After a long hiatus from the art scene, I’m excited to announce that the countdown to my new multimedia performance, “Rhinoceritis in the Making,” has officially begun!
I’ve been wanting to stage this performance for at least ten years. Sure, the concept started off quite differently. Though the title remained the same, as with any project, it has a mind of its own. Constantly evolving, in the end, it became simpler, more personal, and more powerful.
The journey, with its bumps along the way, is always incredibly exciting for me. I’m always curious to see where an idea will take me, how external factors shape it, and how it transforms along the way. My mind keeps working at it while I search for the right venue and performers. The venue is very important – I need to see it, feel it, and let my imagination fill it in. The performers are even more important – besides skill, talent, and openness, I look for a certain energy and feeling that resonates with me and my work. I look for the “je ne sais quoi.”
Tiffany Du Mouchelle, Joel Hunt, and John Aaron Troy rehearsing together for the first time at my studio, ScenoArt.
After lingering in my mind for so many years, I finally made this project one of my resolutions for last year. Inspired by Eugene Ionesco’s “Rhinoceros,” my concept, an adaptation for horns, began with a cast of nine, including saxophone players and actors. The project was resource intensive so I decided to apply for the 2024 Creative Impact Fund grants with Art Services Inc. Rather fortunately, that didn’t come through.
I’m thrilled with how it all came together. I met John last April at Pausa Art House and was immediately drawn to his energy and stage presence. I asked if he’d be interested in a project outside the mainstream and happily, he agreed. John introduced me to Joel, a talented musician and artist from Rochester who teaches at both Penn State and Rochester Institute of Technology. With his busy schedule and commute, having him on board is truly a privilege.
I had previously heard Tiffany sing at “A Musical Feast.” When I listened to her piece “Breath,” I knew she’d be perfect for this performance. She’s the Director of Vocal Performance at the University at Buffalo and a “vocal chameleon.” Given her outstanding musical versatility and electric stage presence, when I reached out to her for a recommendation, I secretly hoped she’d want to be part of it. Last minute, my wish came true!
I’ll leave it at that for now. Join us May 1st at 7 pm at Pausa Art House for this one-night-only performance and stay after for a Q&A session to learn more about the work and the behind-the-scenes. And if you haven’t been to Pausa Art House yet, this is the perfect opportunity to visit and meet Lazara, the wonderfully charming venue owner. Plan to have dinner there – while it’s a listening venue, it also has the intimate feel of a “dinner theatre” space.
With the main stage seating just 40 people and the bar area 18, Pausa Art House is an intimate venue with limited seats. Don’t wait too long to grab your ticket and secure your favorite table! Ticket link here.