Pivot Arts and Loyola University’s Department of Fine and Performing Arts are pleased to announce the fifth year of our performing arts incubator program. The program provides ensembles and artists time and space to develop original work that is innovative, collaborative and often blurs the boundaries between music, dance, theater and other disciplines. Students work alongside professional artists on each project.
Rough House Theater (pictured above, photo by Mike Oleon), the critically acclaimed Chicago puppet company will develop a new work Cicada Summer, a coming-of-age story and interspecies tragedy that involves a love between a human boy and a girl who is part human part insect. The piece will be brought to life with performers, puppets and a live music soundscape. Director Olivia Lilley of the Runaways will work with a choreographer, actors and dancers on her new play She Loves New York, a dance pop drama about sex, love, the self and New York City. The play uses dance and text to tell the story of two young women whose dreams take a tailspin during the 2008 economic crash. Finally, performance artist Corey Smith directs New Prairie School, a multi-media performance with collaborators interdisciplinary artist Lindsey Barlag-Thornton and percussionist Chris Sies. A hybrid piece of movement, music and text, New Prairie School uses 19th century architecture, pop songs, movement, performance art and theater to examine the culture of Midwest America.
The 2017 incubator program will culminate in a free public showing on Monday, March 27, 2017 at 7 pm at Loyola University’s Mundelein Center for the Arts, 1020 W. Sheridan Rd, Room 409. The evening includes short performances of works in progress plus a discussion led by Tanya Palmer, Director of New Play Development at the Goodman Theatre and Pivot Arts Associate. For reservations email info(at)pivotarts.org.