FrenetiCore Renames Frenetic Theater, Announces New Management

Following the departure of FrenetiCore's Founding Artistic Director Rebecca French, the organization's Executive Director and Board of Directors have decided to continue operations at its home facility of eight years at 5102 Navigation Boulevard.

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"FrenetiCore is located in one of Houston's most vibrant cultural hubs," says Executive Director Adam Castaneda. "So moving forward our direction is going to have a stronger emphasis on community-building, art-making, peer-to-peer support, and making alliances within the East End Cultural District." To indicate this new direction, the Board of Directors has voted unanimously to rename the space at 5102 Navigation Boulevard the Pilot on Navigation. The Pilot on Navigation is a performing arts facility that includes a 120-seat black box theater, an 80-foot exhibition hall, dance studio, and outdoor pavilion.

Operations at the Pilot on Navigation will be overseen by Mr. Castaneda, as well as Venue Manager Melalani Peterson, Facilities Associate Patricia Clifford, and Company Manager Tory Pierce. FrenetiCore's programming will remain intact, including two annual productions by FrenetiCore Dance, and the annual Houston Fringe Festival, a five-day celebration of independent and original performing arts. The Frenetic Theater Artist Board and Frenetic Theater Artist-in-Residence Program have been renamed the Pilot Artist Board and Pilot Artist-in-Residence Program, respectively. Executive Director Adam Castaneda will curate each of the organization's programs, as well as create and produce full-length dance works under the FrenetiCore Dance banner.

By the end of August, the organization hopes to make the following improvements to the Pilot on Navigation: repainting the lobby, repainting the bathroom and installing new sink fixtures, leveling the floor in the exhibit hall, installing legs to the performance area, and constructing a new backdrop for the stage. The team at the Pilot will be leading a volunteer week August 1 - 4 to complete the cosmetic renovations. More information about the volunteer week can be found here: www.facebook.com/events/1276000512425096.

"The staff and board of FrenetiCore want to make the Pilot on Navigation the go-to destination for independent arts and small-sized organizations who want to produce, but need to do it on a budget," says Mr. Castaneda. "As a result, we've lowered our weekly buyout rate from $1,500 to $1,300. The buyout options allows clients to use the space for seven consecutive days with 24/7 access to the theater, which allows for unlimited rehearsal and performance time during that period."

"FrenetiCore is looking to artists and organizations to really build a community in this space. It's a blank slate where artists with the right vision and talent can create some really great experiences. I'm looking forward to developing FrenetiCore's fall programming, which is already quite full and promises to give the East End and Greater Houston community the best in locally-driven work."

FrenetiCore's mission remains to transform and empower communities through innovative dance, theater, and visual art, but with a more targeted focus.

FrenetiCore's Upcoming Calendar of Events:

The Human Zoo, Invisible Lines

Presented by the Pilot Artist Board

July 15 - 17

Through movement and poetry, Houston-based poetic troupe Invisible Lines will present a page-to-stage production of The Human Zoo, featuring the work of literary artists Robin Davidson, Billie Duncan, Savannah Blue, Mike McGuire, and Rebecca Oxley. This evening-length work examines the physical, emotional, and economic constraints of twenty-first century life.

Visceral, Urban Souls Dance Company

Presented by the Pilot Artist-in-Resident Program

August 5 - 7

Following the critical success of Between Two Worlds: A Hymn for Black Gay Men on Race, Religion, and Rites of Passage, the female members of Artistic Director Harrison Guy's acclaimed company will present Visceral, a full-length dance work about the reclaiming of the black female body from media, popular culture, and Western history.

The Ninth Annual Houston Fringe Festival

August 24 - 28

The 2016 Houston Fringe Festival adopts a more cohesive format by presenting 12 shows at one venue. The Pilot on Navigation will host new work by Cirque La Vie, Sin Fronteras, HANA HANA Performance Collective, ReFine Arts, Lori Yuill, Daniela Antelo, Tina Malone, Destyne Miller, Harold Trotter, Felicia Thomas, Brittani Broussard, Kendall Kramer, Ryan Adams, House of Dollz, and Invisible Lines. The festival culminates with its signature Anything Goes program, a round-robin style show featuring ten-minute works of all disciplines.

FrenetiCore's Apocalypse Ball: Mad Max Edition

September 10

FrenetiCore's annual cataclysm-themed fundraiser returns with an homage to one of the greatest action/adventure franchises of all time. Guests are encouraged to dress up in their favorite post-Apocalyptic Mad Max attire for an all-night bash that includes performances by FrenetiCore Dance, Holding Space Dance Collective, the Space Aliens, and more. General admission includes buffet-style food options and VIP admissions include an all-night open bar.

FrenetiCore Dance Fall Show

November 17 - 20

FrenetiCore Dance's as-of-yet untitled fall show will be a contemporary dance celebration of the 90s! In collaboration with Inertia Dance Company, FrenetiCore Dance will present a year-by-year retrospective of the cultural trends and social/political milestones of that pop culture-saturated decade. Performers include Marian Bayer, Adam Castaneda, Tory Pierce, Kristina Pratts, Davis Stumberg, and Brendan Winkfield, as well as the artists of Inertia Dance Company.

Works by Laura Harrell and Maggie Lasher

Presented by the Pilot Theater Artist Board

December 8 - 10

Independent choreographer Laura Harrell and Holding Space Dance Collective Artistic Director Maggie Lasher present an evening of dance work, including a twenty-minute fire performance set from Lasher's upcoming full-length narrative, Light Bearer. This as-of-yet untitled show will conclude FrenetiCore's 2016 Artist Board programming.

FrenetiCore is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with the mission to transform and empower communities through innovative dance, theater, and visual art. FrenetiCore manages the Pilot on Navigation, a 17,000-square foot performing arts facility located in Houston's historic East End. Artists and companies interested in participating in the Pilot Artist Board or Pilot Artist-in-Residence Program in 2017 should contact Executive Director Adam Castaneda via e-mail: adam@freneticore.net.

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