Showbiz Chicago

Fifth House Ensemble Presents "The Weaver's Tale"Alyssa Norby

FifthHouseEnsembleisdelightedtopresenttheworldpremiereof“TheWeaver’sTale: ofthefearlessboyandthelovelessgirl” fortwoperformancesonly, Nov. 16at7p.m. attheChicagoCulturalCenterandNov. 17at8p.m. atMayneStage.  ThisworldpremiereconcertisthefirstperformanceinFifthHouseEnsemble’s2010-2011seasonconcertseries, “TheWeaver’sTales.”

“TheWeaver’sTale: ofthefearlessboyandthelovelessgirl”isanewtwistonGrimm’sfairytalesthatweavestogetherthestoryof “Snegurotchka – TheSnowMaiden” and “TheBoyWhoWentForthtoLearnWhatFearWas.” SettothemusicofRalphVaughanWilliams (“PianoQuintet,” complete), MasonBates (“RedRiver,” complete), DavidMaslanka (“WindQuintetNo. 2,” selections) andMarkFish (“PicturesofMiro,” selections), thistaleofpassionatereciprocitybetweenthesexeswillbeillustratedwithphysicaltheatre, multimedia, fashionandmore.

Co-writtenanddirectedbyRebekahScalletandLindseyMarks, basedonaconceptdevelopedbyFifthHouseEnsemble, “TheWeaver’sTale: ofthefearlessboyandthelovelessgirl” willfeatureFifthHouseEnsemblemembersMelissaSnoza, flute; CrystalHall, oboe; JenniferWoodrum, clarinet; KarlRzasa, bassoon; DeAunnDavis, horn; AndrewWilliams, violin; ClarkCarruth, viola; HerineCoetzeeKoschak, cello; EricSnoza, bass; andAdamMarks, piano.  ThecastwillfeatureLindseyMarks (TheWeaver), BethanyHedden (thelovelessgirl), StephenOchsner (thefearlessboy) andGilliamWeston (boy’smother). VideoisbySteveEmmonsandKerryYang, anddressdesignandconstructionisbyWillyChyr.

“TheWeaver’sTale: ofthefearlessboyandthelovelessgirl”willbeperformedWednesday, Nov. 17at8p.m., atMayneStage, 1328WMorseAve.  Ticketsare $20forgeneraladmissiontotheperformancewhenpurchasedinadvance, $25atthedoor. VIPreservedseatingmustbepurchasedinadvanceandis $25. TicketscanbepurchasedbycallingtheMayneStageBoxOfficeat (773) 381-4554oronlineatwww.maynestage.com.

FifthHouseEnsemblewillperformafreeperformanceof“TheWeaver’sTale: ofthefearlessboyandthelovelessgirl”Tuesday, Nov. 16at7p.m. atPrestonBradleyHallattheChicagoCulturalCenter, 78EWashingtonSt. ThisperformancewillbepresentedfreeofchargebytheChicagoDepartmentofCulturalAffairs, withseatsavailableonafirstcome, firstservedbasis.

LindseyMarks, alsoknownas “LadyJack,” isamulti-facetedperformanceartistandburlesquedancerfromChicagothatwillbeplayingthecharacterof “TheWeaver” throughouttheseason.  Inspiredbythewest-AfricanspiderAnansiwhoisthespinnerofalltales, “TheWeaver” orchestratestheinteractionsofthecharactersineachoftheseparateworkswhilealsoweavingeachofthetalestogether.

RebekahScalletisafreelancedirectoranddramaturgwhomostrecentlydirected “TheTempest” fortheIllinoisShakespeareFestival, “AnneFrank & Me” fortheCollegeofLakeCountyandservedastheassistantdirectorfor “TwelfthNight” atChicagoShakespeareTheater.

“TheWeaver’sTale: ofthefearlessboyandthelovelessgirl”isthefirstinstallmentinathree-partworldpremiereseries.  Thispiecewillbefollowedby “TheWeaver’sTale: ofcinderellaandthedevil,” Feb. 15 – 16, 2011and “TheWeaver’sTale: ofdebtandthemaidens,” May3 – 4, 2011.  Thisuniquemulti-mediatheatricaladventureseamlesslyweavestogetherthreestorylinesbycombiningfairytales, physicaltheatre, dance, highfashionandmusicthatwillcaptivateaudienceswithafull-sensoryexperience.

“TheWeaver’sTales” areinspiredbymusicrangingfromBeethoven’sclassicSeptettomusicfrompost-moderncomposerElliottCarter. Carter’smusic, withitsspikyanddissidentnature, isusedtopurposefullyillustratethe “grim” natureofthefairytales. “TheWeaver’sTales” alsofeaturesmusicbyMasonBates, acuttingedgeincomingcomposerfortheChicagoSymphonyOrchestra.  Batesisacomposerofsymphonicmusicwhoincludeselectronicaandtechnoinhisorchestralworks.  Hisuniquefusionoforchestralwriting, technorhythms, andimaginativenarrativeformsbring “TheWeaver’sTales” tolife.

“TheWeaver’sTales” ispresentedinpartnershipwithHighConceptLaboratories (HCL). HCL’smissionistopartnerwithartistsandperformerstofosterthecreationanddevelopmentofnewartisticworks. Byworkingasaproducingpartner, HCLprovidesspace, resources, capacity-buildingandadministrativesupporttoprojectsofmerit. Indoingso, theynurturenewworksthrougheverystepofthecreativeprocessfromcreationanddevelopmenttopresentationandperformance.

Marketingeffortsfor “TheWeaver’sTales” aresupportedbyanArtsEngagementImplementationGrantfromTheChicagoCommunityTrust. Throughprogramslikethis, theTrusthelpsChicagoareaartsorganizationsbuildaudienceappreciationandcreatedemandforthearts.

ABOUTFIFTHHOUSEENSEMBLE Founded in 2005, the Chicago-based Fifth House Ensemble is a versatile and dynamic group praised by the New York Times for its “conviction, authority, and finesse.” Fifth House’s innovative performances engage audiences through their connective programming and unexpected venues. Having established itself as a regular on the Chicago chamber music scene, Fifth House has performed on some of the city’s most well-regarded series and venues including the Rush Hour Concerts at St. James and Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts, in addition to regular appearances on WFMT. Other recent projects include a performance of Olivier Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time at the Adler Planetarium’s historic Sky Theater, a couture music program for the Driehaus Fashion Awards for Excellence, and a composer portrait of Galina Ustvolskaya at NYC’s Miller Theatre. Currently Ensemble in Residence at Carthage College,  5HE’s innovative educational endeavors have resulted in performances and residencies at Chicago public schools and the Chicago Cultural Center in partnership with the International Music Foundation, the Chicago Teachers’ Center, and Ravinia’s Reach*Teach*Play program. Fifth House Ensemble’s mission is to tap the collaborative spirit of chamber music to create engaging performances and interactive educational programs, forging meaningful partnerships with unexpected venues, artists of other disciplines, educational institutions, and audiences of every type.

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Fifth House Ensemble