Young@Heart Joins No Theater for END OF THE ROAD at St. Ann's Warehouse

St. Ann's Warehouse presents the American Premiere of Young@Heart in END OF THE ROAD by No Theater, the third part of their musical theater "road" trilogy. The production will begin April 21st and run through May 1st.

The legendary Young@Heart Chorus, whose members range in age from 73 to 90, and the Northampton, Massachusetts based experimental theater No Theater first collaborated in 1983. For the past 12 years the two companies have toured throughout the world with ROAD TO HEAVEN and ROAD TO NOWHERE, taking these stage shows on the road in Europe, Canada, and Australia; however, these theatrical productions have yet to be seen in America, particularly New York City. They have been championed by artists worldwide, including David Byrne.

END OF THE ROAD, the third and final piece in the trilogy, is an exploration of how music and so ngs have a unique power to transcend age. The three "movements" of the work are built around songs of longing, songs of community and songs of the spirit, taking us on a journey through the 20th century, with ballads giving way to songs of sexual love and the joy and energy of friendship. The chorus sings of the soul and of memories, concluding serenely with a sense of the wisdom that can come with age. END OF THE ROAD is moving but unsentimental, honors life and death, creativity and vitality, and challenges what happens on the life continuum when old people co-opt "youth" culture.

Commissioned by Manchester International Festival, Les Ballets C de la B (Ghent), Rotterdamse Schouwburg, St Ann's Warehouse (New York) and UCLA Live (Los Angeles). produced by Manchester International Festival, Young@Heart and No Theater.

Recently featured in the award-winning documentary Young@Heart (Fox Searchlight, April 2008), the chorus was formed in Northampton, MA in 1982. Under the direction of Bob Cilman, Young@Heart Chorus members typically include those with some prior professional theater or music experience, others who have performed extensively on the amateur level, and some who have never stepped onto a stage prior to turning 80. They are united in their passion for performing rock music. Young@Heart's repertoire is like a set list of rock's greatest hits, including songs by Coldplay, Sonic Youth and The Clash, capturing the sheer joy of singing as well as the singular poignancy of aging. Some of the songs they sing are fun, like OutKast's mega hit, "Hey Ya!" Others are a bit sad in their hands, like The Traveling Wilburys' "Handle With Care." The elderly voices and their collective sound cause audiences to hear music and lyrics in a way they never have before.

Since 1978 No Theater has performed such works as the original productions of THE ELEPHANT MAN, LAST RESORT, and DUPE at The Performing Garage on Wooster Street in New York and has created new works for the stage in Japan, Australia, San Francisco, Oklahoma City and throughout Europe. No Theater directors Roy Faudree and Sheena See have performed regularly in The Wooster Group Productions since 1990. No Theater's name comes from the fact that for its first 4 years it had no theater, no permanent performance space, but would convert empty spaces into theaters with each of its new productions.

For more information, visit www.stannswarehouse.org.

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