PROGRAM DETAILS:

MEGAWATT (2004)

Choreographed by Jonathan Wolken in collaboration with Mark Fucik, Andy Herro,  Renée Jaworski, Matt Kent, Jennifer Macavinta, Manelich Minniefee, and Matthew Thornton

Performed by: Nathaniel Buchsbaum, Quincy Ellis, Marlon Feliz, Hannah Klinkman, Paul Liu, and Zack Weiss

Music: Primus, Radiohead, and Squarepusher

Costumes: Liz Prince

Lighting: Neil Peter Jampolis

Megawatt has been re-staged for the Big Five-OH! in memory of Jonathan Wolken, in part by ADF with support from the SHS Foundation and an award from the National Endowment for the Arts

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Solo from the EMPTY SUITOR (1980)

Choreographed by Michael Tracy

Performed by: Paul Liu

Music: Ben Webster, “Sweet Georgia Brown” used by permission Warner Bros. Music

Costume: Kitty Daly

Lighting: Neil Peter Jampolis

 

SHIZEN (1978)

Choreographed by Alison Chase and Moses Pendleton

Performed by: Quincy Ellis and Hannah Klinkman

Music: Riley Lee

Lighting: Neil Peter Jampolis

Commissioned by ADF

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INTERMISSION

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BEHIND THE SHADOWS (2021)

Created by Renée Jaworski, Matt Kent in collaboration with Nathaniel Buchsbaum, Quincy Ellis, Marlon Feliz, Hannah Klinkman, Paul Liu, and Zack Weiss

Performed by: Nathaniel Buchsbaum, Quincy Ellis, Marlon Feliz, Hannah Klinkman, Paul Liu, and Zack Weiss

Music: David Poe

Lighting: Yannick Godts

Behind the Shadows is inspired by work from Shadowland (2009), and the contributions of Steve Banks, David Poe, Robby Barnett, Renée Jaworski, Matt Kent, Michael Tracy, Neil Peter Jampolis, Neil Patel, Liz Prince and the original cast of Shadowland.

 

DAY TWO (1981)

Directed by Moses Pendleton

Choreographed by Daniel Ezralow, Robert Faust, Jamey Hampton, Carol Parker, Moses Pendleton, Peter Pucci, Cynthia Quinn, and Michael Tracy

Performed by: Nathaniel Buchsbaum, Quincy Ellis, Marlon Feliz, Hannah Klinkman, Paul Liu, and Zack Weiss

Music: Brian Eno, David Byrne and the Talking Heads

Lighting: Neil Peter Jampolis based on a concept by David M. Chapman

Commissioned by Peter, Ginevra, and Helen.

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ABOUT PILOBOLUS

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Since 1971, Pilobolus has tested the limits of human physicality to explore the beauty and power of connected bodies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Pilobolus has drawn on these decades of experience in telling stories with the human form to reach audiences in new ways, from our physically distanced Roving Art Safari to digital performances and classes. Today, Pilobolus is thrilled to return to the proscenium stage, for it’s 50th Anniversary, performing works that span our half century.

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This innovative dance company has created and toured over 120 pieces of repertory to more than 65 countries, and collaborated with more than 75  organizations in finance, retail, media, fashion, sports, and more to create bespoke performances for television, film, and live events. Learn more at pilobolus.org.

 

RENÉE JAWORSKI (Co-Artistic Director) has had an extensive creative career working with Pilobolus since 2000 and in 2011 was honored to have been chosen by the founding Artistic Directors to lead Pilobolus into and beyond it’s post succession evolution. She served as choreographer and creator for exciting projects and collaborations for stage, film and video such as the 79th Annual Academy Awards, the Grammy® nominated video for OKGo’s All is Not Lost, Radiolab Live: In the Dark, World Science Festival; Time and the Creative Cosmos and works with myriad outside artists through the International Collaborators Project, as well as overseeing the daily functioning and long term planning for the company’s creative endeavors. As a teacher she facilitates workshops and group projects in diverse communities with dancers and non-dancers alike. In 2010, her alma mater honored her with the University of the Arts Silver Star Alumni Award for her work as an artist in the field of dance. She has performed and toured the world with Momix and Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company. Renée lives in Connecticut with her husband and a menagerie of animals.

