Collaboration and Discovery

We have all experienced “eureka” moments at times in our lives when the figurative light bulb comes on in our heads and we grasp solutions or gain new insights to the mysteries in our lives. It is this spirit of self-discovery and epiphany that supplies both the title and the central theme of the 2012 Living Canvas show at the National Pastime Theater. Eureka will amaze audience members as they watch the talented cast of fifteen nude performers move across the stage bathed in colorful projected patterns and textures, and it will invite viewers to experience the liberating sensation of self-discovery for themselves at one point in the performance.

In one sense, Eureka takes the Living Canvas ensemble back to its formative roots. When Pete Guither staged his premiere Chicago performance of the Living Canvas on the Strawdog Theater stage back in the summer of 2001, the concept consisted of a series of short and visually compelling performance pieces. As the project evolved over the years, shorter vignettes gave way to full unified stories such as those told in the more recent memorable performances of Rain, Demons, and Nocturne. This year, the artistic team and the talented cast of performers have chosen to create a variety of individual pieces that will allow them to focus on those powerful moments of self-discovery that help to define and enrich our lives. Some of the segments will be solo performances or showcase the talents of a small group of performers while others will feature the full cast filling the entire performance space.

The notion of full collaboration has always been at the core of the Living Canvas concept, and the ability of the performers to work together creatively is a key consideration during the audition process. That collective spirit of creativity and innovation is even more apparent in this year’s production since ensemble members are responsible for developing the concepts and working with other ensemble members to bring their visions to the stage. Meagan Piccochi (pictured below leading a recent rehearsal) is working as a choreographer for the show, and she is joined by other members of the artistic team that includes Pete Guither, Adam Fox, Lisa Adams and Bill Daniel—all veterans of previous Living Canvas shows.

Since the new National Pastime Theater performing space is larger than the stage used for Naked July events in past years, the Eureka cast and artistic team have many new options as they develop both the dance moves and the projected light images to fill the space. As always, Pete Guither has promised some new technological innovations to make good use of the new performing space and to create the most powerful and memorable visual experience for the audience.

As noted above, each Living Canvas performance gives audience members an opportunity to experience the liberating sensation of shedding their clothes and discovering what it is like to be a “living canvas” as they move through a landscape of colorful projected patterns. The audience participation segment is completely voluntary, of course, but it is a unique chance to experience a marvelous “eureka” moment in the voyage of self-discovery.

You can use this link to read more about The Living Canvas or to see galleries of images from past performances. Eureka opens at 10:00 pm on June 29 and runs until August 11.