this week in lectures, signings, panel discussions, workshops, and Q&As

INSIDE THE WILD HEART

Immersive production of Inside the Wild Heart has been reimagined for online livestreaming (photo by Erika Morilla)

INSIDE THE WILD HEART
Thursday – Sunday through December 20, $20-$50 (based on what you can afford)
Encore run: Wednesday, Friday, Sunday, February 12 – March 28, $15-$50
www.group.br.com

I’m an immersive theater junkie. Put on a show in an abandoned hotel or warehouse, in an empty church or a cemetery, or behind the scenes at an arts venue and I will be first in line. There’s just something about wandering among storylines and characters on your own path and schedule, even when knowing you’re likely not to see everything or understand completely what’s happening and I’m there, from Sleep No More, Then She Fell, and Ghost Light to The Grand Paradise, Empire Travel Agency, and Counting Sheep.

I don’t know how I missed Group.BR’s Inside the Wild Heart, which was first presented in a Williamsburg gallery in 2016, then two years later at Aich Studios, an 1848 brownstone and former foundry in the Gramercy Park area. The New York-based Brazilian company filmed one of the 2018 shows, enlisting nine friends with cameras to place themselves throughout the three floors and a mezzanine and take continuous video without getting in the way of the audience, which is allowed to walk, stand, and sit wherever they want as they chase the action over two hours. Artistic director Andressa Furletti didn’t know what she would do with the footage until the pandemic hit and she discovered the Gather.town digital platform, which she immediately realized would supply her with just what was needed in order to virtually reimagine the show, which is based on the writings of prominent Jewish author Clarice Lispector. Thus, it turns out that I didn’t miss the show after all; via the innovative platform, I was able to amble, observe, follow, and interact not only with the recorded footage but with other live audience members as well.

Group.BR uses the Gather.town digital platform to bring the interactive Inside the Wild Heart to the internet

Inside the Wild Heart features characters, dialogue, and plots from nine novels and eight short stories by the Ukraine-born Brazilian Lispector (1920-77), who wrote such books as Near to the Wild Heart, The Passion According to G.H., The Stream of Life, and The Woman Who Killed the Fish. Each audience member is assigned a video-game-like avatar that they guide with their keyboard across an animated architectural rendering with couches, chairs, a fireplace, a bathroom, screening areas, and a bar where they can take a break and speak with others. Everyone is encouraged to keep their cameras on but their microphones muted except when they’re in the bar; whenever you’re in a room, you can not only see the other avatars who are there as well but you can see their names and photos at the top of the screen. There’s also a live chat where you can connect with one another, but the night I went, nearly all the other comments were in Portuguese.

Don’t be in a hurry to try to see everything quickly; you have time to take it slow and linger in a room for fifteen minutes or more as the semblance of a story takes shape, a nonlinear narrative told through video, still photographs, dance, music, prerecorded film, and various surprises. You might encounter a woman in a claw-foot tub, people preparing for a wedding, a lady with a whip, and a ghostlike figure climbing stairs, with talk of love, murder, motherhood, the Society of Shadows, the Tree of Secret Desires, and the existence of God. Make sure to find the rare television interview with Lispector, who shares such thoughts as “Adults are sad and solitary” and “I think that when I’m not writing I’m dead.” Other Lispector quotes pop up here and there, including “Getting lost is also a way,” “What I desire doesn’t have a name yet,” and “If you were you, how would you be and what would you do?”

The show is directed by Linda Wise and performed by Balardini, Furletti, Mirko Faienza, Patricia Faolli, Fabiana Mattedi, Gio Mielle, Gonçalo Ruivo, Yasmin Santana, Ibsen Santos, and Montserrat Vargas, with scenic design and art installations by Vargas and Furletti, costumes by Jussara Lee, lighting by Charlie Jarboe, score by Sergio Krakowski (with Mario Forte on violin), and video design by Paul Leopold. Together they have managed to ably re-create the immersive theater experience online, resulting in a fab interactive presentation that is a lot of fun while introducing you to quite an eclectic writer.

