Are you a banana or a maestro?
Hello, new readers! It's nice to see you here! If this is your first rodeo with Solid Seam, you can check out the 'about' section and let me know what you're hungry to hear about. This week has a couple of Fringe guides in preparation for the upcoming festival...
POV: you’re a Philly artist wanting to see work from other places
The curated Fringe festival still looks a little skimpy with offerings from touring artists, but it seems like every year there are a few more out-of-town guest artists on the Cannonball side of things. Here are a few from both sides that I recommend from past experience or am looking forward to checking out.
POWER - Reggie Wilson/Fist and Heel - Brooklyn-based Fist and Heel has some of the most gorgeous dancers you'll ever see and Reggie makes extremely layered work, where you can look, and look, and look again and there's still more there.
Ulysses - Elevator Repair Service - These New York luminaries and their romp with James Joyce are probably already on your list, with good reason.
FUZZY BULLDOZER - Kelly Bond and Ellery Burton - I've been following Kelly's work for something like 20 years and am thrilled that she is bringing a new show and collaborator to us from New Orleans. If there was some cruel god insisting I could only see one Fringe show this year, it'd probably be this one.
Desert Turtle - Mitsu Salmon - I got to know Mitsu when we were both in Chicago and trust this multimedia solo exploration of turtles, longevity, and migration will be thoughtful and sensitive.
introjective exhibition (nhập xuất nhập xuất) - Anh Vo - Their show non-binary pussy made a strong impression at Cannonball last year. Based in Brooklyn and Hanoi, Anh returns with a solo exploring haunted bodies.
Soppi (Change) - Esther Baker & Bamba Diagne - Esther is based in Philly but Bamba is visiting from Dakar, Senegal, and I believe their collaboration will be alchemical. The piece is currently in development through a residency at RAIR (Recycled Artist in Residency).
Bodhisattva Beer Run - Glenn Potter-Takata (Bronx) & evan ray suzuki (Brooklyn) - Binge drinking and Buddhism? I don't understand how they go together yet but I'm looking forward to the exploration from these dance / media / performance artists.
POV: you’re from out of town and want to catch some of the Philly vibe
OK, yes, we don’t know who will be running Fringe since Nick Stuccio has left (but maybe we will very soon?!). Yes, the Director of Performance potentially scene-shaping position at Pew continues to be empty after Bill Bissell’s retirement. Yes, it appears we have lost our crucial arts school in the very heart of the city. But we’ve still got some artists making new things! We still have a Scene! (right?)
When I lived in DC, I'd come up to Philly every year during Fringe and it's definitely worth a visit during this most wonderful time of the year. If you're not sure where to start, this guide is for you.
Poor Judge - Pig Iron Theatre Company - Always worth seeing the latest from these perennial Fringe favorites.
Nosejob - Lightning Rod Special - I saw a reading of Nosejob back in January and have rarely laughed out loud so much in a theater.
The Garden - Nichole Canuso Dance Company - Just magical in any iteration. Arch Street Meeting House makes a particularly logical home for this work reflecting on site and self.
FutureJam '94 - Chelsea Murphy - Dreamy aesthetics from this piece that centers '90s nostalgia. Two shows only!
Hacia La Luz - Elba Hevia y Vaca / Pasion y Arte - Elba has been making feminist flamenco works for years and this latest explores her Indigenous heritage.
On Buried Ground - powerhouse collaboration of dance artist Shayla-Vie Jenkins, playwright Rayne (Angela Bey), and director Nia Benjamin that dives into "hidden histories of enslaved and freed people of African descent."
What is the Butt Game? - Savannah Reich & Connor Hogan - Such a fan of Savannah's previous work that I am on board for anything she cooks up.
NOIZE FREAK - percussionist Steven Perry and dancer Vince Johnson - Vince owns Urban Movement Arts, a hub for street dance in Philly.
My Pussy Hurts Too - Dane Eissler and Paule Turner / Duchess - A "transgressive dance-theater riff on Waiting for Godot" from "two (aged and aging) queens."
Cannonball is also helping audience members navigate the abundance of festivals offerings this year with a cute new quiz. Take it and let me know what you got! I am especially curious about who the 'bananas' are out there. I got 'maestro,' which tracks.
Video of the week
I'm entranced by this music video by Venezuelan musician Daniella Barbarito, choreographed by and featuring Miguel Alejandro Castillo. Miguel also choreographed GHOST RIDE or the play that blows away, a play to be experienced on bicycles coming up at Philly Fringe.
Quote of the week
A big part of my week was spent experiencing the world premiere of How to Bend Down / How to Pick it Up by choreographer Kayla Hamilton at The Shed in New York. I work with Kayla in an administrative capacity and am continually learning from and cracking up with her. I appreciated this interview with Kayla that ran in Dance Magazine, and these bits especially stood out for me:
Nonhierarchical structures in a rehearsal process are enough to shake the room. With freedom comes responsibility and accountability. I’m asking, “Do we want it?”
How does disability as a method show up in How to Bend Down?
When we ask folks for their access needs, we’re also asking for access intimacy with oneself. You don’t have to be Disabled to experience ableism. There may be parts of ourselves we let go of in order to be like others. And while you may be able to mask your needs and desires, go along to get along, where does that leave people who cannot make their access needs fade away?
Product plug*
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Good-bye
Next week's letter will have more Fringe offerings I'm excited about. What shows are at the top of your list? Enjoy these waning days of summer in the meantime!
*I have no sponsors, just grateful to have a toenail.