Short description:
THRUST! is a one of a kind double feature showcasing the works of the Tristan Bruns (tap) & Kate O’Hanlon (modern) and Ian Berg (tap). All choreography is set to an audience on three sides of a stage, or a thrust style stage, so there is literally not a bad seat in the house. Dancers are accompanied by elaborate props and set design, original music by Trainwreck Symphony and composer Carolyn O’Brian and new arrangements of popular music. Check out the newest production by Tapman Productions and see for yourself what can be found in the round.
Tickets are available here.
Long description:
WHY?
I’ve done it. You’ve done it. We’ve all done it: When you go to see a show in a thrust-style theatre, i.e. a theater with audience members sitting on all three sides, one of two thoughts go through your head – If you are early, you say “I better hurry and get a seat in the middle”; If you are late, you say “Rats! Now I have to watch the show FROM THE SIDE. I should have gotten here early.”
But that is not our fault, for we have been conditioned that way by dance and theatre companies misusing the space by setting their art in a standard one-front presentaion, effectively forgetting about the people on the sides.
Sometimes a choreographer will say,”Oh, uh, just turn a little bit. A little bit more. There, staging done.”
What a waste of a unique space – if you want a regular shaped theater then go rent a regular shaped theater. We can do better than that. In fact, someone did. My friend, Ian Berg.
WHAT?
Ian Berg was awarded a grant for new work by Audible Odyssey to be shown at their annual new works showcase in 2015, titled Amplified. I was one of the dancers in Ian’s Untitled Project, along with Starinah Dixon, Donnetta Jackson and Ian himself. One of the objectives of the piece was a rejection of standard presentationalism accomplished by treating all four sides, not just three, as the front and also by temporarily obstructing the view of some audience members so that they were only witness to the sound of the dancing.
For me, it was very difficult to let go of what you think of the as “the front” and I knew that it would be a challenge to try to perform and choreograph in this new mindset.
For THRUST!, the impetus is a combination of me wanting to see Ian more fully realize his work, to take on the challenge of creating appropriate art for a thust-style theatre and to change the audiences’ preconceptions about how a thrust-style theatre can be used.
WHO?
THRUST! will be split into two halves, one directed by myself, Tristan Bruns, and one directed by Boston/Chicago dancer, Ian Berg. My half will feature a mix of tap and modern dance with choreography by myself, Kate O’Hanlon and a collaboration between dancers Jessica Williams and Gloria Mwez. Ian’s half is all Ian.
Performing in the show is a great group of dancers: Martin Bronson, Jessica Williams, Zada Cheeks, Carmen Paquette, Tristan Bruns, Kate O’Hanlon, Megan Davis, Starinah Dixon, Gloria Mwez, Hannah Bailey, Juan Irizarry, Aimee Russon, Teresa Leahey, Jumaane Taylor, Ayan Imai-Hall, April Nieves and Von Smith.
There is also original music from local artists:
A contemporary composition by master composer Dr. Carolyn O’Brien; A made-for-the-show track from Trainwreck Symphony; Music from flamenco artists Idilio, featuring Chiara Mangiameli of Studio Mangiameli.
We are partnering up with Audience Architects, SeeChicagoDance.com and SHOUT! Marketing to get the word out. You can look for our ads on NPR/WBEZ 91.5, the Chicago Reader, the CTA and more.
HOW?
This project is partially supported by an Individual Artists Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Additional funds are being raised through a GoFundMe campaign which you can learn more about here.
And, or course, by people buying tickets to the show.
WHERE/WHEN?
THRUST! runs August 19-28, Fridays and Saturdays at 7pm and Sundays at 3pm, in the thrust theater at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave.
Tickets are $20 at the door. Buy tickets here.