Inside the Wild Heart runs Thursday to Sunday through December 20; on December 10, Group.BR will celebrate the centennial of Lispector’s birth with “Clarice’s Day,” a free sixteen-hour party on Zoom, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube that includes “The Morning Is a Premature Flower” with Balardini (5:00 am), videos of scenes from the books Besieged City and A Breath of Life as performed in Inside the Wild Heart (10:00), such readings and/or discussions as “Clarice in English” (10:20), “Clarice and Visual Arts” (11:00), “Clarice in Life and Works” (12:30), and “Clarice and Theater” (5:00), a musical performance of Sara Carvalhos’s “Perto do Coração Selvagem” by Késia Decoté on the toy piano (2:30), short films (3:00), and a special 7:00 screening of the full play, followed by a talkback. [Ed. note: Inside the Wild Heart is back for a much-deserved encore run, February 12 – March 28.]

VIRTUAL KYOGEN PERFORMANCE DOUBLE FEATURE WITH MANSAI NOMURA

MANSAI NOMURA’S KYOGEN: KAGAMI-KAJA (A MIRROR SERVANT) + SHIMIZU (SPRING WATER)
Japan Society
Launch with Watch Party: Wednesday, December 9, free with RSVP (suggested price $5-$20), 8:30 (available on demand through December 31)
Live Talk + Q&A with Mansai Nomura on YouTube: Saturday, December 12, 9:00
www.japansociety.org

A Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property, kyogen actor Mansai Nomura returns to Japan Society — virtually — in an online double feature launching with a livestreamed watch party complete with real-time commentary on December 9 at 8:30. Nomura, the star of the cult movie duology Onmyoji, was last at Japan Society in 2015 with the Mansaku-no-Kai Kyogen Company, founded by his grandfather in 1957 and then run by his father, Mansaku Nomura, staging the solo piece Nasu no Yoichi, based on a chapter from The Tale of the Heike, as well as Akutaro (Akutaro Reforms) and Bonsan (The Dwarf Tree Thief). (Nomura was previously seen in New York City in March 2013 in Sanbaso, Divine Dance, a collaboration with Hiroshi Sugimoto that was copresented by Japan Society at the Guggenheim.)

Kagami-kaja (“A Mirror Servant”) is part of kyogen double feature from Japan Society (photo © Shinji Masakawa from Setagaya Public Theatre)

This time Nomura, the artistic director of Setagaya Public Theatre, will be performing in two works. The new Kagami-kaja (“A Mirror Servant”) was written for Nomura by comedian, novelist, rapper, and avid gardener Seiko Ito; Nomura conceived of and directs and stars in the story about a servant who gets trapped in his reflection. The evening also includes the traditional piece Shimizu (“Spring Water”), a complex tale involving a trickster servant and a tea ceremony. Nomura will introduce each show, and he will also take part in a live talk and Q&A on December 12 at 9:00 that will delve into the history of the seven-hundred-year-old art form known as kyogen. Admission to both events is free, although there is a suggested donation of $5 to $20 based on what you can afford during these challenging times, during which Japan Society has continued to deliver innovative, cutting-edge programs online. If you miss the livestream of the double feature, it will be available for on-demand viewing through December 31; the discussion will take place on YouTube.

A TOAST TO DOWNTOWN

Who: Paul Pfeiffer, Eiko Otake, Amina Henry, Morgan Bassichis, Mona Chalabi, Ivy Mix, Mariana Valencia, Jessica Lappin, Maggie Boepple
What: LMCC benefit fundraiser
Where: Lower Manhattan Cultural Council online
When: Wednesday, December 9, free with RSVP (donations accepted), 7:00
Why: Since 1973, the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council has “served, connected, and made space for artists and communities in NYC through programs that deepen artists’ creative practice and afford them opportunities to share their process and work with local communities.” Rarely has that been more important than during the pandemic lockdown. On December 9 at 7:00, LMCC’s annual fundraiser goes virtual with “A Toast to Downtown,” celebrating the great work the organization does not only in Lower Manhattan but on Governors Island and other locations. This year’s civic leadership honorees are Downtown Alliance president Jessica Lappin and former LMCC president Maggie Boepple; in addition, Amina Henry (The Animals, Bully) will receive the Sarah Verdone Writing Award, Eiko Otake will be presented with the Sam Miller Award for Performing Arts, and Paul Pfeiffer will receive the Michael Richards Award for Visual Arts.

