Artist and leading disability culture activist Claire Cunningham and Jess Curtis—recipient of the Herb Alpert Award for Choreography—debut in Chicago with The Way You Look (at me) Tonight. This sensory journey explores how we, as a society, perceive people and the world. Set to a lilting collage of original music and video, the duet dances, sings, and tells stories in close proximity to the seated audience. The performers excavate their own ways of seeing each other—as a man and woman of different ages, bodies, and backgrounds —spurring introspective moments and self-reflection.
Curtis first introduced Cunningham to movement in 2005, leading to her own career as a choreographer. For this new work, they combine their mutual interests in the ideas of noted author and philosopher Dr. Alva Noë, in order to investigate new ways of examining perception. With Noë—who is no stranger to performance, having worked with choreographer William Forsythe—they conceived and created The Way You Look (at me) Tonight as a kinetic social sculpture. Throughout the live performance, Noë’s ideas and voice are incorporated via audio/video by media artist Yoann Trellu, with original music by Matthias Hermann and dramaturgy by Luke Pell.
Presented in association with Bodies of Work
Accessible Events:
All performances will have Audio Description available.
Friday February 9
ASL Interpretation for the performance and post show discussion.
Saturday February 10
Touch tour at 6:30pm. Registration required. Call the Box Office at 312-397-4010.
Sunday February 11
Relaxed Performance with ASL Interpretation. This performance is open to everyone, but the artists are offering it as a relaxed performance. Relaxed performances are for people, with or without disabilities, who prefer some flexibility in regards to noise and movement in the theater. Stage lighting and sound have been adapted by the artists to be less intense. Patrons are free to leave and reenter the theater as necessary, and the theater lights are kept at a glow to facilitate movement. Sensory rest areas are available outside the theater for patrons to take a break before returning to the show. Volunteers, many of whom are members of the disabled community, are present to assist.
