6 Questions: Anabella Lenzu

1. What is your role in Virgo Star? 
I am a performer, choreographer and collaborator. 

2. What can the audiences learn about love in Virgo Star? 
Love is inclusion, understanding, embracing differences, supporting and sustaining each other. That is what we practice in rehearsals and performances at Pioneers!!! 

3. How can you explode the myth of the American Cowboy? 
For me as an immigrant from Argentina, I had a lot of homework and research to understand this foreign concept. As part of my preparation, I saw at least 15 iconic western movies to grasp the context and culture. Aside from being a lot of fun, I learned a lot about the archetypal world of the American West. 

4. Have you learned anything new from this production? 
As a choreographer for my own company a guest choreographer for different theater and opera productions in NYC (since 2007), it has been a long time since I performed for someone else's show. It's a muscle that I forgot I have. Being in rehearsal with such a fun and creative group is stimulating and refreshing! 

5. Do you have a favorite Western movie? 
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. 

6. What does working at La MaMa mean to you? 
Working at La MaMa again is reaffirming my commitment with such an amazing community of artists and audiences. It's about belonging to a genealogical tree of artists that I have admired since I was young. Working at La MaMa saying yes to celebrating works that push the boundaries of language and culture and performing cutting-edge ideas.

--

Virgo Star
November 14 - December 01, 2019

$25 Tickets; $20 Student/Senior Tickets [+$1 Facility Fee]

Tickets: http://lamama.org/virgo-star/

World Premiere
By Pioneers Go East Collective

Virgo Star explores and explodes the myth of the American Cowboy. An underground, kinetic ride through the Cowboy myths performed from a queer perspective, this dance-theatre work fuses personal storytelling and movement to re-create scenes from Western Movies.

LA MAMA 58th SEASON FALL/WINTER BROCHURE

Click Here To Download

First Look: GEMINI STARS/SCORPIO STARS @ La MaMa

All photos by Theo Cote

_____

La MaMa presents

GEMINI STARS/

SCORPIO STARS

Written and Directed by Gian Marco Lo Forte
A Pioneers Go East Collective Project

Set during a holiday party in a Brooklyn apartment, GEMINI STARS / SCORPIO STARS is a music-theatre work inspired by stories of LGBTQ vloggers coming out and self-identifying to the world on YouTube, juxtaposed with stories of exclusion and violence IRL. Over the course of the Christmas party, a group of artists share psychological and emotionally intimate experiences. It is a funny and touching performance about Realvlogs love, self-identity, and self-defense while reflecting on what the community has achieved (or hasn’t) using social media. This close-knit group of diverse friends have found each other and have chosen spend Christmas together. Like all good parties, this festive gathering is ultimately a safe space to share, and simply be. 

Gemini Stars / Scorpio Stars features stories written and performed by Daniel Diaz, Jess Barbagallo, Fleur Voorn, Michaela Reggio, Niko Tsocanos and Ryan Leach. Video vlogs feature stories performed by Julia Dobner-Pereira, Chloe Li Piazza, G.J. Dowding and Shane O'Neill.Special musical guest Ombro de Oro.

December 7 - 17, 2017

Thursday - Saturday at 7pm; Sunday at 2pm

The Downstairs @ La MaMa

66 East 4th Street

(between Bowery and Second Avenue)

New York, NY 10003

Tickets: $25 Adults; $20 Students/Seniors

For Tickets and Info: CLICK HERE

First Look: HILDEGARD (vision)

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La MaMa in association 

with Pioneers Go East Collective present

HILDEGARD 

(VISION)

Created and Designed by Gian Marco Lo Forte, Abby Felder and John Sully
Directed by Gian Marco Lo Forte
Written by Abby Felder
Composed by John Sully
Featured Performers: Marina Celander, Nehprii Amenii, Seth Gilman, Kamala Sankaram, Daniel Diaz, Tali Custer

December 3 - 20, 2015

Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30; Sundays at 2pm

La MaMa First Floor Theater

74A East 4th Street

(between Bowery and Second Avenue)

New York, NY 10003

Tickets: $18 Adults; $13 Students/Seniors; ten $10 tickets are available for every performance as part of La MaMa's 10@$10 ticketing initiative (advance sales only)

For Tickets and Info: CLICK HERE

6 QUESTIONS: Abby Felder

Abby Felder, writer and co-creator of Pioneers Go East Collective's HILDEGARD (vision) took time out from rehearsals to answer our 6 Questions about the show, migraines and working at La MaMa. 

