David Gordon's DANCING HENRY FIVE Opens at Peak Performances, 10/6-9

David Gordon has the rare gift of slyly slipping profound commentary into what appears a wacky good time. Example: "DANCING HENRY FIVE," which will be revived after four years at Peak Performances, October 6-9. Using physical staging, movie, music and select bits of Shakespeare's own language, this severely condensed version (from five hours to one hour) of the Bard's anti-war play takes on contemporary relevance through its veiled, and sometimes not-so-veiled, allusions to present day politics, love and war, proving some things never change.

Among the headliners in the show are downtown dancer and actress luminary Valda Setterfield and former New York City Ballet principal Robert La Fosse. The cast also includes Michael Bishop, Kendahl Ferguson, Lauren Ferguson, Karen Graham, and Omagbitse Omagbemi.

"DANCING HENRY FIVE" marks the third time a revival of a work by Gordon has been selected for funding by the National Endowment for the Arts American Masterpieces: Dance Program. The other two works were "Shlemiel the First," which was produced at Peak Performances in 2010, and "Trying Times."

About the Artists

David Gordon: (Writer/Director/Choreographer) constructs dance & theater events for Pick Up Performance Co(s). Commissions for directing &/or choreographing include: Danspace Project, Dance Theater Wkshp, Dance Theater of Harlem, White Oak Dance Project, American Ballet Theater, American Repertory Theater, American Conservatory Theater, Joyce Theater, Theater For a New Audience, NY Theater Workshop, Guthrie Theater, Mark Taper Forum, Brooklyn Academy Of Music, Serious Fun @ Lincoln Center, Spoleto Festival USA, Actors Studio, PBS/ WNET Great Performances, PBS/KTCA Alive TV, BBC/Channel 4, UK. Awards include: 2 Obies, 3 Bessies, 2 Dramalogues, 2 Guggenheims, 2 Pew Charitable Trust National ResidenCy Grants (in both Theater & Dance) 3 NEA American Masterpiece Grants (in Dance & Theater) Current member: Actors Studio, Center for Creative Research. Previous panel/chair: NEA Dance Program. Founding artist: Grand Union. Judson Church Performances. Performer: Yvonne Rainer Co./James Waring Co.

Valda Setterfield (Chorus #2/Falstaff/Alice, Lady in Waiting) British born dancer/actor, in pantomimes & w/Ballet Rambert before emigrating to US. Appeared w/James Waring, Katherine Litz, Robert Wilson, Richard Foreman, JoAnne Akalaitis, Judson performances w/David Gordon & w/Merce Cunningham for 10 yrs. Costarred w/Baryshnikov (PBS) in Made in USA, guest artist w/Rambert co, played Duchamp in Mysteries & What's So Funny? Toured Europe/Japan w/White Oak Dance Project. Played herself in Art, Life & Show Biz by her son Ain Gordon. Appeared in films of Yvonne Rainer, Brian de Palma & in Woody Allen's Mighty Aphrodite & Everyone Says I Love You choreographed by Graziella Danielle. Performed @ British Dance Umbrella 25th anniversary. Played Wife in Ionesco's The Chairs @ London's Barbican & BAM (US). Two NY Bessies (Dance & Performance Award) for outstanding achievement. Currently w/Paradigm & Boris Charmatz' 50 Ans de Dance & in Gordon's Uncivil Wars: moving w/Brecht & Eisler as Brecht.

Robert La Fosse (Henry V) performed with American Ballet Theatre as a principal dancer for six years. In 1986, he was invited by Jerome Robbins to join the New York City Ballet as a principal dancer. Throughout his career he has danced leading roles in many of the full-length classical ballets, including the U.S. premiere of Sir Kenneth MacMillan's Romeo and Juliet. He has performed in works created by many choreographers including George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Anthony Tudor, Merce Cunningham, Sir Kenneth MacMillian, Sir Frederick Ashton, Twyla Tharp, and Paul Taylor. Mr. La Fosse has also starred in the Broadway productions of Bob Fosse's Dancin' and in Jerome Robbins' Broadway, for which he received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor. Some of his television appearances include: 'American Ballet Theatre in San Francisco', Twyla Tharp's Push Comes to Shove, and the 'Live From Lincoln Center' telecast of 'Ray Charles in concert with the New York City Ballet'. He appeared as Dr. Stahlbaum in the film version of George Balanchine's The Nutcracker.

