Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art has announced its 2012-13 season of live performances. The typically expansive, eclectic and inter-disciplinary season includes the following events:
- "Imperial Science: Una Opera Muerta" An operatic collaboration including the San Francisco-based director John Jota Leaños; Chicago-based choreographer Joel Valentin-Martinez; DJ/composer Cristóbal Martinez; and the Tucson-based Mariachi ensemble Los Cuatro Vientos. (Plays Sept. 14-16.)
- "Woyzeck on the Highveld." A collaboration between South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company ("War Horse") and the artist William Kentridge; it places Woyzeck in 1956 Johannesburg. (Plays Sept. 27-30.)
- ICE. In the third year of its residency at the MCA, the International Contemporary Ensemble will stage three shows, including "John Cage: Correspondances" (Oct. 6), "ICElab Carla Kihlstedt and Phyllis Chen" (Feb. 16) and "David Lang: The Whisper Opera" (Plays May 31-June 2).
- In a high-profile Oct 20-21 event, Stew, Heidi Rodewald, and their band The Negro Problem will perform a new work entitled "Chicago Omnibus," a compilation of their expressions of, and perspectives on, the city of Chicago, as developed during a summer residency.
- The performance artist Mike Daisey will perform a new piece, "American Utopias," from Nov. 1-11, in a co-presentation with the Chicago Humanities Festival. Daisey was recently in the news following the controversy surrounding his show about Steve Jobs andApple Inc. His new show is about the American obsession with utopias.
- "Martin Creed: Work No. 1020 (Ballet). A performance by the British multimedia artist featuring five dancers and a rock band centered on the five body positions of the classical ballet. (Plays Nov. 15-16.)
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"Tsukasa Taiko: Taiko Legacy" Tatsu Aoki directs three generations of artists from Tokyo, San Francisco, and Chicago in a percussion-based concert. (Plays Dec. 21-22.)
- " Miguel Gutierrez and the Powerful People: and lose the name of action." A commissioned piece performed by Gutierrez and six dancers, exploring philosophical matters. (Plays Jan. 31- Feb. 3.)
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"Baroque Band: 21st Century Brandenburg Project." The Chicago-based performance ensemble offers three distinct concerts. (Plays Feb. 21, 23 and 24.)
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"Fifth House Ensemble: Caleb Burhans and John Zorn." The Chicago-based multi-media ensemble featuring composers Burhans and Zorn. (Plays March 9.)
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"Compagnie Marie Chouinard: The Rite of Spring and Henri Michaux: Mouvements." The famous choreographer offers both a classic and a new work. (Plays March 21-23.)
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"Teatro Buendia: Pedro Páramo." In this co-presentation with the Goodman Theatre, the famed Cuban theater company performs a world premiere using actors from both Chicago and Havana. Flora Lauten, Buendia Artistic Director, and Henry Godinez of the Goodman Theatre are the co-directors.
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"Young Jean Lee’s Theater Company: Untitled Feminist Show." Six naked women explore female identity in the latest work from the widely admired writer and her theater company. (Plays April 18-21.)
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"eighth blackbird with Nico Muhly and Bryce Dessner." Two concerts from the Chicago-based ensemble. (Plays April 30-May 1.)
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"Back to Back Theatre: Ganesh Versus the Third Reich." A play from Australia designed to challenge preconcevied notions about disabilities. (Plays May 16-19.)
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"Hubbard Street Dance Chicago: danc(e)volve: New Works Festival." A co-opresentation with the Hubbard Street Dance Theatre, this is the second annual engagement at the MCA. (Plays June 6-16.)
- "Luna Negra Dance Theater: Luna Nuev." The Chicago Dance company, in performance. (Plays June 20-23.)
MCA Stage is presented in the newly named Edlis Neeson Theater at the MCA. For more information, visit www.mcachicago.org or call 312-397-4010.
