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Boston Globe

For the team behind ‘Utopian Hotline,' disagreement is ‘the space that's interesting to us'

Justin Nestor, co-artistic director of Theater Mitu, points at a projection on the Planetarium dome while fine-tuning "Utopian Hotline" at the Museum of Science Planetarium. He's joined by, from left, founding artistic director Rubén Polendo, guest artist Stivo Arnoczy, and company member Cinthia Chen. Brett Phelps for The Boston Globe The At the Planetarium, the group, led by Nestor and founding artistic director Rubén Polendo, adapts their original performance for a fitting — and much larger — venue. They spoke with the Globe during a residency at the museum in late March. Advertisement Where to find them: Ages: Polendo is 54. Nestor is 40. Originally from: Nestor's from Dorchester, and Polendo from Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. Live in: Brooklyn Rubén Polendo, founding artistic director of Theater Mitu, working on "Utopian Hotline" in the Museum of Science Planetarium. Brett Phelps for The Boston Globe Why Nestor says they're 'really annoying' to work with: When adapting a work for a new space — a more artistic than pragmatic process that he calls 'translating' — 'we're not good at ignoring anything.' How they started: Growing up in a 'very Mexican family,' Polendo said, he experienced 'a lot of gathering around a table to celebrate, to mourn, to be confused, to argue.' He went into science, and as a young biochemist, he missed that mealtime energy. It had 'a more emotional and impactful link into the questions that certainly were present in science,' he said. Polendo turned to theater. Four collaborators on Theater Mitu's "Utopian Hotline" pose for a portrait in the Museum of Science's Planetarium. From left, Rubén Polendo, company member Cinthia Chen, Justin Nestor, and guest artist Stivo Arnoczy. Brett Phelps for The Boston Globe For Nestor, an 'artist, maker and creative technologist,' per his Advertisement What they make : 'Communal experiences of shared time and space,' Nestor said. How they work : Collaboratively. Eighteen company members are crafting 'Utopian Hotline.' 'We begin with a large question that is both inspiring and at times burdening,' Polendo said, 'that brings us together not into a point of agreement but actually into a point of disagreement. That's the space that's interesting to us.' 'When we reach a level of conversation and argument that words no longer function,' he added, 'the only way we can continue the argument is to begin to make something.' Justin Nestor (right) with Theater Mitu company member Cinthia Chen and guest artist Stivo Arnoczy. Brett Phelps for The Boston Globe Advice for artists : 'The job of the artist is to stay in the attempt,' Polendo said. 'That's why artists have a practice. Because you're constantly attempting.' UTOPIAN HOTLINE By Theater Mitu, presented by ArtsEmerson and the Museum of Science. At Museum of Science, 1 Science Park, May 1-18. Tickets $25 general, $17.50 museum members. Rubén Polendo works on "Utopian Hotline" at the Museum of Science Planetarium. Brett Phelps for The Boston Globe