Following his acclaimed direction of Scenes From a Marriage Off-Broadway last year, director Ivo van Hove returns to New York to helm this production of Sophocles' 2400-year-old classic starring world-renowned actress Binoche in the title role. Performances runs through Oct. 4.
The festival kicked off Sept. 16 with a line-up that features 32 theatre, dance, music, opera and performance art productions from around the globe.
Other festival highlights include a solo show by Miranda July, the latest show from cirque wunderkid James Thierrée and a world-premiere collaboration between Steppenwolf co-founder Terry Kinney and American indie band Other Lives. To purchase tickets visit BAM or phone (718) 636-4100. The Next Wave Festival runs through Dec. 20.
In October, filmmaker, artist and writer July will perform in a unique performance art piece that blends fiction and real-life. Following the success of her recent book release "The First Bad Man," July promises a solo show full of surprises and audience interaction. October will also see the world premiere of Reconfiguration: An Evening with Other Lives, co-conceived by Kinney and Rebecca Habel. The unique show reconceives the indie rock band's live show in an immersive theatrical experience. The band will perform from their most recent album accompanied by an audio-visual narrative crafted by Kinney.
The full slate includes a mix of dance, music, opera, physical theatre, performance art and theatre. Here is the season at a glance:
Theatre:
17 Border Crossings by Thaddeus Phillips
Theater director and designer Thaddeus Phillips premieres a new solo theatrical work that takes audiences to the frontiers of Egypt, Bosnia, Cuba, Brazil, Morocco, Colombia, Austria, Bali, Czech Republic, Israel, Jordan, Serbia, Croatia, Italy and Mexico. Performances will run Sept. 30-Oct. 3.
Helen Lawrence conceived and directed by Stan Douglas, written by Chris Haddock
Inspired by post-war film noir, the tale of Helen Lawrence, femme fatale arriving in Vancouver to seek revenge for the murder of her husband, is crafted by award-winning visual artist Stan Douglas and acclaimed screenwriter Chris Haddock ("Da Vinci's Inquest"). Billed as a combination of 3-D film experience and live suspense theatre, performances will run Oct. 13-17.
Texts&beheadings/ElizabethR by Karin Coonrod.
Director Coonrod constructs a theatrical work from Queen Elizabeth I's own's writings: letters, speeches and prayers. Four actresses portray the ever-changing spirit of the monarch. Performances will run Oct. 21-24.
The Exalted by Carl Hancock Rux with music by Theo Bleckmann, directed by Anne Bogart.
Award-winning poet, writer and playwright Rux collaborates with acclaimed Grammy-nominated composer Theo Bleckmann and SITI Company artistic director Anne Bogart in a multi-media narrative piece about Carl Eistein, a German-Jewish art historian and major influence on the likes of Grosz, Picasso and Braque. Performances will run Oct. 28-31.
Savannah Bay by Marguerite Duras and directed by Didier Bezace.
Théâtre de l'Atelier, Paris. Paris' historic theatre makes its BAM debut with this revival of Duras' rarely produced 1982 work. Set in a stark white room, it is a moving character drama about two women. Performances will run Nov. 11-14.
Steel Hammer by Julia Wolfe and SITI Company.
Pulitzer Prize winner in music Wolfe collaborates with the SITI Company for this musical presentation that blends folk music and rock, performed by the six-member band, Bang on a Can. Performances will run Dec. 2-5.
Alas, the Nymphs by John Jahnke
A collaborative dance-theatre work from Hotel Savant artistic director Jahnke, based on the ancient Greek myth of Hylas. The show will feature music by electronic composer Fennesz, with performances set to run Dec. 9-12.
Sancho: An Act of Remembrance by Paterson Joseph and co-directed by Simon Godwin.
Joseph returns to BAM following his acclaimed performance at BAM in the Royal Shakespeare Company's Julius Ceasar. In this solo show conceived and performed by Joseph, he explores the true story of Charles Ignatius, the first man of African origin to vote in Britain. Performances will run Dec. 16-19.
Next Wave will also feature two opera works: Refuse the Hour, a multi-media chamber opera and lecture-performance by William Kentridge exploring the nature of temporality, featuring a cast of 12 dancers, musicians, performers and vocalists; and YOU US WE ALL, a contemporary opera by singer and composer Shara Worden partnered with writer and director Andrew Ondrejcak.
The line-up also includes a host of dance performances from world-renowned companies. Highlights include The Hard Nut, the Morris Dance Group's cheeky homage to The Nutcracker; Rice by Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan, considered Asia's leading contemporary dance theatre; and TAPE, a rare New York visit from acclaimed Nordic choreographer Kenneth Kvarnström.
For the full list of dance, theatre, music and performance engagements visit BAM.
View the festival trailer below:
