Showing September 18 – 21, 2013
12 – 1:30pm & 4 – 6pm
(20-minute performances)
Grace Plaza
1114 Avenue of the Americas
(at 43rd Street)
An Arts Brookfield Commission
The Nerve Tank, a world-class theater innovator, brings the woeful myth of Sisyphus to the Grace Building Plaza. Sisyphus, a daring and clever king who outwitted the gods on many occasions, is sentenced by Zeus to the absurd and eternal fate of pushing a boulder uphill only to have it roll back down. The Nerve Tank’s interactive encounter with this story features a 6 1/2-foot metal sphere pushed along the Plaza, overseen by a dancing Persephone, Queen of the Underworld. Sisyphus’ labor is to play the “boulder†in narrative order, which is filled with technology that triggers audio and video fragments as it moves. The task is impossible, yet he’s forced to keep going – and through his punishment he celebrates his stubborn pride.
Conception: Chance D. Muehleck
Director and Scenarist: Melanie S. Armer
Digital Interface Designers: Stephan Moore and Mikhail Mansion
Sound Design and Music: Stephan Moore
Lyrics: Chance D. Muehleck
Costume Designer: Miodrag Guberinic
Video Designer: Chris Jordan
Performers: Bizzy Barefoot, Amy Crossman, Mateo Ervin, Stacia French, Jenna Hoff, Jason Howard, Robin Kurtz, Mark Lindberg, Taylor Morrison, Amy Stringer, James “Face†Yu
Sphere Fabrication: Eric Coolidge with assistance by Melanie S. Armer and Chance D. Muehleck
Production Management: Aislinn Curry
Production Stage Management: Karin Carter
Apprentice/Asst. Direction: Rebecca Warzer
Sphere fabricated in residence: The Wurks, Providence, RI
Sphere Galvanization: V&S Galvanizing, Taunton, MA
I did the video design for this outdoor theater performance/installation, focused around the relationship between Sisyphus and Persephone. This performance is part of the Brookfield Arts program. The theater group is Nerve Tank, who I’ve worked with before, and am so thankful to work with again.
There’s so much to say and see with this performance, including an incredible audio system by Stephan Moore, drop-dead cool costumes by Mio Guberinic, written/conceived by the incomparable Chance Muehleck and directed by the lovely Melanie Armer. All acted out by the Nerve Tanks crew of talented, dedicated, endurance-actors.
Special thanks to Enki for helping me shoot the video for this production.