The evening will include video from Pfeiffer, who will show excerpts from a new work as well as from 2001’s Orpheus Descending, which was installed at the World Trade Center and follows the life cycle of a flock of chickens; a new video from Eiko, made for this gala and recently shot on location at LMCC’s Arts Center at Governors Island; and appearances by LMCC artists and alumni Morgan Bassichis, Mona Chalabi, Ivy Mix, and Mariana Valencia. It’s free to RSVP, but $20 gives you a chance to win a limited edition “100 New Yorkers” print by Chalabi based on her 2020 River to River project, $50 helps fund artist residencies, $100 supports grants to neighborhood arts communities, and $250 gives artists the opportunity to share their work and their creative process.

FOLKSBIENE CHANUKAH SPECTACULAR

Who: Carol Burnett, Emanuel Azenberg, Mayim Bialik, Billy Crystal, Tovah Feldshuh, Beanie Feldstein, Joel Grey, Jackie Hoffman, Carol Kane, Barry Manilow, Mandy Patinkin, Itzhak Perlman, Eleanor Reissa, Neil Sedaka, Steven Skybell, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Jerry Zaks, Geni Brenda, Mendy Cahan, Yefim Chorny, Josh Dolgin, Suzanna Ghergus, Miwazow Kogure, Shura Lipovsky, Freydi Mrocki, Polina Shepherd, Merlin Shepherd, Motl Didner, Zalmen Mlotek, Frank London, Tatiana Wechsler, Elmore James, more
What: Global online Chanukah celebration
Where: National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene
When: Tuesday, December 8, free with RSVP, 7:00 (available for ninety-six hours)
Why: National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene is doing more than its part in keeping alive Yiddish theater and the Yiddish language itself, with regular presentations at the Museum of Jewish Heritage. But with the pandemic lockdown, it has adapted to online shows and discussions, and on December 8 it will welcome in the Festival of Lights with a Chanukah celebration with guests from around the world. Debuting on December 8 at 7:00 and available on demand for ninety-six hours, “Folksbiene Chanukah Spectacular” features an all-star lineup, beginning with an audio greeting from Carol Burnett and including appearances by such favorites as Mayim Bialik, Billy Crystal, Tovah Feldshuh, Beanie Feldstein, Joel Grey, Jackie Hoffman, Carol Kane, Barry Manilow, Mandy Patinkin, Itzhak Perlman, Neil Sedaka, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, and many others.

Although it’s free to watch, Chanukah gelt will be gladly accepted, as this is a fundraiser for the company, which in recent years has staged such wonderful Yiddish productions as Fiddler on the Roof, The Sorceress, and The Golden Bride, under the leadership of conductor and artistic director Zalmen Mlotek, who said in a statement with executive director Dominick Balletta, “We’re excited to present this exceptional Yiddish celebration, bringing together Yiddish ambassadors from across the globe, from across the United States to as far away as Australia. This will be a theatrical experience like no other — presented virtually so that families and communities across the world can enjoy it together.” Directed and produced by Adam B. Shapiro, the evening will include music and dance, comedy sketches, and tributes to the golden age of Yiddish theater, along with a grand finale led by members of the Children’s Choir from Tzipporei Shalom of Congregation Beth Shalom in New Jersey. There’s also a special preshow Zoom event with Skybell, Mlotek, and others if you donate at a certain level, in addition to an appetizer delivery from the Lox Cafe.

A CELEBRATION OF LIGHT

Eleanor Reissa teams up with Zalmen Mlotek for intimate holiday concert filmed in her home

Who: Zalmen Mlotek, Eleanor Reissa
What: Virtual Hanukkah concert
Where: On Stage at Kingsborough online
When: December 6-20, suggested admission $10
Why: Hanukkah takes place December 10-18 in this year, but you can get a head start by checking out On Stage at Kingsborough’s special holiday concert, “A Celebration of Light,” streaming December 6-20. Suggested admission is $10, although you can give less or more, depending on what you can afford, to watch the inimitable Zalmen Mlotek, conductor, musical arranger, pianist, accompanist, composer, and artistic director of the National Yiddish Theatre, and Eleanor Reissa, Tony-nominated director, singer, writer, and actor. Mlotek (Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish, The Sorceress) and Reissa (Those Were the Days, God of Vengeance) performed the intimate concert in Reissa’s home, where they celebrated the Festival of Lights in addition to the Yiddish language itself, sharing songs, stories, and more. You can get a taste of the wonderful Reissa here.

