Orwellian Dance Dance Revolution Premieres in NYC Dec. 3
By Kenneth Jones
03 Dec 2008
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Van Hansis
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Les Freres Corbusier, creators of Hell House, Heddatron, Boozy and A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant, presents its latest avant garde show, the world premiere of Dance Dance Revolution, created by the company and directed by Alex Timbers, Dec. 3-20 at the Ohio Theater in Manhattan.
Inspired by the popular video game of the same name, Dance Dance Revolution, according to production notes, "is like 'Footloose' set in the future — but much scarier, and with 40 really attractive, barely-clothed young actors as well as free beer!"
The cast includes B. Brian Argotsinger, Van Hansis (of Off-Broadway's Die Mommie Die! and Emmy Award nominee for "As the World Turns"), Greg Hildreth, Amelia McClain, Vayu O'Donnell, Ben Steinfeld and Ian Unterman.
The downtown production features original songs by Gary Adler (Altar Boyz) and Phoebe Kreutz.
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According to the acclaimed experimental theatre company, "Les Freres transforms the Ohio Theater into a fully immersive, bombed-out discothèque as it fuses unmerciful Japanese rave music with deeply regrettable sophomoric comedy in the futuristic dance spectacular, Dance Dance Revolution. Riffing on fizzy dance musicals like 'Flashdance' and death sport movies such as 'Rollerball,' Dance Dance Revolution is set in an Orwellian society where dance is illegal. A group of local street toughs harbor no hope of overthrowing the fascistic no-fun government — until a mysterious dance prophet named Moonbeam Funk arrives."
This marks Les Freres Corbusier's first New York show in two years since its revival of the Obie Award-winning A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant at New York Theatre Workshop.
Les Freres "is known for its exhaustively researched, topically relevant, comically avant-garde theatrical creations."
The Oppenheimer-winning Heddatron by Elizabeth Meriwether will receive its West Coast premiere in July 2009 at Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles, directed by Alex Timbers.
Timbers is artistic director of Les Freres Corbusier and has directed all of the company's shows. Recent credits include The Language of Trees (Roundabout Underground), Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (CTG, LA; co-written with Michael Friedman), Gutenberg! The Musical! (Drama Desk nomination, Best Director of a Musical). He's attached to Disney's Peter and the Starcatchers at La Jolla Playhouse (co-director) and Heddatron at CTG.
Songwriter Adler received two 2005 Drama Desk nominations (along with Michael Patrick Walker) for both his music and lyrics for Altar Boyz. The show itself received seven Drama Desk nominations, four Lucille Lortel nominations (winner, Outstanding Choreography), two Drama League nominations, and won the 2005 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical. He is currently the conductor of Broadway's Avenue Q.
Dance Dance Revolution is produced by Andrew Kircher for Les Freres Corbusier. Choreography is by Danny Mefford; set design is by Donyale Werle; costume design is by Emily Rebholz; lighting design is by Justin Townsend; sound design is by Jeremy Lee; video design is by Jacob Pinholster; production stage manager is Andrea Wales.
Dance Dance Revolution was developed and workshopped at the Williamstown Theatre Festival.
The performance schedule for Dance Dance Revolution is Tuesday through Sunday at 8 PM. Ohio Theater is located at 66 Wooster Street. Tickets are $18 general admission and may be purchased at www.smarttix.com or by phoning (212) 868-4444. For more information visit www.lesfreres.org.
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