 

MATT KENT (Co-Artistic Director) began his career with Pilobolus as a dancer in 1996, helping create many pieces, including classics like Gnomen and Selection, a collaboration with Maurice Sendak. In 2011 Matt was chosen by the founding Artistic Directors to lead Pilobolus in its post succession evolution. He has directed for the stage and screen choreographing on horses, chinese acrobats, giant Michael Curry puppets, zombies on the The Walking Dead, jugglers, break dancers, actors, LED umbrellas and dancers. He was nominated for Best Choreography by the L.A. Drama Critics Circle for The Tempest directed by Aaron Posner and Teller. Matt loves exploring and executing the ever evolving work of Pilobolus as it reaches out to an expanding group of artists, audiences, and populations in ever unexpected ways.

 

NATHANIEL BUCHSBAUM (Dance Captain) Manipulator of Light and Shadow, Harnesser of Momentum, Shepherd of Saccharomyces, Student of the Ephemeral, Walker of the Prime Material plane. When he isn't wandering the lands, delighting both young and old with his nimble, scantily-clad acts of physical storytelling, he dwells in West Virginia where he brews craft beer at Morgantown Brewing Company. Nathaniel was absorbed into Pilobolus in 2012.

 

QUINCY ELLIS (Dance Captain) began training as a gymnast and figure skater in Maine before earning an Acting degree from Emerson College. He has been performing and teaching for the past ten years with companies such as The MoveShop, DeFunes Dance, and Theatre Raleigh. Outside of traditional theatre, Quincy also dances for a variety of NYC Drag Artists, including Juicy Liu and Miz Cracker. Quincy joined Pilobolus in 2017 and does not dye his hair grey...it grows that way.

 

MARLON FELIZ (Dancer) has danced with Pilobolus since 2014, touring Shadowland productions around the world, and now presenting repertory and artistic programing wherever possible. Additional credits include a Broadway debut in the new West Side Story, and other musicals, cruiseships, and NYC-based companies. She received her foundational training in ballet and modern dance at New World School of the Arts, and completed her B.F.A in Dance at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. She is originally from Miami, FL.

 

HANNAH KLINKMAN (Dancer) was born and raised in Dexter, Michigan where she was classically trained at Ballet Chelsea. She studied at Grand Valley State University and completed her training with BalletMet Columbus in 2016. She has since danced and created with Festival Ballet Providence, Dance The Yard, Rhode Island Women’s Choreography Project, and Momix, collaborating on her own choreographic projects when not traveling. Hannah is a Mindfulness Meditation teacher, Pilates instructor, dance teacher, and houseplant enthusiast. Hannah joined Pilobolus in 2021.

 

PAUL LIU (Dancer) grew up in New Jersey training in traditional Chinese dance and acrobatics as well as breaking. He has studied with the Nai-Ni Chen Youth Dance Company, the Academy of Dance Arts New Jersey, the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing, and the Boston Conservatory. He has worked with Avary Gerhardt, Fukudance, and Hybridmotion Dance Theatre. He is almost always upside down doing floorwork except when cooking, skating, or getting tattoos. Paul joined Pilobolus in 2019.

 

ZACHARY WEISS (Dancer) grew up in Chapel Hill, NC and began his formal dance training at age eight. He has always been a performer whether it be playing the saxophone, singing, acting or dancing. Zack studied contemporary dance at UNC School of the Arts for a year before transferring to Swarthmore College. He graduated in 2020 with a major in Engineering and a minor in Dance. After working as a Data Engineer in DC for a year, Zack joined Pilobolus in 2021. Outside the studio, Zack can be found riding/fixing bikes, finding high places to climb, and reading science fiction (but not all at the same time).

 

ROBBY BARNETT (Co-Founder, Choreographer) was born and raised in the Adirondack Mountains and attended Dartmouth College. He joined Pilobolus in 1971.

 

ALISON CHASE (Co-Founder, Choreographer) is a choreographer, director, master teacher, and theatrical artist. Her work explores emotional terrain through innovative movement, multidimensional storytelling, fusions of film and dance, and site-specific works. During her three decades with Pilobolus, she built an eclectic repertoire of choreography with unorthodox partnering and aerial techniques. Alison founded Alison Chase/Performance in 2009 to pursue her creative vision in bold collaborations. She has commissions from Wolf Trap, La Scala Opera, the Rockettes, and the Fête de l'Humanité, among others.

 

MARTHA CLARKE (Co-Founder, Choreographer) is a founding member of Pilobolus and Crowsnest, noted for her multidisciplinary approach to theater, dance, and opera. She has choreographed for Nederlands Dans Theater, La Scala Ballet, the Martha Graham company, and is a resident artist for Signature Theatre, with works including Garden of Earthly Delights, Chéri, and Angel Reapers. Awards include a MacArthur fellowship, Drama Desk Award, two Obies, the Scripps/ADF Award for Lifetime Achievement, and two Lortels.

