Celebrating curiosity, Attack Theatre marks its 27th year with a world premiere to jump start the spirit of inquiry for all ages. Running from Thursday through Sunday, Feb. 3-6, Curiosity: The Play Book aims to ignite joy and wonderment in midwinter through live performances that will also be streamed during three evenings from the company’s new Lawrenceville headquarters, in addition to one live sensory friendly matinee. The one-hour show will be performed with no intermission with audiences of no more than 40 patrons with tickets on sale now.
Artistic directors and co-founders Peter Kope and Michele de la Reza employed improvisation to choreograph the piece. They considered the transformative aspects of the very routines of everyday life that may stunt our creative instincts. Dance, music, and storytelling explore how everyday life may get lost in the destination, but there’s beauty in the journey. Perhaps, say the directors, participants can let habits, responsibilities, grocery shopping, middle school assignments, old friend drama, dirty laundry, and bad coffee melt away.
Curiosity represents the fusion of modern dance, original live music, and interdisciplinary art forms for which Attack is known. New media design by Dane Toney and original music by Dave Eggar are featured.
Kope says, “Art making is about questioning and navigating uncertainty. It’s a joyful moment to sit with the challenge.”
The company’s six dancers–Lydia Clinton, Miranda Nichols, Sarah Zielinski, Isabella Bergamin, and Savionne Chambers–applied improvisation to explore such conceptual questions as: “What stops our curiosity?” Other times, it’s a physical challenge: “What is it like to try to dance with an inflatable snowman?”
“I am very much an end-goal person,” says Clinton, “and I don’t necessarily indulge in the process—curiosity challenges me to engage with the unknown.”
The resulting “chapters”–refined from the imaginative improvisation work–aim to “learn by wonder, and move through play,” says the company event description, Audiences and performers alike will test the boundaries of expectations and norms “to expand outward and connect with others.”
“For those still not ready or able to venture to the theater,” de le Reza adds, “live stream tickets are available for all evening performances (7 pm), captured in HD with a three-camera shoot.”
The Attack Story
Since founding Attack Theatre in 1994, Michele de la Reza and Peter Kope have ignited curiosity for audience members, artists, and students of all ages. They describe their beginning as “a collaboration between two dancers and a city” to create meaningful, accessible work at the intersection of art and community.
Indeed incurable and insatiable curiosity is at central in Attack Theatre’s creative programs. At the company’s new center in Lawrenceville and in the community, programs include: workshops for learners of all ages; performances in schools, community and senior centers; Creativity in the Workplace seminars; and collaborations with operas, symphonies, theater companies, museums and more.
About Curiosity: The Play Book
Attack Theatre, 212 45th Street at Butler, Lawrenceville, 15201
Thursday, February 3, 2022 | 7 PM*
Friday, February 4, 2022 | 7 PM*
Saturday, February 5, 2022 | 2 PM** & 7 PM*
*Denotes multi-camera high-quality livestream for 7 p.m. performances which will be available to ticket holders to be viewed after the performance series through the end of February.
** Saturday, February 5, at 2 PM is a Sensory Friendly performance for all.
Tickets on sale online start at $15 (Student, Educator, Artist, Senior) and advance tickets are $30. General admission at the dooris $35. For Pay What Moves You! (select performance dates available), visit attacktheatre.com.
COVID safety: The large open space is a former gym with very high ceilings.
Seating: Only 40 tickets are available for each performance and seating will be in pods.
Masks: Non-cloth masks are required at all times of all staff and patrons while indoors regardless of their vaccination status.
Vaccination: Guests must be fully vaccinated and show proof of vaccination at time of entry in the theatre with a valid ticket. All patrons must show proof of vaccination, and boosters are recommended. For those who are not eligible for vaccination or need reasonable accommodations due to medical exemption or a sincerely held religious belief, proof of a negative Covid test is required. Antigen tests must be within 24 hours, or PCR tests within 72 hours.
For more information about the COVID-19 policy and exceptions, please visit attacktheatre.com/COVID.
Before you go, explore Attacks’s new location on the company website.
Categories: Show Previews
Leave a Reply