Photo Flash: Sneak Peek at BLACKTOP HIGHWAY, Traveling to Dixon Place This Fall
By: BWW News Desk Oct. 03, 2016
Dixon Place presents its new theatrical commission Blacktop Highway, written and performed by the nationally renowned and groundbreaking artist John Fleck. One of the infamous NEA-4, Fleck has been a prominent theatrical figure since 1990 when he and three other performance artists' National Endowment for the Arts grants were withdrawn after being contested in a precedent-setting Supreme Court case. Below, BroadwayWorld has a look at Fleck onstage in an October 2015 production at REDCAT in LA!
Directed by Randee Trabitz, Blacktop Highway begins performances on Friday November 4th at 7:30 PM and will play a limited run of six performances only - November 4th, 5th, 11th, 12th, 18th and 19th at 7:30 PM, at Dixon Place (161A Chrystie Street). Tickets are $18 in advance, $22 at the door, and $15 for seniors and students and can be purchased by visiting www.dixonplace.org or by calling 866-811-4111.
Inspired by classic horror cinema and Freud's theories of mind and ego, Blacktop Highway weaves video and virtuosic theatrical staging with John Fleck's remarkable vocal qualities, leading the audience into a darkly hilarious world of sex, greed and religion as Fleck performs more than 10 characters.
The creative team includes costumes by Christina Wright, Video design by Heather Fipps, Puppet design by Christine Papalexis and original lighting design by Anne Militello.
John Fleck is a performance artist and actor based in Los Angeles. In 1990, he and three other performance artists (Karen Finley, Tim Miller, and Holly Hughes), now known as the NEA-4, were denied funding by the National Endowment for the Arts culminating in a U.S. Supreme Court case involving freedom of speech and charges of obscenity (John was vetoed for performance comedy with a toilet prop). John is the recipient of four LA Critics Circle Awards, eight DramaLogue, six LA Weekly and two BackStage West Awards, all for "Outstanding Performance". His previous show, Mad Women was nominated for a Bessie Award and won the 2012 LA Weekly Award for "Outstanding Solo Performance". Other critically acclaimed solo shows include: Side EFFlecks May Include, Johnny's Got a Gun, Nothin' Beats Pussy, Dirt, Me, A Snowball's Chance in Hell, Blessed are all the Little Fishes, Psycho Opera & I got the He-Be-She-Be's. In addition to Dixon Place, his past performance venues include: The ICA (London); ICGA (Boston); The Warhol Museum (Pittsburgh); The New Museum, The Public Theater, The Guggenheim Museum, PS-122, Second Stage, La Mama, Joe's Pub (NYC), The Broad Stage, The Getty Museum, Cal Plaza, MOCA, Taper 2 and Bootleg (LA). TV/Film (a sampling): "Criminal Minds," "Anger Management," "Bones," "The Middle," "True Blood," "Weeds," "The Closer," "Nip Tuck," "Carnivale," "Seinfeld," "Murder One" and "Tales of the City." John is one of only three actors who have performed as many roles in all the Star Trek TV series ("The Next Generation," "Deep Space 9," "Voyager" and "Enterprise."). Film credits include: Falling Down, Waterworld, etc., that enable him financial fluidity to create his, not necessarily for profit, performance art.
The Dixon Place Lounge is open before and after the show. Proceeds from the bar directly support Dixon Place's artists and mission. Dixon Place is located at 161A Chrystie Street (between Rivington and Delancey), in Manhattan's Lower East Side (By subway: B/D to Grand, F to 2nd Ave, J/Z to Bowery, 6 to Spring St, M to Essex St). Visit www.dixonplace.org.
Photo Credit: Rafael Hernandez
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