Neal Medlyn | Performance Space New York

Why Won’t You Let Me Be Great

“It’s hard to justify seeking any other form of entertainment on your Saturday night.”-Claudia La Rocco , The New York Times

“Would you totally go out and see some of the underground artsy dancing and acting that New York offers so much of, if only you had an ironclad guarantee that the performance wasn’t going to be boring and sucky? Well, today is your lucky day.”
– Emily Gould, Gawker.com

Catch & the creators of Our Hit Parade meet Kanye West!

WHY WON’T YOU LET ME BE GREAT!!! is a group show inspired by Kanye West’s ground-breaking, “Thom Yorke in the Strip Club” crossover pop album 808s & Heartbreak. Conceived by Brendan Kennedy and presented by Neal Medlyn and Catch in association with Performance Space 122, the evening-length performance will feature work by a vast array of downtown superstars showing pieces inspired by each song from the album, much as the Joffrey Ballet’s (in)famous Billboards choreographed the songs of Prince.

Choreographer’s playlist

Overture (new material) Justin Jones and Elliott Durko Lynch

1. “Say You Will” Karinne Keithley
2. “Welcome to Heartbreak” Neal Medlyn
3. “Heartless” Christine Elmo
4. “Amazing” Jennifer Monson
5. “Love Lockdown” Ann Liv Young
6. “Paranoid” Myles Kane
7. “RoboCop” Varsity Interpretive Dance Squad
8. “Street Lights” Kenny Mellman
9. “Bad News” Dance Gang
10. “See You In My Nightmares” Asubtout (Katy Pyle and Eleanor Hullihan)
11. “Coldest Winter” Juliana F. May/May Dance
12. “Pinocchio Story” Neal Medlyn

July 30 – Aug 1, 2009
Thu – Sat 8pm
Plus added show: Sat Aug 1st 10pm
Tickets from $20, Students/Seniors $15

NEAL MEDLYN’S UNPRONOUNCEABLE SYMBOL

prince

“A quirky and appealing performer”
-Charles Isherwood, The New York Times

“A performer of slinky, daring intensity!”
– Gia Kourlas, Time Out NY

“A Stream fo consciousness strip tease…like Jim Carrey on caffeine, being electrocuted”
– National Public Radio

NEAL MEDLYN’S UNPRONOUNCEABLE SYMBOL is Neal Medlyn’s fourth and largest to date pop song tragic-comedic extravaganza. Following the success of his Lionel Richie Opera, R. Kelly cabaret, and wild and bloody spin on Phil Collins, Medlyn takes on the purple, hyper-sexualized world of Prince.

Set to many of Prince’s biggest hits and infamous b-sides, all performed onstage by a live band, Neal plays out an evening of seduction and intense internal spiritual conflict between two characters: an engaged cab driver and a messianic libertine. Jealousy, band troubles, violence, death, a dream ballet, decent into hell and the eventual transubstantiation of body fluids and redemption all find their place in an operatic and overblown evening of androgynous musical entertainment.

With contributions from Kenny Mellman of Kiki and Herb, choreographer David Neumann, Carmine Covelli and Adrienne Truscott.

Check out Naked pictures of Neal on Nealmedlyn.com

Running time: 70 minutes

July 9 – 20, 2008
Wednesdays – Sundays at 8
Additional Late Shows on Saturdays at 11
Opening Night Party Wednesday, July 9

they will use the highways

Adrienne Truscott

Created in collaboration with David Neumann, Natalie Agee, Carmine Covelli, Neal Medlyn and Mauri Walton.

Adrienne Truscott’s new work, tentatively titled they will use the highways, will draw on images and phrases that have awoken, confused, humored or disgusted the choreographer in the last year. Much of they will use the highways was decided upon on the New Jersey turnpike in July and the rest of it is being sussed out under the dictatorial control of the choreographer, between snacks in rehearsal, with little or no cooperation from the dancers. She is, however, wholly dependent upon their talent and skills for success.

Adrienne Truscott has been performing, creating work and teaching in NYC for the last ten years. Most recently, her neo-vaudevillian collaboration with Tanya Gagne, The Wau Wau sisters, was seen off-Broadway at the Ars Nova Theater and at the Edinburgh International Fringe Festival. Adrienne was a founding member of LAVA, Sarah East Johnson’s Obie and Bessie Award-winning, circus-inspired dance company. She has worked with David Neumann, Sarah Michelson, Jennifer Miller’s Circus Amok, The Bindlestiff Family Circus, Linda Austin, Jennifer Allen, Julie Atlas Muz, Murray Hill and Russian ex-pat art pranksters Khomar and Melamid, among others. Her work has been seen at Performance Space 122, Dixon Place, The Painted Bride (Philadelphia) and The Kitchen, as well as The Bowery Ballroom, CBGB’s and The Henry Fonda Theater (LA).

March 31 – April 3, 2005
Post-show reception: March 31
Thursday – Saturday, 8 p.m.
Sun. at 5 p.m.