Rilke: One Million Words connects an actor in the present with a poet from the past. 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 in a country where even his name feels foreign, shaking the foundations of his identity. Together, the poet and the actor explore themes of love, the creative process, and a sense of not belonging, topics that resonate deeply in today’s world.

Actor Ivo Müller brings his hit solo show Rilke, One Million Words to California. Written, produced, and performed by Müller, and directed by Arieta Corrêa with co-direction by Darrell Larson, the piece is the result of more than a decade of research into the work of poet Rainer Maria Rilke. Originally developed in Brazil, the English-language production premiered in New York in 2025. The show arrives in California during the centennial year marking 100 years since Rilke’s passing (1875–1926), before heading to its UK premiere at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.