It’s a true testament to the influence of summer when people are living day by day, caught up in moments of steamy hot weather – when beach parties overtake sob stories, biking surpasses driving, and “going out to eat” means seasonal veggies on the grill; minds are vibrant, bodies are greased, and muscles are taut. In moments like these, I normally wouldn’t dare speak of anything past August 31st, but this season in the Performing Arts is so titillating, it’s worth the risk.
As a second-year Walker employee in Visitor Services and current intern in the Performing Arts Department, I have had the pleasure of working with the exceptionally talented curators who handpicked this year’s season. Amongst twenty performances, these three are my current champions:
Efterklang
September 11
It appears I’m not the only one who believes the most justifiably appropriate way to celebrate any celebration-worthy occasion is with a party, a music premiere, a Copenhagen based rock band, laptop electronics, and magic. Listen here.
Gob Squad’s Kitchen(You’ve Never Had It So Good)
January 13-15
I was thrown into my love for Gob Squad even before I knew about their impressive catalogue of work created since their inception in 1994. Gob Squad’s work is insanely entertaining and easily accessible but doesn’t sacrifice the substance of a mentally stimulating performance. Their current work Kitchen (You’ve Never Had It So Good) comes across as improv as the cast uses film, TV, and pop music to recreate the “hedonistic experimental energy of the swinging sixties” while attempting to map out the impact the era has on contemporary culture; executed with Warhol-style panache.
Berlin: Bonanza
January 20-22
I am compelled by the most basic premise of this piece; a rural township in Colorado with a population of 7 permanent residents. Mark is afraid of Mary, Darva and Shikiah are “metaphysical coaches,” Mary is a witch who is free on bail, etc. Though the piece Bonanza takes place in a theater (McGuire to be precise), upon a screen (or more accurately, five), set on a stage (with scale model of said township), don’t forget this is a real town and these are real people who invite the viewer to see their home as they see it: Bonanza as a “microcosm of the world.” You don’t have to convince me to drink the kool-aid.
It’s almost criminal to choose only three events to highlight from such a well-crafted season. With cross-disciplinary works appealing to those of us interested in film, new media arts, music, and even puppetry, this season is sure to please the most diverse artistic palate.
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