So, it’s a rare weekend for you in that you have no evening plans. Well, fret no more! You should definitely grab tickets to the Twyla Tharp 50th Anniversary Tour at the historic Auditorium Theatre. Dance isn’t your thing, you say? It will be once you feast on this charming, joyous, and tantalizing show.
Twyla Tharp has been pushing boundaries in dance for over 5 decades and is showing no signs of slowing down. As a choreographer she’s done over one hundred sixty works including film, television, Broadway shows and figure skating routines. She is also a writer, and is working on her fourth book.
This show, at the Auditorium Theatre through Sunday is composed of two seemingly opposed halves. The first half is tame in costuming (neutral tones for the gents, and soft-hued for the ladies) and set to music by New York avant-garde composer John Zorn, as well as Johann Sebastian Bach. These pieces are light hearted, flirty, and a pleasure to watch. You’ll feel drawn in attitude and playfulness that Tharp is known for, and left wanting more by intermission.
Post intermission, you are dropped into a color saturated world, bright tones splashed across the stage and inventive and playful costuming on the dancers. Opening with another Zorn composition, the music and choreography make you feel like you’ve been dropped into the middle of Bourbon Street, mid Carnival. It’s fun, flirtatious, and raucous. You’ll genuinely laugh out loud and applaud with vigor. Last night’s performance ended with a standing ovation and at least six bows by the dancers.
The pieces were commissioned by various cities and organizations across the U.S. (including Ravinia) in celebration of Tharp’s 50 year career. Do yourself a favor, and see this show before it leaves town. You won’t’ regret it. Tharp herself will be speaking after the Sunday matinee performance.
Tickets are available here (scroll to the bottom for each performance). Performances are Friday and Saturday November 6 and 7 at 7:30pm and Sunday November 8 at 2:00pm.
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