dog & pony dc unveils Peepshow as part of the second annual Women's Voices Theater Festival. It is the company's first fully-produced new show since 2015. Peepshow is a fanciful and absurd pastiche of interactive theatrical forms, created, designed, and performed by an entirely non-male identifying ensemble of artists. Peepshow opens February 7, 2018 and performs through February 25 in the Rehearsal Hall of Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company (641 D Street NW). Tickets range $20-40, with the lowest-cost tickets available online at www.dogandponydc.com/peepshow.
Peepshow takes-back objectification and sexism, widens the feminist frame, and kicks the patriarchy where it counts. Over the span of Peepshow 's five scenes, the performers confront the complexities of the male gaze through adapted Broadway show tunes, review the history of feminism in a wrestling ring, and expose the modern woman's complicity in her own oppression through a synchronized-swimming-and-Kpop-inspired-ballet. Audience interactivity will range from voting on the next Miss America contestant to enjoying a multi-sensory ode to female genitalia (one "vagina in a box" per person).
"From the moment we started creating Peepshow, it became one, if not the most, urgent shows we've ever made," says dog & pony dc's Ensemble Director Rachel Grossman. "As a company founded by three cis-females, whose theatrical form is continually called into questioned, and in a theatre community with so few female artistic directors, we felt a responsibility to participate in the Women's Voices Theatre Festival. And then, Harvey Weinstein happened."
Peepshow features a cast of eight outstanding performers. There's an equal mix of dog & pony dc ensemble members (Natasha Gallop, Kerry McGee, Tosin Olufolabi, Ewe Benedict) and artistic collaborators (Sandra Mae Frank, Amelia Hensley, Ouida Maedel, Carol Spring).
dog & pony dc is thrilled to have two Deaf talent devising/performing ensemble members: Amelia Hensley and Sandra Mae Frank. Hensley, who appeared in the fifth anniversary production of Beertown in 2016, comes to DC after working on Our Town at Pasadena Playhouse, in partnership with Deaf West. Hensley also appeared as Thea in the acclaimed Broadway production of Spring Awakening, nominated for the 2016 Astaire Awards' Outstanding Ensemble in a Broadway Show. Frank is the up and coming "it" girl-she performed the role of Emily Webb in The Pasadena Playhouse/Deaf West 2017 co-production of Our Town and appeared on Broadway in Deaf West's Spring Awakening as Wendela. Both Hensley and Frank are alumni of Washington, DC's Gallaudet University.
dog & pony dc has broadened its Deaf artists collaborators for Peepshow to include lighting and scenic designer Annie Wiegand, who's work has been seen at Kitchen Theatre Company (Ithaca, NY), and Huntington Theatre Company, Speakeasy Stage Company, and Company One (Boston). Kala Granger, assistant Director for Beertown fifth anniversary, returns to dog & pony dc's directing and ASL translation team as well. The company is the only in the MidAtlantic that consistent employees Deaf and Hard of Hearing artists and administrators for three years in a row. This is made possible by the support of the Weissberg Foundation's Diversity in Theater fund.
Given the current political climate, Peepshow is the ideal Women's Voices show. It is a "sight" not to be missed.
Comments
Videos