Arts
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Queer Theory: Tommy DeFrantz Visits Burlington
Alison Bechdel and Phranc Put On a Paper Play
 |
Queer
Theory Performances and Workshops Boston Performer Tommy DeFrantz Visits Burlington |
by Lani Stack
"What
is 'queer theory' and how does it relate to ME?" That's the question
Dr. Thomas DeFrantz will ask, and try to answer, during a weeklong Burlington
residency, from October 30 to November 5. "Do queer theorists help
me understand myself? Or do they spin on gerbil wheels, spouting ideas
without any consideration for everyday pleasures and pains?" DeFrantz
wondered in a recent interview.
DeFrantz, a professor
of music and theater arts at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
will share his discoveries in two premiere performances of Queer Theory!
at the Flynn Center, and in pre- and post-performance discussions. During
his residency, he will also impart his insights in a public forum on queer
arts at R.U.1.2? Community Center, and in discussions at UVM and other
local colleges. With Margaret Ann Brady, a member of his theater troupe,
the Slippage Ensemble, DeFrantz will lead a two-part physical theater
workshop and a special Halloween improv comedy workshop at FlynnSpace,
and a comedy improv workshop for LGBTQA youth at Outright Vermont.
Boston-area
actors Thomas Bardwell, Amatul Hannan, and Albert Chan will join DeFrantz
and Brady in the performances.
He added, "As someone who identifies
as queer at times, but always as African American; and as a Midwesterner
at times, but always as male; and as an academic at times, but always
as a performance artist open to asking questions and trying new things,
I wondered how queer theory could help me bridge some of the and/but divides
that press on me. This fantastical movement/music/theater work questions
the foundations of this new branch of the academy. As I developed the
work with an amazing company of collaborators, we found that the sparks
fly when people disagree about the importance of race, class, gender,
popular culture, philosophy, and materialist analyses of everyday queer
life. In other words, the characters 'carry on,' as academics do, but
in the process come to see each other as members of a 'queer tribe,' one
that must work together or fall way, way apart."
Christopher Kaufman, the Flynn's new
programming manager and the founding executive director of R.U.1.2?, organized
DeFrantz's Burlington itinerary as one of his first tasks with the arts
venue.
He said the Flynn's artist residencies
"give audiences and people in Chittenden County the opportunity to
learn much more about the artists we're presenting than just by buying
tickets to the show." He added, "Vermont has a very rich tradition
of organizing around lesbian, bisexual, gay, and transgender issues. The
opportunity to match Tommy up with R.U.1.2? and Outright Vermont is a
great partnership."
Kara DeLeonardis, executive director
of R.U.1.2? agreed. "One of the reasons we're interested in Queer
Theory! and having a discussion group here is to emphasize the importance
of art for the queer community and let people share their experiences
and their stories in an art form like [DeFrantz's]," she said. "The
other reason is education - to increase the knowledge of queer life and
reduce homophobia through the visibility and education it can provide
to our allies and the rest of the community."
Lluvia Mulvaney-Stanak, executive
director of Outright Vermont said she expects DeFrantz's comedy improv
workshop for teens, in particular, to resonate with local youth.
"We're always excited to
work with any national queer-related or queer-identified performers who
come to the area," she said. "Living in Burlington, it's really
rare for our community to have an opportunity to interact with these people,
who seem larger-than-life, so it's always a special treat to have those
performers interact with our youth."
She added, "We're really excited
about Tommy's visit in particular because it's a comedy workshop. The
number one goal of all our activity-based programs is to have fun, have
a new experience, maybe spark a new interest. It would be awesome to have
someone be awakened to a whole new realm they've never tried before."
DeFrantz's
physical theater workshop for teens and adults will be held in FlynnSpace
on Mon, Oct 30 at 7pm, and Sat, Nov 4 at 1pm. His Halloween comedy
improv workshop runs Tue, Oct 31, at 7pm. FMI: (802) 652-4548 or flynnarts@flynncenter.org.
DeFrantz will speak about queer arts at RU12? Community Center on
Wed, Nov 1, at 7pm. For details, call (802) 860-RU12 or visit www.ru12.org.
His comedy improv workshop for teens (23 and under) will be at Outright
Vermont on Thu, Nov 2, at 6:30pm. FMI: (802) 865-9677 or www.outrightvt.org.
To learn more, contact Christopher Kaufman at (802) 652-4539 or ckaufman@flynncenter.org.
Queer Theory! will premiere at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts'
FlynnSpace on Fri and Sat, Nov 3 and 4, at 8pm. Q&A with the audience
will follow the Friday show; a free lecture on "Transforming Queer Theory
into Laughter" will precede the Saturday show at 6:30pm in the Flynn's
Amy E. Tarrant Gallery.
Tickets for Queer Theory! performances at the Flynn are $23 adults and
$19 students, with 25% ticket discounts for members of R.U.1.2?, Outright
Vermont, and Vermont Gay Social Alternatives. Tickets: 802-86-FLYNN, 802-863-5966,
or www.flynncenter.org.
Lani Stack is a marketing coordinator with the Flynn Center.