1. What was the inspiration for creating HILDEGARD (vision)?

Ever since I first read her work, I’ve been fascinated by this nun who had visions she believed were shown to her by God, and who despite living in medieval times wrote poetic philosophical texts and produced art and music that are attributed to her and still known today.

In Oliver Sacks’ book, Migraine, he discusses how Hildegard’s descriptions of her visions and of God, things like, “A fiery light, of the greatest flashing brightness, coming out of a cloudless sky,” are typical migraine aura, the hallucinations experienced during migraine that are caused by a wave traveling across the visual cortex of the brain that actually makes the process of sight, visible.

Her experience of migraine were at the root of her texts and artwork, and enabled her to transcend the limitations of her gender and role within her faith. In addition, the phases of a migraine cycle actually mirror a traditional dramaturgical arc, with a prologue of sorts, leading to a climax and resolution, and are frequently triggered by an emotional event. From this overlap the idea and structure of HILDEGARD (vision), in which one of her visions is brought to life, was born.

2. What was the most interesting thing you learned about Hildegard when writing the show?

It’s hard to point to the most interesting thing as she was such a polymath: in addition to being a mystic philosopher and artist and composer, she was a practitioner of early medicine, a gardener, and an agent of reform.

She was a powerful woman at a time when women did not have power, and it’s interesting how she not only survived, but thrived, in these circumstances.

One tactic for survival was she frequently presented herself as uneducated and ignorant, even though her work is in conversation with other philosophers such as Plato and St. Augustine.

In a letter she wrote to a fellow visionary (referred to in the script), she says to continue to work, she must make people think she is incapable of interpreting her own visions, so it is understood by the broader community that she is merely a mouthpiece of God, and not the originator of these very complex ideas. It shows how important creating work was to her.

3. Do you think of your work as political?

While the work we do at Pioneers Go East Collective has a social relevance, I don’t think of HILDEGARD as overtly political. In the piece Hildegard rejects a young nun named Richard is with whom historically it is known she had a relationship, possibly a romantic relationship. In the context of the show this act points to the sacrifices women in particular must make to achieve success- yes she has agency but at a cost. Though she is a medieval figure, this is a contemporary theme.

Ultimately all of our work circles back to the media we use, and in this piece, it is the creative process from which she derives her agency, making it a celebration of the importance of telling our stories through music, poetry, painting, etc as a way of experiencing fundamental truths and finding meaning in our lives.

4. Who inspires you? 

For this particular piece, Hildegard's writing, painting and compositions of course were the starting point, and Oliver Sacks- his discussion of migraine and its function in illuminating meaning in human experience is fascinating.

Migraine has been described as originating in the part of the brain that controls sleep- which connects to dreams and the unconscious- so a lot of additional inspiration was taken from the surrealists, including Jan and Eva Svankmajer, Czech visual and literary artists, and it was interesting to research symbols of unconscious expression outlined by Jung and Freud.

5. What was the last interesting book you read?

I’m in the midst of a couple books rights now, both as research for Pioneers Go East’s next piece about the textile industry in the American South at the turn of the 20th century. One is about Ella Mae Wiggins, a folk singer/songwriter who lived in Gastonia, North Carolina who wrote protest ballads about working conditions, called THE MARTYR OF LORAY MILL, and I’m rereading Carson McCullers’ beautiful book THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER.

6. What does working at La MaMa mean to you?

It's amazing- the spirit and energy of the place, not to mention the support of the La MaMa family are wonderful. Actually Ellen Stewart and Hildegard have some commonalities - they were both pioneering women who pushed the boundaries of artistic expression, so it seems really apt actually to be presenting this piece in this space.

