Two World Premieres

January 29-February 1
Artists in Residence Ursula Eagly and Shannon Gillen present audacious new work in a shared program.
Performance Times: Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 8:00pm, Sunday matinee at 3:00pm
Ticket Prices: $20, ($15 members, $17 students)

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Ursula Eagly

Ursula Eagly presents Aaron Mattocks. Aaron Mattocks is a hero.  He’s a twisting, folding performance improvisation Rube Goldberg machine.  He’s the bite that makes you sick.  He’s really me.
Performed by Ursula Eagly, Abby Harris, Jeremy Holmes, and Aaron Mattocks
Music and costumes by Ursula Eagly
Lighting Design by Amanda K. Ringger

Ursula Eagly has been making performances in New York for years.  Her creations have come to life at Dance Theater Workshop, Danspace Project, The Chocolate Factory, and many other wonderful places.  Her work has been commissioned by Dance Theater Workshop’s Studio Series and The Howl Festival and supported by the Queens Council on the Arts, Topaz Arts, and Ur.  Ursula also performs in the work of Yoshiko Chuma and Kathy Westwater.

Shannon Gillen

Shannon Gillen presents VACATIONLAND. When the Harris family’s plans to go on vacation are unexpectedly put to the test, their relationships explode in a maelstrom of anxiety.  Ed’s split self explores the active tension between living his life defined by things he has no control over versus his personal commitments.  Ed’s wife Abby contends with becoming conscious to a life she doesn’t necessarily want anymore, all while their Kid watches on.  VACATIONLAND unflinchingly and hilariously exposes the violent language of family life.
Performed by Xan Burley, Janna Diamond, Shannon Gillen, Stephanie Miracle, Maddy Wyatt
Sound Design by Malina Rauschenfels and Shannon Gillen
Live Music by Maddy Wyatt
Costume & Set Design by Shannon Gillen
Lighting Design by Amanda K. Ringger

Shannon Gillen, co-director of DOORKNOB COMPANY, received her BFA from The Juilliard School where she was mentored by Martha Clarke. Gillen studied Meisner acting at the Maggie Flanigan Studio and served as choreographer on several television pilots. She has presented her work at Alice Tully Hall, the Clark Studio Theater, Dance New Amsterdam, HERE Arts Center, with Movement Research at Judson Church, the Ontological-Hysteric Theater, with the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council’s Sitelines Series as part of New York City’s River to River Festival, and held residency with Festival Oltre Passo in Lecce, Italy, Fresh Tracks at Dance Theater Workshop and is an (08-09) artist in residence at DNA. Gillen’s work is committed to exploring a narrative line within a heightened reality, where many mediums overlap and exist together; movement, text, scenic elements and music work in tandem to bring human behavior to life. Gillen strives to return the ‘movement body’ to character driven experience, where spontaneous reaction is the directional force and where performers learn to ‘live truthfully under imaginary circumstances’.  www.doorknobcompany.org

Video excerpts from rehearsals:

DNA’s Artist in Residence (AIR) program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA); National Endowment for the Arts and New York State Council on the Arts.