The Chase Brock Experience Dances to the Music of Kahane and Yazbek Oct. 8-11 | Playbill

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Classic Arts Features The Chase Brock Experience Dances to the Music of Kahane and Yazbek Oct. 8-11 The Chase Brock Experience, the modern dance company of dancer and choreographer Chase Brock, will premiere its new piece, American Sadness, set to the music of Gabriel Kahane, Oct. 8-11 at the Abrons Arts Center in NYC.


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Brock, who began his career at age 16 on Broadway in The Music Man, created his company three years ago, committing to modern dance.

The new work is billed as "the flip side of Brock's often sunny choreography." The 45-minute American Sadness is set to singer-pianist-composer Kahane's haunting, self-titled album, "which through its sophisticated, layered songs and music examines the bleaker side of human relationships."

According to production notes, "Like the subtle complexity of the music, the dance elegantly weaves the rigor and force of classicism with the urgent vitality of urban vernacular dancing. The pointe shoes, sneakers and ballet shoes worn by the various dancers permit the choreography's side-by-side integration of ballet, jazz and modern dance."

Created over the course of a year, American Sadness marks the first use of Kahane's music for a dance. Kahane was recently named the Public Theater's inaugural Musical Theatre Fellow, and is currently writing a new musical, February House, for the Public as part of that fellowship. In addition, he was recently commissioned by the Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA to write an evening-length work for its American Musical Voices Project.

Dane Laffrey, the company's associate artistic director, designed the sets and costumes, and Japhy Weideman is lighting designer.

The 90-minute program also features Brock's Slow Float set to music by Laura Nyro; Curious Episode, set to music by Claude Bolling, and the speed-jetting Junk and Lies set to music by Tony Award nominee David Yazbek.

Dane Laffrey designed the sets and costumes for all three works, and Tyler Micoleau designed the lighting.

CBE company members featured in the October engagement are Matthew Branham, Kendrick D. Carter, Joshua Christopher, Ashley Eichbauer, Erica Furst, Ryan Jackson, Yukiko Kashiki, Cassandra Taylor, Connor Killian Weigand and Micki Weiner.

Brock's theatre choreography includes A Little Night Music starring Polly Bergen and Barbara Walsh (Baltimore Centerstage) and Shenandoah starring Scott Bakula (Ford's Theatre); the world premieres of Yank! (New York Musical Theatre Festival), The Civilians' This Beautiful City (Humana Festival) and Cole Porter's The Pirate (Prince Music Theater); The 24 Hour Musicals (Joe's Pub) and The Duchess of Malfi (Yale School of Drama).

The curtain for The Chase Brock Experience's Oct. 8-10 performances is at 8 PM; the Oct. 11 curtain is at 5 PM.

Tickets are $45 and $35 (and $19 for students), and can be purchased online at www.henrystreet.org/arts; over the phone by calling (866) 811-4111.

Abrons Arts Center is located at 466 Grand Street in Manhattan.

Visit www.chasebrockexperience.com.

 
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