trailerpilot

Molly Shanahan/Mad Shak in Stamina of Curiosity. Photo by William Frederking.

I gave myself a pat on the back for surviving the first four days of this month, but the action just won’t let up (in the best way). I’ve already told you a thing or two about Lucky Plush Productions and Hedwig Dances‘ engagements this weekend, both of which I’m checking out after a music doubleheader Wednesday of Dead Man’s Bones [Ryan Gosling (yes, that one) and Zach Shields’ band] and my pop obsession of 2009, La Roux. Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago is decidedly not messing around with their fall Harris program, whose tentpole is the world premiere of Rennie Harris‘ “I Want You” but also includes a horn o’ beyond-plenty o’ new works (by Autumn Eckman, with musicians Dan Myers and John Ovnik, and Lindsey Leduc Brenner) and repertory faves. I had such a lovely time in Madison last weekend I’m going back to Wisco this Saturday for Molly Shanahan/Mad Shak’s Stamina of Curiosity: Our Strange Elevations at Alverno Presents in Milwaukee. Previous presentations from the Stamina series — three of which I danced in — have built upon/recontextualized their predecessors the way a grandmother can transfix her children’s children with the same story time and time again. How Shanahan’s research will play out on a large proscenium stage like the Pitman Theatre can’t be guessed, but you can count on every facet of the experience figuring into the ensemble’s performance.

Giordano dancers Craig Kaufman and Meredith Schultz in "Gravity." Photo by Kam Hobbs.

Now, I realize it isn’t everyone’s job to attend a performance every night of the week, but there are magical things happening in this neck of the woods and you owe it to yourself to check out at least one of them.