- - - - -

La MaMa in association 

with Pioneers Go East Collective present

HILDEGARD 

(VISION)

Created and Designed by Gian Marco Lo Forte, Abby Felder and John SullyDirected by Gian Marco Lo Forte; Written by Abby Felder; Composed by John SullyFeatured Performers: Marina Celander, Nehprii Amenii, Seth Gilman, Kamala Sankaram, Daniel Diaz, Tali Custer

December 3 - 20, 2015
Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30; Sundays at 2pm

La MaMa First Floor Theater
74A East 4th Street
(between Bowery and Second Avenue)
New York, NY 10003

Tickets: $18 Adults; $13 Students/Seniors; ten $10 tickets are available for every performance as part of La MaMa's 10@$10 ticketing initiative (advance sales only)

For Tickets and Info: CLICK HERE

Hildegard (vision) is a Time Out Critic's Pick!

Time Out New York has named Pioneers Go East Collective's Hildegard (vision) a Critics' Pick!

"The 12th-century composer Hildegard Von Bingen was a botanist and (some historians say) an epileptic given to trances and visions that were ruled by Pope Eugene III to be divinely inspired. The Pioneers Go East Collective has set out to replicate her exaltations of religious fervor in an hourlong immersive performance and installation piece that runs for a dozen performances in December."

Don't miss the World Premiere of this theater-music work, running from December 3 - 20, 2015 at The First Floor Theater @ La MaMa.

And here is a first look at the show:

- - - - -

La MaMa in association 

with Pioneers Go East Collective present

HILDEGARD 

(VISION)

Created and Designed by Gian Marco Lo Forte, Abby Felder and John SullyDirected by Gian Marco Lo Forte; Written by Abby Felder; Composed by John SullyFeatured Performers: Marina Celander, Nehprii Amenii, Seth Gilman, Kamala Sankaram, Daniel Diaz, Tali Custer

December 3 - 20, 2015
Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30; Sundays at 2pm

La MaMa First Floor Theater
74A East 4th Street
(between Bowery and Second Avenue)
New York, NY 10003

Tickets: $18 Adults; $13 Students/Seniors; ten $10 tickets are available for every performance as part of La MaMa's 10@$10 ticketing initiative (advance sales only)

For Tickets and Info: CLICK HERE

6 Questions: Gian Marco Lo Forte

Pioneers Go East Collective brings their latest piece, Hildegard (vision) to La MaMa from December 3 - 20, 2015.  Artistic Director, Gian Marco Lo Forte, and director of Hildegard (vision), took time out from rehearsals to answer our 6 Questions:

1. What was the inspiration for creating Hildegard (vision)?

Reflecting on the circumstances in which Hildegard Von Bingen lived: Hildegard was a medieval woman who - with determination and courage - was able to be an artist and spiritual leader in a male dominated world.

On a personal level I was drawn to her world from the record of Hildegard’s letters about her love for her pupil Richardis; I was intrigued to explore how same sex intimacy could exist in the medieval time…in a convent: How acts and feelings can be directly related to unfulfilled love and prohibited sexuality in the Medieval time; and how the notions of queerness translates to another time in history.

I am drawn to stories of men and women who are on the periphery of society who have made positive changes in society that we don’t always recognize or remember  today or simply positive effects that we take for granted.

2. What is important to you about Hildegard’s story?

Locating Hildegard in history and presenting her story and emotional life with immediacy without recreating a replica of that world at that time. The work is designed as a visual and sonic installation that’s an homage to Hildegard’s music and paintings; thinking deeper the work should speak to us privileged artists etc as how exceptional Hildegard had to be to commit her life to spiritual endeavors that translated in artistic works (in music, literature, paintings).

3. How do you use technology in the show?

By tracing the physiological symptoms of a migraine that lead to the hallucinations that illuminated Hildegard, the Pioneers Go East creative team has started distilling design elements that could speak about that state of being. Sound, lights, video are orchestrated to skew our perceptions as viewers and listeners drift and experiences alongside Hildegard the environment that’s morphing.

4. Who inspires you?

I have many heroes and folks that inspire me: Artists, Social activists, teachers who work to help others;  I see many amazing people around me in NYC in schools, hospitals, people working in social services. Who has at heart others inspire me...I forget to mention all the artists who continue to work  pro bono: I know many; and all the artists I collaborate with work on projects bc they have passion, they love what they do...

