Spectral Findings / Larger Objects

spectral-findings-at-observatoryNew theatrical works by Ariel Stess & Claire Moodey
Date: Thursday, February 9
Time: 8:00 PM
Admission: $5
Presented by the Hollow Earth Society

The Hollow Earth Society is proud to host two new multimedia explorations of our intimate relationships with objects and ideas:

Spectral Findings, a theater concert, reanimates Goethe’s scientific findings on light and colours through Faust and “Die Erlkonig.” This experiment in chamber performance is a passionate and poetic narrative essay in which colored shadows and chromatic aberrations leave gentle souls prey to the work of devil. How do we see and what? In seeing, we fall. In falling we are transformed; visions shift. Mingling the intimate chamber music of Franz Schubert, scientific puppetry, and romantic devilry, one is left to wonder if seeing is believing, can we choose what to see? Constructed by Claire Moodey in collaboration with Jonah Rosenberg, Maxwell Cramer, and Abigail Lloyd.

Larger Objects by Ariel Stess charts the non-journey of two dutiful gentlemen. As they reflect on the objects of their affection, they find themselves intertwined through painful positions, misshapen dreams, and shifting memories. There is a woman too, somewhere, and she may need their help. The past, present, and impossible collide in this twisted, tedium. And something has been broken… ribs… twigs… More?

largerobjectsweb2LARGER OBJECTS CAST:

Ariel Stess is an Astoria-based playwright, performer, and director from Santa Fe, NM. She holds a BA from Bard College; MFA in Playwriting from Brooklyn College. Recent and upcoming plays: The Only Girl in the Hot Tub (Geraldine Page Salon, dir. Barbara Harrison), He Ate Quietly into the Wall (Foxy Films, Oct. 2011; Geraldine Page Salon, Sept. 2012), Highlights in Hollywood (East 13th St. Theatre, dir. Sarah Rasmussen), The Lock and Door (Dixon Place, Jan. 2010; Bushwick Starr, April 2012), Prowlers in the Night (Bard College, dir. May Adrales), and The Waiter (Bard College).

Sam Stonefield holds a BA from Bard College where he received the Ana Itelman Award for Directing. He directed Farmyard (Kroetz), Cowboy Mouth (Sam Shepard & Patti Smith), and makes performance installations. He has worked with Theodora Skipitares (Trojan Women), JoAnne Akalaitis (Bacchae; Jump) and Daniel Fish (KFC). Recently, he fabricated Daniel Arsham’s decor for MCDC’s final “Event” at the Park Avenue Armory. He’s currently the Assistant Director on Eric Schorr’s Tokio Confidential at Atlantic Stage, dir. Johanna Mckeon. samuelstonefield@gmail.com

Maxwell Cosmo Cramer is a Brooklyn-based stage artist and co-founder of the performance group EGG. As director: Touching Theater Feelings (WAXworks/Triskelion) I’m Miserable But Change Scares Me (Dixon Place). As producer: Voice and Vision Theater 2011 ENVISION Retreat & Lab (Bard College/The Women’s Project). As performer (upcoming): Mother, Goose, and Grimm (Little Theater at Dixon Place), Boy Show (14th St. Y), Gray Notebook (Bushwick Starr/Target Margin Lab). Past work: (NOLA Fringe), Relative Value (3LD), A Week at the NJ Shore (Dixon Place & touring), Tydrus the Twit (The Tank), Hamlet (Full of Noises), HIM (walkerspace). superword.tumblr.com

Nic Grelli – Regional: Honey Brown Eyes (SF Playhouse-West Coast Premiere, Theatre Bay Area Editors’s Pick), Superior Donuts (Dorset Theatre Festival). NYC: School Night (Ensemble Studio Theatre Marathon), The Un-Marrying Project (Purple Rep), Saturn Nights (Incubator), Ampersand (NYC Fringe). Upcoming: Magic Trick (Culture Project-Reading), Animals Commit Suicide (Teranova Collective-Workshop). Short films: “Filthy Gorgeous” and “Adopting Skins.” Nic has worked extensively with Labyrinth Theatre Company and is proud to be a producer, camera man, and creative contributor to the webseries Jeesus Freaks. Check it out at www.makelovejackson.com. Training: NYU/Tisch and Maggie Flanigan. Proud member of AEA.

SPECTRAL FINDINGS CAST:

Claire Moodey is a Brooklyn, NY based theater artist interested in exploring the power of metaphor, narrative, and dream-like association to synthesize information about ourselves and the world. Recent credits include a radio play silent movie, exploring the mapping of consciousness at Theater for the New City’s Dream Up Festival and the NOLA Fringe (creater, director), Whatever Happened to Baby Jane at the HOWL Festival (lighting and video design), and John Kelly’s The Escape Artist at P.S. 122 (video performance, PA). On February 13th, her short play Mother, Goose, and Grimm will be presented at Dixon Place as part of Little Theater.

Jonah Rosenberg, musical direction/piano, is a Brooklyn, NY based pianist, composer and sound designer striving to construct intuitive music. Jonah studied classical guitar and jazz piano at SUNY Stony Brook. Jonah has composed music for modern chamber ensembles, electro-acoustic ensembles, multi-media theater works, jazz groups, rock and hip hop. Jonah has performed, led and composed for groups with Blaise Siwula, Ray Anderson, Kevin Shea, Martin Loyato, Janie Cowan, (saxophonist) Marcus Miller, Lisa Dowling, Aleks Karjaka and others. He is a third of the musical collaboration Lions For No Reason, the Managing Director at Outpost Artists Resources and curator of the Vectors: Contemporary Music Series.

Abigail Lloyd, set and costume design, lives in Brooklyn and loves building sets for theater. She also builds furniture and other objects from steel. When she’s tired, she makes digital prints with Photoshop and draws cartoons. Abigail is interested in slow processes, intimacy and collaboration. Please surf www.abigaillloyd.com for more.

Maxwell Cosmo Cramer, dramaturgy,

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