Photo Flash: The Judgment of Paris

Company XIV presents the World Premiere of THE JUDGMENT OF PARIS, an erotically charged show with a unique fusion of dance, theater and music, choreographed and directed by Austin McCormick. McCormick currently performs with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet of New York. Performances run May 9 - 31, 2008 in a limited engagement at 303 Bond Street (between Union & Sackett) in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.
 
The show plays Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students and can be purchased online at http://www.SmartTix.com or by calling 212-868-4444. For more information on Company XIV and to view a tantalizing trailer visit http://www.CompanyXIV.com.

Inspired by the Greek myth "The Judgment of Paris", in which the first ever beauty contest occurred, and informed by the stage directions of the Baroque Opera, The Judgment of Paris, by John Weaver, Company XIV tells an epic story of lust, love, and tragedy, illustrating the events that lead to Paris' fateful decision to award Aphrodite the golden apple in exchange for Helen of Troy. This decision launched the Trojan War, resulting in years of blood shed and catastrophe.

The Judgment of Paris explores archetypes prevalent in Greek literature, tracing them through history, equating Helen of Troy (the first blonde bombshell) to other blondes throughout time…Marilyn, Marlene, Brigitte Bardot, etc. Humorous interludes, supplied by Offenbach's comic opera La Belle Helene, tantalize throughout the evening. Equal parts classical, contemporary, historical, and pop art, The Judgment of Paris defies easy categorization. The show is an official entry of the 2008 Edinburgh Fringe in Scotland.

The show includes music by Marlene Dietrich (Blonde Women, Maybe I'll Come Back, Look Me Over Closely), Arvo Part (Cactus in Memory of Benjamin Britten, Stabat Matter), Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (Quando Corpus), Antonio Vivaldi (Cum Dederit Dilectis Suis Somnum) and Jacques Offenbach (La Belle Helene).
 
Company XIV is a non-profit mixed media dance/theater company based in Brooklyn, New York. Founded by Artistic Director Austin McCormick in 2005, the company works in the mediums of live dance/theater and film. Company XIV is contemporary, yet baroque inspired, with a mission to produce compelling theatrical dance productions that create a beautiful affecting experience. Company XIV is the resident company of 303 Bond St., a 3,800 square foot performance/rehearsal venue. The space was converted from a tow truck warehouse to a theater, with the addition of a State of the art dance floor, glass façade and theatrical lighting.

Austin McCormick's work has been performed at Lincoln Center's Peter Jay Sharp Theater, Alice Tully Hall, Clark Studio Theater, and James and Martha Duffy Performance Space at the Mark Morris Dance Center in New York. His unique blend of Baroque vocabulary in conjunction with contemporary movements and theatrical staging is commanding attention. In 2007, he was the recipient of the Susan Braun Award, a grant given to one young choreographer/filmmaker by Dance Films Association, supporting new choreography for the camera. Subsequently, his dance film Folies d'Espagne premiered at the Walter Reade Cinema in Lincoln Center in January 2008 and has been selected/screened at Galerie Michel Journiac in Paris/France, the Wisconsin Film Festival, Circle Cinema Oklahoma, Film Fest Reload (Staten Island), and CineDans International Film Festival in Amsterdam. Dawn Lille of Art Times called the film "a rich, sensual and beautifully costumed work inspired by Baroque dance."

Austin was commissioned by the New York Baroque Dance Company in 2007 to create a new work involving artists from both Company XIV and NYBDC. He graduated in 2006 with a BFA from the Juilliard School and trained in Baroque Court dance from the age of eight with dance historian Régine Astier at the Conservatory of Baroque Dance, from which he graduated with Honors. Austin is an alumnus of North Carolina School of the Arts and the Harid Conservatory where he studied Classical Ballet.
 
The cast includes actor/opera singer Toby Burns (Harvard grad), actor Gioia Marchese ("Marchese manages to channel the wit and zany charm of the original team, displaying an impressive comedic range of her own" ~ 2007 Variety review of Parallel Lives) and dancers Laura Careless (Juilliard grad), Samantha Ernst (NYU grad/dance residency at Baryshnikov Arts Center), Yeva Glover (Vancouver Foundation Award-Winner for upcoming young dancer) and Davon Rainey (Juilliard grad).

The design team includes Leigh Allen (Lighting Design), Olivera Gajic (Costume Design) and Rumiko Ishii (Set Design).

Mature content – no one under 16 admitted. Running time is 75 minutes with one intermission.

The cast of The Judgment of Paris

Laura Careless

Yeva Glover

Samantha Ernst

Davon Rainey

Toby Burns

Gioia Marchese

Choreographer/Director Austin McCormick (center) and the cast of The Judgment of Paris

Choreographer/Director Austin McCormick (center) and the cast of The Judgment of Paris

Choreographer/Director Austin McCormick (far left) and the cast of The Judgment of Paris

Photos by Michael Hart.