helped him gain political asylum, yet none of the students in the class had heard Toto's story prior to meeting him. I think that Quinnipiac students would benefit from hearing Toto's story or seeing one of his plays. At a school with very little diversity, it's important for students to learn what goes on outside of their own four walls. By doing so, students may uncover a passion that they were not previously aware of, which could lead to positive change.

ODDFELLOWS PLAYHOUSE YOUTH THEATER

School of the Arts

Date: 02/2019-02/2019

Led Workshop "Le Petit Studio" a workshop space for dramatic readings by and for children and adolescents, with optional participation by adults, including teachers, parents, and grandparents!  

Affiliations and Accomplishments

Awards

Awards:

  • Rebecca Blunk Fund (2018)
  • Freedom to Create Award (2010)
  • Artist Fellowship Award, COA. (2020)

Awards

Awards:

  • Rebecca Blunk Fund (2018)
  • Freedom to Create Award (2010)
  • Artist Fellowship Award, COA. (2020)

Special Designations

Special Designations:

  • NEFA Grant Recipient

Artist Info

Teaching Artist

Teaching Settings:

  • Afterschool Program
  • Arts and Cultural Center / Venue
  • Community Site / Center
  • Corporate Business
  • Healthcare Facility
  • Private Studio
  • School / University

Ages Served:

  • Elementary School-age
  • Middle School-age
  • High School-age
  • College-age
  • Adults
  • Seniors

Subject Areas:

  • Arts Integration - Communications
  • Arts Integration - Foreign Languages
  • Arts Integration - History and Social Science
  • Theater

Fee range:

$900 - $2,000

Teaching Artist

Teaching Settings:

  • Afterschool Program
  • Arts and Cultural Center / Venue
  • Community Site / Center
  • Corporate Business
  • Healthcare Facility
  • Private Studio
  • School / University

Ages Served:

  • Elementary School-age
  • Middle School-age
  • High School-age
  • College-age
  • Adults
  • Seniors

Subject Areas:

  • Arts Integration - Communications
  • Arts Integration - Foreign Languages
  • Arts Integration - History and Social Science
  • Theater

Fee range:

$900 - $2,000

Touring Artist

NEST Eligible Artist

Technical Requirements:

  • Vary based on performance or workshop
  • Portland Ovations, Portland Maine

Fee Range:

$7,000 - $15,000

State of Residence:

Connecticut

Minimum Number of Performers:

1

Maximum Number of Performers:

1