“Roussève’s work is a call for grace, a cry to reunite with some large universal framework… inspired, ingenious work.” -- Chicago Sun Times
“Contradictory, perverse, uplifting - [Roussève’s] theater distills the essence of truth, and it is potent.” - The Star Ledger (Newark)
Choreographed, written and directed by David Roussève, Stardust explores the evolving nature of intimacy in our technology-driven, furiously paced world. Redefining the coming of age story for the electronic age, the evening-length piece follows an African American gay urban teenager, who never seen onstage, is present only by the emotion laden tweets and text messages he sends. His unanswered texts and tweets are projected in video by Roussève’s long-time collaborator Cari Ann Shim Sham. The sound score juxtaposes the intimate romanticism of Nat King Cole standards with the rough-edged, hip-hop inflected original music of d. Sabela Grimes. Rousseve’s lush choreography is leavened by frenetic, angular representations of the protagonist’s anxious states of mind. Designer Christopher Kuhl’s lighting adds emotional texture and a surreal quality of the work.