AUNTS and A (MICRO) HISTORY OF WORLD ECONOMICS Set for PS122, Beg. Tonight

For more than three decades, Performance Space 122 (PS122) has served as a hub for contemporary performance, commissioning and presenting artists who have radicalized theatrical forms, triggered national political and ethical debates, and made waves on Broadway and beyond. As the institution's longtime East Village home undergoes renovations, PS122 is thriving in new ways, partnering with peer organizations across New York City and choosing venues best suited to their programming, instead of the other way around. PS122 continues to champion risk-taking - by its staff, its audiences and, most importantly, through the artists it supports, many of whom put themselves in physical and emotional harm's way while creating work that confronts social norms and/or seeks new modes of expression.

The 2013-14 season will exemplify PS122's unique programmatic vision, beginning tonight, September 24 with a riotous party from AUNTS, the underground dance platform. The event will include multiple performers, overlapping performances and inter-disciplinary work, and will culminate with a dance party open to all.

French playwright/director Pascal Rambert investigates our collective economic history in A (micro) history of world economics, danced, a large-scale performance piece based on the life experiences of New Yorkers recruited by Rambert to discuss and explore the economy's effects on their lives. PS122 presents the U.S. premiere with LaMaMa and the French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF), October 12-14 as part of the Crossing the Line 2013.

More 2013-14 programming will be announced soon.

Vallejo Gantner, artistic director of PS122, shared his enthusiasm for the season: "This year we celebrate and foreground the idea of risk. Economic, physical, spiritual and mental risks are all unpacked in the programs you will see. PS122 has long embraced the very notion of risk - by its staff, by its audiences and most of all by its artists who have at times put themselves at physical risk, taken tremendous artistic chances, courted controversy and confronted social norms. The creative endeavor we champion is one that must be full of risk to succeed. We wouldn't have it any other way."

PERFORMANCE SPACE 122, FALL 2013:

[Dance / Performance / Party]
2013-14 Season Launch Party
AUNTS
ISSUE Project Room (22 Boerum Pl, Brooklyn)
September 24 at 7pm
$30 in advance, $35 at the door
All tickets include open bar and hors d'oeuvres
Ticketing Link: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe/9815511

Known for throwing DIY performance events in lofts, museums and even, once, on a boat, AUNTS (Laurie Berg and Liliana Dirks-Goodman) will take over the PS122 2013-14 Season Launch in their signature fashion of overstimulation. The event will include multiple performers, overlapping performances and inter-disciplinary work, and will culminate with a dance party open to all. Participating artists include Justin Cabrillos, Levi Gonzalez, Stanley Love, Bessie McDonough-Thayer, Jillian Pena, Molly Poerstal, Matt Romein (interactive video), Elizabeth Ward and Emily Wexler, among others.

Performances made possible in part with support from the Mertz Gilmore Foundation. Food generously provided by Vbar.

[Dance / Theater]
A (micro) history of world economics, danced (U.S. Premiere)
Pascal Rambert
Co-presented with LaMaMa and French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF) as part of the Crossing the Line 2013.
La MaMa's Ellen StuArt Theatre (66 East 4th Street, 2nd Floor)
October 11, 12 at 7:30pm; October 12, 13 at 2:30pm
Post-show talk on October 12
$20
Ticket Link: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/926985

In this acclaimed production, French playwright/director Pascal Rambert investigates our collective economic history. Originally created during the height of the European economic crisis, this large-scale performance piece is based on the life experiences of New Yorkers, recruited by Rambert to discuss and explore the economy's effects on their lives in writing workshops leading up to the performance. Joined by professional dancers, the workshop participants recreate their daily actions on stage in a performance of raw bodies, accompanied by a professional choir and a spoken economic history provided by economist Eric Méchoulan of the University of Montréal.

Performance Space 122 (PS122) provides incomparable experiences for audiences by presenting and commissioning artists whose work challenges boundaries of live performance. PS122 is dedicated to supporting the creative risks taken by artists from diverse genres, cultures and perspectives. We are an innovative local, national and international leader in contemporary performance.

Beginning in 2011, PS122 embarked on one of the most unusual and potentially radical shifts in its history, including a re-structuring of artist support, a business model overhaul, and the renovation of our building. As PS122's East Village home undergoes a much-needed interior renovation supported primarily by the City of New York, DCA and DDC, PS122's core activity continues to be providing audiences with contemporary live performance.

For over 3 decades, Performance Space 122 has been a hub for contemporary performance and an active member of the cultural community. Under the curatorial vision of Vallejo Gantner (Artistic Director 2005 - present) PS122 has developed a set of programs designed to re-establish the value of live performance, provide singular experiences for audiences that inspire critical thinking, and sustain the creative process for artists throughout their career. Largely in partnership with peer organizations, PS122 currently presents artists in all disciplines in spaces all over the city during an annual fall & spring season and COIL festival in January.

In addition to the commissioning and presenting of artists from NYC across the US, and around the globe, PS122 has increased our activity off the stage to provide audiences with a variety of access points and context for the work on stage. These activities include both talkbacks with the artists as well as in depth conversations that bring together luminaries from non-arts disciplines to discuss a variety of topics including everything from religion, to migration, to queer real estate and cultural diplomacy. PS122 encourages the asking of questions and debate of contemporary society's issues in both artistic practice and audience experience.

Website: www.ps122.org
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/PerformanceSpace122
Twitter: @PS122
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ps122/