 

MOSES PENDLETON (Co-Founder, Choreographer) has been one of America’s most innovative and widely performed choreographers for almost 50 years. A co-founder of the ground-breaking Pilobolus in 1971, he formed his own company, MOMIX, in 1980, which rapidly established an international reputation for inventive and illusionistic choreography. Mr. Pendleton has also worked extensively in film, TV, and opera, and as a choreographer for ballet companies and special events, including two Winter Olympics.

 

MICHAEL TRACY (Co-Founder, Choreographer) was born in Florence and raised in New England. He met the other Pilobolus founders at Dartmouth in 1969, and became an artistic director after graduating magna cum laude in 1973. Michael toured with Pilobolus for 14 years and choreographed and directed the company until his retirement. He has set his work on the Joffrey, Ohio, Hartford, Nancy, and Verona Ballets, and with Pilobolus choreographed a production of Mozart’s Magic Flute. Michael taught at Yale University for two decades and lives in northwestern Connecticut.

 

JONATHAN WOLKEN (1949-2010) (Co-Founder, Choreographer) co-founded Pilobolus and remained an Artistic Director until his death, creating 46 Pilobolus works in collaboration with co-artistic directors and guest artists, and as sole choreographer. He also choreographed Glyndebourne Festival Opera’s production of Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are, and the Royal Danish Ballet’s Oneiric. Mr. Wolken taught many workshops and was dedicated to the furtherance of Pilobolus technique in dance and as a model for creative thinking.

 

NEIL PETER JAMPOLIS (1943-2019) (Lighting Designer) designed for Pilobolus since 1975, spanning 40 years and creating more than 60 new works for the company.  He also had a fifty-year active career as a set, lighting and costume designer for Broadway—where he received four Tony Nominations and a Tony Award—and for Off-Broadway, Dance, Regional Theater, and Opera, which he also directed.  His designs appeared on every continent. Neil was a Distinguished Professor of Theater at UCLA.

 

KITTY DALY (Costume Designer) created costumes for Pilobolus’s Molly's Not Dead, The Detail of Phoebe Strickland, Bonsai, The Empty Suitor, Moonblind, Lost in Fauna, Mirage, What Grows in Huygen's Window, Stabat Mater, Elegy for the Moment. She has designed for the Ohio Ballet, the Pennsylvania Ballet, the Milwaukee Ballet, Merce Cunningham, Crowsnest, and Parker/Pucci. Ms. Daly lives in northern Vermont, creating custom evening gowns and beautiful tracks in the snow.

 

LIZ PRINCE (Costume Designer) designs costumes for dance, theater and film and has designed costumes for numerous Pilobolus productions. Her costumes have been exhibited at The Cleveland center for Contemporary Art, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Rockland Center for the Arts and the 2011 Prague Quadrennial. She received a 1990 New York Dance and Performance Award (BESSIE) for costume design as well as a  2008 Charles Flint Kellogg Award in Arts and Letters from Bard College.

 

JACOB RUSSELL (Production Stage Manager) is a creative multi-disciplinary theatrical Stage Manager. Bloom: A Journey (Pilobolus). To The Yellow House, Kiss My Aztec, The Who’s Tommy benefit concert (La Jolla Playhouse). 1st AD for Dave Harris’s Cat Sitter (OSF). SummerFest ’18 (La Jolla Music Society). Other Theatre credits include David Mamet’s The Christopher Boy’s Reunion (Odyssey Theatre), This Random World (Actors Theatre of Louisville), The Library (The Public Theater), and Sarah Flood in Salem Mass (The Flea Theater). Deep gratitude and thanks to Kasson Marroquin!

 

YANNICK GODTS (Lighting Supervisor) started with Pilobolus in 2013 as a production intern and has been with the company ever since. In 2014, he joined the staff of Shadowland and has been to four continents with the show since then. When not on the road or in the Pilobolus studio, he lives in Washington, D.C. and works as a visual artist, graphic designer, and lighting and scenic designer at large. He thanks his family for their encouragement and friends for putting up with the fact that he's never home.

MAXWELL JABARA (Deck Manager) hails from southeastern Michigan and went on to study Technical Theatre at Kent State University in Ohio. Just out of college, Max worked with Pilobolus as a production intern and recently, he worked as a prop hand for the Blue Man Group. He’s very excited to be back on tour with Pilobolus!