Staff Picks No. 64
Two Dances: Emily Kessler, GREYZONE
Mark Morris Dance Center
September 20th - September 21st 2024
I loved Emily Kessler’s contribution to last winter’s Blind Date at Issue. Her solo was chaotic, specific, structural, athletic, like a staccato urgency and a deep flowing, manifest on the body. I’m stoked to see her premiere new choreography, a piece entitled Rumble Strip, for 5 movement artists. It shows on Sep 20/21, part of a split bill with GREYZONE at Mark Morris. Come through!
Staffer: Joshua Dumas
Philly Fringe: Amando Houser + Kedian Keohan, Amir Gabriel-Gad + Monti Cerabino and many more!
Various Venues
Saturday, September 5th - September 29th 2024
Philly Fringe is entering it's second full week and I've got some picky picks! You should check out solo clown show DELIADELIA! THE FLAT CHESTED WITCH! (by Amando Houser + directed by Kedian Keohan), which is inspired by the U.S. witch hunt on trans rights. There's also CALVIN BARROWS (by Amir Gabriel-Gad + directed by Monti Cerabino) about a one-month anniversary for comatose Calvin.
Staffer: Marissa Joyce Stamps
Goner: Marikiscrycrycry
Abrons Arts Center
September 19th - September 22nd 2024
This performance about the psychological horror and aesthetics of abuse, alienation, Caribbean migration, and more sounds like it'll be a proper ride. I love a solo show with a little danger, and the suspense of an audience in fear of what and where the performer will go.
Staffer: Travis Amiel
Evolution Festival: Deniz Demikurt, and Elise Wien, J.C. Pankratz, + Liza Couser and many more!
Center at West Park
September 5th - September 28th 2024
Evolution Festival is all about new works! new works! new works! I'm particularly excited about Deniz Demikurt's new musical, ECHO, about the mountain nymph who can only repeat the last words someone said to her (omfg how does this musical work if this is the case!!?) and Elise Wien, J.C. Pankratz, and Liza Couser's new musical about a singing competition for some drugs--Enditol, a new antidepressant, that is.
Staffer: Marissa Joyce Stamps
yo ho. : by SMJ + directed by Emily Bubeck
ART/NY (520 8th Ave.)
Monday, September 23rd 2024
It's time for some pirate queerness; this is SMJ's sexyyy and funnyyy take on the real pirates Mary Read and Anne Bonny love story, looking to power and gender, transitioning and sexuality. You know, queerness when it pertained to men wasn't uncommon in piracy's prime; but, what about when it came to femmes?
Staffer: Marissa Joyce Stamps
Antigone in the Amazon: Milo Rau, Kay Sara, & co
NYU Skirball
September 27th - 28th 2024
Artists have been working through the relationship of what they create with the state of the world for forever - and with the current *gestures of the world* - I’m particularly intrigued by what this conception of Antigone has in store - with Milo Rau, acclaimed Swiss director of overtly political theatre works + Brazilian indigenous activist Kay Sara playing the titular role.
Staffer: Matthew Antoci