5. If you could take a trip anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go?

A bike trip in Iceland on the Ring Road.

6. What does working at La MaMa mean to you?

La MaMa is many contrasting things: You may arrive at La MaMa by chance or are drawn here by reading about it in theatre history books… but what La MaMa does best is encourage people grow in a myriad of  ways and directions, and sometimes after experiencing La Mama, you end up far away from theatre.  Ultimately La MaMa for half a century - wow! -has been and continues to be a hub of hundred plus American and international artists coming here each year to create bold and courageous works to serve downtown arts and theatre community at large.

- - - - -

La MaMa in association 

with Pioneers Go East Collective present

HILDEGARD 

(VISION)

Created and Designed by Gian Marco Lo Forte, Abby Felder and John SullyDirected by Gian Marco Lo Forte; Written by Abby Felder; Composed by John SullyFeatured Performers: Marina Celander, Nehprii Amenii, Seth Gilman, Kamala Sankaram, Daniel Diaz, Tali Custer

December 3 - 20, 2015
Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30; Sundays at 2pm


La MaMa First Floor Theater
74A East 4th Street
(between Bowery and Second Avenue)
New York, NY 10003


Tickets: $18 Adults; $13 Students/Seniors; ten $10 tickets are available for every performance as part of La MaMa's 10@$10 ticketing initiative (advance sales only)


For Tickets and Info: CLICK HERE

Theatre Reviews Unlimited on AMERICAN MILL #2

Sander Gusinow of Theatre Reviews Limited covers Pioneers Go East Collective's AMERICAN MILL #2 which recently played three performances at La MaMa Galleria:

"What shines through the production is the direction of Gian Marco Lo Forte. Lo Forte elegantly arranges the choppy segments into an effervescent daisey chain of chaos and calm. His most intriguing segment involves a childlike wooden doll, which dreamily bounds across a burlap road before falling headlong into a textile mill. Although we’ve all seen dolls before, Lo Forte provides a unique and somber spin on a performance element we’ve all seen before."

Read the full review: HERE

Video Preview: American Mill #2

Check out these previews of Pioneers Go East Collective's AMERICAN MILL #2, performing this week only at La MaMa Galleria:

La MaMa presents
AMERICAN MILL #2
(Lint Head)
by Pioneers Go East Collective

June 25 - June 28, 2015

Gallery Hours: Thursday to Sunday 1 to 7pm

Box Office opens at 7PM with gallery viewing
Performances: Thursday - Saturday at 7:30pm

La MaMa Galleria

47 Great Jones Street 

(between Bowery and Lafayette Street) 

New York, NY 10003

Tickets: $15; ten tickets priced at $10 each are available for every performance, while they last, pre-sale only.

For Tickets and Info: CLICK HERE

BroadwayWorld previews AMERICAN MILL #2

BroadwayWorld.com previews Pioneers Go East Collective's AMERICAN MILL #2, directed and designed by Artistic Director Gian Marco Lo Forte, with text and puppetry by co-Artistic DirectorAbby Felder,  American Mill #2 plays the La MaMa Galleria June 25 - 27, 2015.

"AMERICAN MILL #2 is a docudrama theatre work about childhood and child labor at the turn of the century, framed by an exploration of the textile industry in the American South. Live and recorded video and photography re-create a textile mill environment, as live artists perform folk music written and arranged by Gina Stewart and Brenda Lee Gambill of the folk duo, Jonesalee, and interview excerpts inspired by original oral historical texts from textile workers."

Read the fill preview: HERE



La MaMa presents
AMERICAN MILL #2
(Lint Head)
by Pioneers Go East Collective

June 25 - June 28, 2015

Gallery Hours: Thursday to Sunday 1 to 7pm

Box Office opens at 7PM with gallery viewing
Performances: Thursday - Saturday at 7:30pm

La MaMa Galleria

47 Great Jones Street (between Bowery and Lafayette Street) 

New York, NY 10003

Tickets: $15; ten tickets priced at $10 each are available for every performance, while they last, pre-sale only.

For Tickets and Info: CLICK HERE