837 Venice Boulevard
2008
“One of the most original talents on the contemporary dance scene.” —The New York Times
Driscoll revisits her childhood while examining the construct of identity and how we blame the world for our problems. The act of looking to her childhood for answers became a metaphor for the human compulsion to place blame — whether with parents, lovers, society, or ourselves. This dance theater piece uses text and song generated in collaboration with the three performers, who throughout the work manipulate each other like puppets, poking fun at how we are all constantly telegraphing who we are, based on who we think other people perceive us to be.
Using physical manipulation and humor, 837 Venice Boulevard paints the lonesome emotional landscape of a neglected kid left to her own fantasies and fears, while exploring universal themes of identity, blame, and how exhausting it is to have to “be somebody” all the time.
837 Venice Boulevard premiered in November 2008 at HERE Arts Center.
CREDITS
Originally performed by: Michael Helland, Celia Rowlson-Hall and Nikki Zialcita
Additionally performed by: Heather Olson
Music: Jacno, New Order and Philip Glass
Set Design: Sara C. Walsh
Lighting Design: Amanda K. Ringger
Costume Design: Normandy Sherwood
PRESENTATIONS
Nov 2010: The Wexner Center for the Arts (Columbus, OH)
Feb 2010: Choate Rosemary Hall (New Haven, CT)
Jan 2009: Hillborough Community College (Tampa, FL)
Jan 2009: Paul Mellon Arts Center (Wallingford, CT)
Nov 2008: HERE Arts Center (New York, NY) – premiere
Aug 2008: Key City Public Theater (Port Townsend, WA)
Jul 2008: The Unknown Theater (Los Angeles, CA)
COMMISSIONING & SUPPORT
837 Venice Boulevard was made possible in part through the HERE Artist Residency Program, a Silo Residency, a BAX/Brooklyn Arts Exchange Residency and a Greenwall Foundation Grant.