2008. With the multimedia (RUS)H, James Scruggs and I were wrestling with the idea of sensation in our de-sensitized world: how far are you willing to go to feel something? Told in a non-linear format with text, dance, movement, media and music, we wove together the fragmented memories of a man, his wife and the unlikely man he befriends. In order to reveal the emotional underbelly of the characters, we developed experimental video puppets just for this project. This was a real trial-and-error process, which involved six prototypes, three different approaches to the media content, and numerous work-in-progress showings. We integrated text, gesture, salsa, tango, and fight choreography with complex video imagery. To spark dialogue with our audiences about the central issues in the work, we organized three panel discussions which included passionate conversations among artists, panelists and audiences.
“The ride… is dark, thrilling, and remarkably fresh in its visual and dramatic conception. A haunting production that looks strikingly novel, even as it explores issues of betrayal and identity central to the theatrical tradition.” – Brooklyn Rail
Kristin Marting 