The Tragedy of Maria Macabre is a theatrical dance piece inspired by 19th century European Circus imagery, silent horror films, and el Dia de los Muertos. The story begins at the end of the life of our twisted heroine, Miss Macabre. Upon dying, Maria Macabre is not granted eternal slumber, but instead a whirling, kaleidoscopic carnival of horrors: a morbid funhouse where humanity is stripped away and a permanent place in the gruesome chorus line is all but assured. Arriving in the land of the dead, Maria Macabre is greeted by the King and the Queen of the Dead, and many other ghoulish Hades-Dwellers including a maniacal Ringmistress, a Beauty Queen burnt to a crisp, a menacing French Clown, and three skeletal Mariachis.
RKP Theater Ensemble's haunting dance piece The Tragedy of Maria Macabre will feature Preston Burger (lead dancer The Forms "Fire To The Ground" music video), Danielle Marie Fusco (Joyce Soho; Martha Graham Repertory), Abigail Hawk (Baker in "Blue Bloods" on CBS), Danny Mendoza, Megan O'Connor, Ethan O'Hara, Scooter Pie (Co-host, Shaken and Stirred Burlesque), Michael Porsche, Brian Rubiano, Eric Schmalenberger (House of Yes; The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black), and Elizabeth Stewart (The Hunter and the Swan Discuss Their Meeting at Sundance). The production is conceived, designed and choreographed by New York Innovative Theatre Award nominated directed and choreographer Rachel Klein (Circus of Circus at The House of Yes). The creative team will include Costume Design by Rachel Klein and Kae Burke (Winner of the 2011 New York Innovative Theatre Award for Innovative Design), Sound Design by Sean Gill, Lighting Design by Ben Kato, Calligraphy Design by Pak Kei Mak, Feather Design by Ashley Monroe, Makeup Design by Anita Rundles and Costume Construction by Make Fun Studios. The production will be Stage Managed by Marina Steinberg.
The Tragedy of Maria Macabre was first developed through an Emerging Artists Grant from the Field in Association with the Tides Foundation. Excerpts of The Tragedy of Maria Macabre have been performed at the Kitchen, La MaMa, DUMBO DANCE Festival, the LES Festival at Theater for the New City, the premiere of Banzai! At the Red Lotus Room, the House of Yes, and the Bushwick Site Fest at 3rd Ward. The first full-length production debuted in March 2010 at Dixon Place to a sold out audience, and was encored at the Access Theater and at DCTV as part of the Lower Manhattan Art League's Spring Downtown Gala.
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