In Context: Ionesco Suite

Photo: Jean Luis Fernandez

A feat of repartee and wordplay from acclaimed director Emmanuel Demarcy-Mota and Théâtre de la Ville, Paris, Ionesco Suite comprises excerpts from the following plays: The Bald Soprano; The Lesson; Frenzy for Two, or More; Jack, or The Submission; and French Conversation and Diction Exercises for American Students, allowing audieno experience principal scenes and taste the tragicomic stylings of playwright Eugène Ionesco. Context is everything, so get even closer to the production with this curated selection of related articles and videos. After you've attended the show, let us know what you thought by posting in the comments below and on social media using #Ionescosuite.

Notes on Ionesco Suite From Its Actors and Creators

Théâtre de la Ville, Paris presents Ionesco Suite, a collective work based on texts by Eugène Ionesco staged as an unruly dinner party, at the BAM Fisher from Jan 23—26, directed by Emmanuel Demarcy-Mota. The actors and creators provided texts of their own about the Ionesco Suite adventure, which have been translated here.

Free Cinema Tickets for Federal Employees

If Beale Street Could Talk, Courtesy of Annapurna Pictures

Beginning Monday, January 14, federal staffers on furlough due to the government shutdown are offered free admission to the first show of the day of any film currently playing at BAM Rose Cinemas (30 Lafayette Ave), Monday through Thursday. To receive one free ticket, present a Federal Employee ID at the box office; no online or advance orders are available. Showtimes for all films are available at bam.org/film.

Choreographer Rodrigo Pederneiras on the Inspiration Behind Bach & Gira

Brazil’s Grupo Corpo brings Bach & Gira to the Howard Gilman Opera House (Jan 31—Feb 2). Choreographer Rodrigo Pederneiras answered some questions about the productions.

Q: What inspired you to pair Bach and Gira?

A: Bach is a piece from 1996, and the main idea was a tribute to Johann Sebastian Bach. Starting from there, we wanted something superior, elevated, that transmits the greatness of the German composer. Gira, a view of Afro-Brazilian religions, has a spiritual characteristic. From this angle, we have the elevation of spirituality throughout both pieces, and it seemed interesting to present them together.

Race, Sex & Cinema: The World of Marlon Riggs

By Ashley Clark

Tongues Untied (1989), Courtesy of Signifyin' Works and Frameline Distribution

Filmmaker, gay rights activist, poet, professor, provocateur: the late, great Marlon Riggs (1957—94) spoke truth to power through his work in bracingly eloquent fashion. Race, Sex & Cinema: The World of Marlon Riggs (Feb 6—14) is an expansive celebration timed to mark the 25th anniversary of Riggs’ passing from AIDS-related complications, and the 30th anniversary of his best-known film, the seminal Tongues Untied, which opens this series on Wednesday, February 6.

2019 Winter/Spring Preview

Pepperland, photo by Gareth Jones

The 2019 Winter/Spring Season at BAM is an intriguing, diverse line-up of performances. They share at least one thing in common—they were chosen by Joseph V. Melillo as his final BAM season. The executive producer of more than three decades stepped down from his BAM position at the end of December, but has curated programs through June of 2019. This swan song slate embodies many of the singular talents and genres that have captivated audiences throughout his tenure.

A New Year Message From Katy Clark, President of BAM

Even for the most resolution-averse, the New Year is a time when we reflect on the past and consider our intentions for the future. At BAM, this is especially resonant as we are undergoing considerable and exciting changes.

In Context: Unbound: Malala Yousafzai

BAM welcomes Nobel Peace Prize laureate and New York Times bestselling author Malala Yousafzai (I Am Malala and Malala’s Magic Pencil) to discuss her powerful new book, We Are Displaced: My Journey and Stories from Refugee Girls Around the World. New York Times journalist Rukmini Callimachi leads this powerful discussion about the displacement of millions worldwide through the lens of Yousafzai’s own stunning account of the girls she’s met in refugee camps and cities—girls who have lost their community, relatives, and often the only world they've ever known. Context is everything, so we’ve provided some articles to read and videos to watch.

Singing the Snowflakes

Photo by Richard Termine

By David Hsieh

In a ballet as full of magical moments as The Nutcracker, the Waltz of the Snowflakes may just be the most magical. Our heroine (Marie or Clara, depending on the version) just helped fend off the Rat King in an act of desperation. Then the wooden Nutcracker turns into a handsome cavalier to take her to a magical snow kingdom full of winter wonder. This moment of transformation with a sense of wonder is conveyed through every element of the staging. The scene shifts from domestic interior where rodents lurk to a forest covered in pristine white. The atmosphere changes from a real world to an imagined one. The dance style changes from social (and mime) to classical ballet on point. The characters change from kids to adults. And Tchaikovsky’s music suddenly adds in a vocal part—the only one in the entire score.

In Context: Strange Window: The Turn of the Screw

A lone governess caught between memory and nightmare weaves a chilling tale made startlingly relevant as her sanity comes into question. Truth, it appears, is relative. A seductive retelling of the Henry James classic by The Builders Association, Strange Window: The Turn of the Screw brings technological stagecraft to the traditional theater format. Context is everything, so we’ve provided some articles to read and videos to watch. After you’ve attended the show, let us know what you thought by posting in the comments below and on social media using #StrangeWindow.