New York Live Arts to Present U.S. Premiere of DISABLED THEATER, 11/12-16

New York Live Arts, in partnership with Performa for Performa 13, will present the U.S. premiere of French choreographer Jérôme Bel and Zurich-based Theater Hora's critically acclaimed Disabled Theater, November 12 - 16 at 7:30pm and November 17 at 3:00pm. Dubbed "transcendent art" by Roberta Smith of The New York Times, David Velasco ofParkett 91 called it "a hit, satisfying all of our lukewarm progressive principles.while also providing a satisfyingly cathartic dramatic experience."

"Bringing artists and their productions to our stage that reflect upon and catalyze current lines of contemporary debate continues to be one of the guiding drivers of our curatorial program," says Carla Peterson, Artistic Director of New York Live Arts. "Disabled Theater, by the acclaimed French conceptualist Jérôme Bel working in collaboration with the noted Swiss company Theater Hora, represents this in spades. I'm thrilled once again to be partnering with Performa 13 (our fourth partnership since Performa's inaugural biennial festival in 2005) to bring this work to our stage at New York Live Arts for its U.S. premiere."

Interested since his early works in what stands beyond representation, Bel collaborated with 11 actors from Theater Hora, Switzerland's best-known professional theater company comprised of actors with learning and mental disabilities. With Disabled Theater,Bel opens up a space where disability is not expelled from visual and discursive practices, nor hidden behind the screen of political correctness. Instead, he places it squarely at the center of a discourse that has a bearing on both the aesthetic and political dimensions. Sparking both debate and praise across Europe, the work was a sensation at Documenta 13. In an article for The New York Times, Roberta Smith indicated that she "started shocked and disoriented and ended up completely caught up in it and grateful for what it revealed to me about what is often called 'our common humanity'." Frieze wrote of its "simple, stripped down conceptual clarity" and its "90 minutes of uneasy, preconception probing estrangement and empathy." With dramaturgy by Marcel Bugiel, Disabled Theater features Theater Hora performers Remo Beuggert, Gianni Blumer, Damian Bright, Matthias Brücker, Matthias Grandjean, Julia Häusermann, Sara Hess, Miranda Hossle, Peter Keller, Lorraine Meier and Tiziana Pagliaro.

Performances will take place in New York Live Arts' Theater. Come Early Conversations and Stay Late Discussions will also be featured with two shows. Tickets are $40. Tickets may be purchased online at newyorklivearts.secure.force.com/ticket/, by phone at 212-924-0077 and in person at the box office. Box Office hours are Monday to Friday from 1 to 9pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 8pm.

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