The Queer New York International Arts Festival, a multi-venue festival curated by Zvonimir Dobrović, returns to New York and will kick off the season Sept. 17-27. Artists presenting U.S. premieres at Abrons Arts Center include Ivo Dimchev, Jan Martens, Mark Tompkins and Jeremy Wade. The New York premiere of the Forest Fringe MicroFestival will run Oct. 3-5 and will include performances and installations by Brian Lobel, Tim Etchells, Made in China, Deborah Pearson, Andy Field, Ira Brand and more.
Aaron Landsman will present Republic of New York: Perfect City Discussions — a co-production with Crossing the Line Festival and A Blade of Grass — described as a performed public meeting that "attempts to reimagine urban life outside of commerce" (Oct. 6).
Abrons Arts Center and Mark Dendy Projects will present the world premiere of Labyrinth (Oct. 9-26). The project is described as "a new tragicomic, autobiographically inspired retelling of the Theseus myth by award-winning choreographer Mark Dendy."
The Civilians will present the world premiere of Pretty Filthy (Jan. 30-March 1, 2015), described as "a delicious verbatim musical exploration of the porn industry"; and David Greenspan will present the world premiere of I'm Looking for Helen Twelvetrees (March 19-April 4, 2015), about a man who seeks out Helen Twelvetrees (the real-life star of the early talkies), directed by Leigh Silverman and featuring Brooke Bloom and Greenspan.
Sister Sylvester will present The Maids' The Maids (Oct. 30-Nov. 9), a performance project that reimagines Jean Genet's The Maids for two professional housekeepers and two professional actors; and New York icon Joey Arias will reprise the role of Mommie Dearest in the camp holiday classic Christmas with the Crawfords (Dec. 11–21). Abrons Arts Center is located at 466 Grand Street on Manhattan's Lower East Side. For more information and a full season lineup, visit AbronsArtsCenter.org.