Check out parts of an interview with Tim Watts - the mastermind and one-man performance of THE ADVENTURES OF ALVIN SPUTNIK: DEEP SEA EXPLORER.
http://nyuskirball.org/calendar/alvinsputnik
SPUTNIK begins Earth Week and after reading this interview, it is clear that choice is unbelievably appropriate.
“The Alvin puppet inspired a lot of the elements within the story. He had to be a deep sea diver, so the story was about the ocean. Arielle Gray (who helped me make the show) and I went snorkeling at Great Barrier Reef, which was a
huge inspiration for us. I will never forget looking out into the crystal clear blue water, into the endless nothing and being absolutely terrified! We felt so small and vulnerable in the face of the deep unknown. Humans have still have explored so very little of the ocean, which is so exciting and inspiring. It’s full of so many possibilities… it is a creative goldmine! Every time they do exploratory dives they find new and absurd species that you couldn’t dream up.
Also the ocean is one of the big players in the whole climate change thing that’s going on. I love the ocean and it is so tragic that so much sea-life is being destroyed. I wanted to make a show that in some way acknowledged
the environmental situation. But I didn’t want to make it an educational show, or a show to make the audience feel guilty or apathetic. They feel that already; I know I do. What I need is to feel hopeful and empowered. So I wanted to make a show that was set in an environmental apocalypse (in the
face of foreboding doom) but that was lots of fun, full of joy and hope.” - Tim Watts
APRIL 20 & 21
Exhibition Manet: Portraying Life
A Bar at the Folies-Bergère was Edouard Manet’s last large-scale work — it was his monument to the Paris of his lifetime! The Royal Academy of Arts presents, Exhibition Manet: Portraying Life; a major exhibition captured cinematic-ally spanning his body of work.
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http://nyuskirball.org/calendar/manet
No big top required for Circa, Australia’s 21st century circus. They will surprise, delight and amaze you with their mind-bending and acrobatic moves in WUNDERKAMMER.
Australian Bangarra Dance Theater artistic director Stephen Page & choreographer of the hit film “The Sapphires” is an alumni performer of NYU’s Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. See “The Sapphires” NYC premiere on Sun. March 3rd at NYU Skirball @7pm.
Black Arm Band: Dirtsong/The Sapphires
Between the 1890’s and 1970’s, 100,000+ Aboriginal children were forcefully removed from their parents in Australia(as with the Collard children in this photo). These children are called “Stolen Generations”. Forced abductions and adoptions designed to assimilate them into white society, requiring them to give up their spirituality, language and culture with many to never see their parents again.
Two events in our Visions + Voices: Australia series look into this history. Tonight, the Black Arm Band, a collective of Australia’s premiere indigenous musicians does it with music, as does the award winning film “The Sapphires” on March 3rd.
thirteenny:
Her musical genius influenced Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Little Richard and many more… do you know who Sister Rosetta Tharpe is? Learn about ‘The Godmother of Rock & Roll,’ TONIGHT at 9PM.
Watch Tharpe in a live 1964 performance.
She wrote and recorded the original version of “Hound Dog” covered by Elvis Presley.
This music is giving us the energy to make it through a day and a half of work before dirtsong tomorrow night at 8!
It’s incredible how music can translate foreign languages into pure energy that resonates no matter what you speak.
We are so thrilled that The Black Arm Band Company is going to fill our theater with their contagious passion and powerful message.If this music sounds this good through earphones, just image getting to feel the vibrations in your bones!
Check out this video from The Black Arm Band based on their performance dirtsong. They’ll be playing at NYU Skirball on 2/22!
There are so many reasons to love New York City, especially during the holidays. Here’s one reason that we love NYC in particular: it is actually a good time (finally!) to be a young playwright! According to the New York Magazine article “Reasons to Love New York City 2012” by Scott Brown, “we might be looking at the one thing theater critics, climate scientists, and religious extremists have hitherto agreed did not exist: a future.” This season we can’t wait to get out there and enjoy all that New York City has to offer, including new plays. Check out the article here: http://nymag.com/news/articles/reasonstoloveny/2012/young-playwrights/