UNBOUND: BLACK FUTURES

Who: Kimberly Drew, Jenna Wortham, Raquel Willis, Naima Green
What: Livestream Unbound discussion
Where: BAM / Greenlight Bookstore
When: Monday, December 7, $15 ($45-$50 with book), 7:00
Why: BAM’s ongoing literary program, “Unbound,” copresented with Greenlight Bookstore, goes virtual with the launch of Black Futures (Penguin Random House, $40). Edited by Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham, the book features contributions from Alicia Garza, Alexandra Bell, Hank Willis Thomas, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Zadie Smith, Dawoud Bey, Jackie Sibblies Drury, Kara Walker, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Amy Sherald with Kehinde Wiley, and dozens of other creators, divided into such chapters as “Power,” “Joy,” “Justice,” “Ownership,” and “Legacy.” In their introduction, Drew and Wortham explain, “‘The Black Futures Project’ started a few years ago as a Direct Message exchange on Twitter and has evolved into a shared desire to archive a moment. In developing Black Futures, we sought to answer the question: What does it mean to be Black and alive right now?” The book explores that idea through photography, essays, recipes, screenshots, poetry, memes, social media posts, paintings, song lyrics, and other prismatic text and imagery. You can hear an excerpt from the book here.

On December 7 at 7:00, writer, curator, influencer, and activist Drew and culture writer and Still Processing podcast host Wortham will be joined by transgender artist and activist Raquel Willis (whose “Welcome to the Trans Visibility Era” is included in Black Futures) and artist Naima Green (who contributed “Documenting the Nameplate” with Azikiwe Mohammed) to talk about the book, which is nonlinear and is meant to “provoke you, entice you, enrage you, spark joy, and call you to action.” Tickets are $15, or $45-$50 with a copy of the book, depending on whether you can pick it up in person or need it shipped; a portion of the ticket revenue will be split between BAM and the Campaign Against Hunger, a Brooklyn-based emergency food and community support organization that advances equity for the underserved, helping “build self-determination, engaging in grassroots activism, and investing in civic life,” which is needed now more than ever during the Covid-19 crisis.

CREATING GARDEN OF STONES: A CONVERSATION WITH ANDY GOLDSWORTHY AND JACK KLIGER

Andy Goldsworthy will discuss Garden of Stones, his permanent installation at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, in Zoom talk (photo courtesy the Museum of Jewish Heritage)

Who: Andy Goldsworthy, Jack Kliger
What: Live Q&A
Where: Museum of Jewish Heritage Zoom
When: Sunday, December 6, free with RSVP, 11:00 am
Why: In the summer of 2003, British sculptor, land artist, and photographer Andy Goldsworthy installed Garden of Stones outdoors in the 4,150-square-foot garden at the Museum of Jewish Heritage — A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, a collection of eighteen massive rocks that had small holes hollowed out in them in order to place dwarf oak saplings inside, planted by Holocaust survivors and members of their families at a special ceremony. The number eighteen is represented in Hebrew by the letters chet (ח‎) and yod (י‎), which form the word chai, which means “life.” The work offers a twist on the traditional Jewish cemetery, where people leave pebbles on headstones when visiting graves that are surrounded by growing grass, a kind of life out of death.

Goldsworthy, who interacts with the natural world like no other artist, has been profiled in such documentaries as Leaning into the Wind and Rivers and Tides, which reveal his deep connection to the earth and his often time-consuming process. On December 6 at 11:00 am, in “Creating Garden of Stones,” he will discuss his methods specifically relating to the project in a live Zoom talk and Q&A with Museum of Jewish Heritage president and CEO Jack Kliger. The ever-changing permanent installation takes on new meaning while the country struggles through a horrific health crisis that has led to more than 280,000 American deaths, with many funerals happening virtually instead of in person and cemetery visits few and far between. Admission is free with RSVP.