Columbia College Chicago Theatre Department alumni, students, and faculty are collaborating on a festival of devised work, Dancing on the Ceiling and Other Moments of Connection, running July 10-August 1 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont, Chicago.

 

Presented by The Neapolitans theatre company, the festival is curated by Hannah Burt, a graduate of the Theatre Department’s BA Program in Acting; Travis Coe, a student in the Theatre Department’s Acting BA Program; and associate professor Susan Padveen, coordinator of the Theatre Department’s BFA Program in Theatre Directing. The festival’s stage manager, Anna Micale, is a student in the Theatre Department’s BA Program in Technical Theatre; assistant stage manager Sean Marburger is a student in the Theatre Directing BFA Program.

Dancing on the Ceiling and Other Moments of Connection is divided into three programs, and Columbia alumni and faculty are represented in every program. Each piece has been devised by the company presenting, and the festival reflects a wide range of styles and thoughts around the organizing theme of how we make and lose connections. All performances take place at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont, in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood. Stage 773’s creative director, Brian Posen, is a Columbia College Theatre instructor and alumnus.

The performance schedule is:

Fridays, July 10, 17, 24*, and 31, at 8 PM:

A Mighty Heart, described as “an exploration of fate, free will and quantum physics,” is directed by faculty member Susan Padveen. The cast includes Columbia alumna Sheila Willis. The piece is presented by The Neapolitans.

 

[dot] is presented by the Room | 916 Collective, an ensemble of current and former Columbia Theatre Department students. Dior J Stephens, a BA Acting major, directs and performs with ensemble members Hannah Burt, BA Acting student Alec Silver, and BFA Acting alumna Rachel Minkoff.

children, behave, presented by The Neapolitans, features Brea Hayes, a Columbia BFA Directing alumna, and Hilary Williams, a BA Acting alumna.

 

Saturdays, July 11, 18, and 25* and August 1 at 10:30 PM:

Applied Force, or: Hubris and Human Impossibilities in Regards to Mountains, Myths, and German Film Directors, presented by the New Mechanics, features Columbia alums Spencer Meeks, a graduate of the Theatre Department’s BA Program in Musical Theatre, and David Gordezky, a BA Acting graduate.

if i should have to choose is presented by Alluvion Dance Chicago.

*Note: On Friday, July 24, and Saturday, July 25, children, behave and Applied Force, or: Hubris and Human Impossibilities in Regards to Mountains, Myths, and German Film Directors are switched.

 

 

Sunday, July 26 only, 4 PM:

Vignettes is a dance-theatre piece choreographed by Columbia alumna Ren Griffith, a graduate of the Theatre Department’s BFA Program in Musical Theatre Performance. It’s a series of three dances that all tell a different relationship story. The first dance, “Infatuation,” will be performed by Orrin Keown , a student in the Theatre Department’s BA Program in Musical Theatre, and Musical Theatre Performance BFA alumna Courtney Mack. The second piece, “Intemperance,” will be performed by Musical Theatre Performance BFA student Katie Spangler; Jake Ganzer, a graduate of the Theatre Department’s Musical Theatre BA Program; and Griffith. The third dance, “Deadlock,” will be performed by Columbia College Dance Department student Johnny Huntoon and Megan O’Toole, a double major in Musical Theatre and Dance.

[dot], presented by the Room | 916 Collective.

Gully Queen, featuring Donny Acosta and Ruben Adorno.

Inspired by Chicago’s annual Summer Dance, Dancing on the Ceiling and Other Moments of Connection will also feature dancing in the aisles between pieces at every performance.

Tickets for each program are $12 general admission. For tickets, click here or call 773-327-5253.