In addition to performing, Mr. La Fosse is also a choreographer. He has created over 100 works for Ballet, Broadway, Opera, Film and Television. The New York City Ballet has performed 10 of his ballets. In 1987 he wrote his autobiography entitled Nothing to Hide.

Karen Graham (Katherine/Soldier/Assistant to Choreographer) is a dancer, choreographer and writer. She has worked with the Pick Up Performance Co(s) since 1986 as a performer and assistant to David Gordon. She has toured extensively, including with Baryshnikov's White Oak Dance Project, performing in the work of Lar Lubovitch and Mark Morris. She returned to White Oak as Assistant to Mr. Gordon on the construction of PASTFORWARD. As a guest performer in plays and musicals, she has appeared at the Guthrie Theater, American Repertory Theater and the Mark Taper Forum. Ms. Graham's choreography, which often incorporates her writing, has been produced and presented at Movement Research at Judson Church, Dance Theater Workshop, University of Illinois/UC and numerous times at Danspace Project. She has taught technique and repertory at several universities, including CalArts, University of Illinois and Hartford University. She has appeared in short and feature films, including John Turturro's Romance & Cigarettes. She choreographed her first short film in collaboration with artist Pierre St-Jacques for his project Make Believe. Ms. Graham is the recipient of a New York Dance and Performance Award for Sustained Achievement.

Michael Bishop (Soldier) is a native of Gulfport, MS and recent graduate of Belhaven University with a BFA in Dance. Michael has danced professionally with TALK Dance Co. under the artistic direction of Steven Wynne. He has also worked with choreographers Steve Rooks, Randall Flynn and Caleb Mitchell and toured Russia under the Messiah Project with Talk Dance Company. Michael lives in New York and is expanding his technical training and choreographic voice.

Kendahl Ferguson (Soldier) is a dancer and actor born in California and raised in Japan, Panama, Georgia and Texas. He trained in dance, fitness and yoga beginning with his undergraduate studies at the University of New Hampshire and continuing his dance training in Texas and Korea while simultaneously serving in the United States Armed Services. A subsequent move to NYC led to positions in dance companies including Exit 12, and Michael Mao Dance. Kendahl Ferguson is excited to be dancing for Pick Up Performance Co(s) and for you tonight.

Lauren Ferguson (Soldier) received her BFA in Dance at SUNY Purchase. She has danced in works by Merce Cunningham, Jamalik, Cori Kresge, Katie Griffler and Goat Rocket Productions and performed in The Public Theater's Shakespeare In The Park Production of All's Well That Ends Well.

Omagbitse Omagbemi (Soldier/Mistress Quickly) received her BFA in dance at Montclair State University. She has performed nationally and internationally with Kevin Wynn Collection, Sean Curran Company, Shapiro & Smith Dance, Urban Bush Women, Risa Jaraslow, Barbara Mahler, Neta Palvermaher, Pearson/Widrig Dance, Gerald Casel Dance, Bill Young, Jeremy Nelson, David Thomson, Keely Garfield, Wally Cardona, and Ralph Lemon.

TICKET, TRANSPORTATION AND DINING INFORMATION

All tickets are $15 and are available at the Alexander Kasser Theater Box Office, by calling 973-655-5112 or online at http://www.peakperfs.org.

Charter bus service is provided from New York City's Port Authority Bus Terminal - arcade on 41st Street between 8th and 9th Avenues - to the Alexander Kasser Theater ($10 per person, roundtrip) for all Saturday and Sunday performances. Bus reservations may be made by calling 973-655-5112 or by visiting http://www.peakperfs.org. For train service, available only on weekdays, go online to www.njtransit.com or call 973-275-5555.

For restaurants close to the Alexander Kasser Theater, visit http://www.destinationmontclair.com.

Montclair State University is located at 1 Normal Avenue, Montclair, New Jersey 07043.

 

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