A multi-media program of music, dance and video

conceived and directed by

Megan McQueen and Shannon Ellison

June 11 - 27, 2010

Carlos Saucedo and Indrani Rauth in Beautiful Nightmare, Music by William Zimmerman and Video by Jon Herrera

No Strings Theater Company presents the premiere production of "Chance," a collaboration of local songwriters, dancers, filmmakers and visual artists in a unique undertaking at the Black Box Theatre, 430 N Downtown Mall, from June 11 through June 27. Directors Megan McQueen and Shannon Ellison have chosen original musical compositions by local composers with filmmakers and choreographers. Each filmmaker has had the artistic freedom to create a music video to their song.

LEFT: Brandi Johnson, Danya Linares & Shannon Ellison in She Shines, Music by James Gier and Video by Autumn Gieb

RIGHT: Bittany Barham in Spine, Music by Justin MacDonald and Video by Thomas DesJardins

The composers and musicians for "Chance" are Cathy Carver, Mike Cook, Bob Diven, James Gier, Mick Harris, M. Catherine Jonet, Justin MacDonald, Andrew Milligan, Justin Raines, Kiki and Wayne Suggs, Alison Reynolds and La Cella Bella, Robert Senecal, Steve Smith, Chris Sanders and Hard Road, William Zimmerman, and 22 Bichos,  The filmmakers are Nate Ayoub, Brian Bixby, David Carbajal, Thomas DesJardines, Alicia Doyl, Shannon Ellison, Autumn Gieb, Jon Herrera, Megan McQueen, Scott Saiz and Eric Seo,   Each choreographer has worked independently to set those same pieces with a group of dancers. The dancers, many of whom are also choreographers for their pieces, are Kirsten Avelar, Brittany Barham, Johnny Clark, Candace Craig-Hardee, Joe Duerkson, Ariel Freilich, Rachel Goodman, George Jarden, Brandi Johnston, Niki Lemmon, Danya Linarez, Joe Lopez, Daniel Maese, Naomi McKenna, Indrani Rauth, Julian Rodriguez, Bonnie and Cheryl Parham, Carlos Saucedo, Katy Taylor, and Robert Zimmerman.

LEFT: Carlos Saucedo & Katy Taylor in Seattle, Music by Mick Harris and Video by Alecia Doyle

RIGHT: Ariel Freilich & Robert Zimmerman in Ghost of a River, Music by Kiki & Wayne Suggs and Video by Erica Krauel

Performances will feature the film and dance pieces together, though they were created separately. thetheatregallery will feature works by visual artists. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., Sunday matinees on June 20 and 27 at 2:30 p.m. and a Thursday performance on June 24 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $10.00 regular admission, $9.00 students and seniors over 65. For reservations call (575) 523-1223

Bittany Barham in Spine, Music by Justin MacDonald and Video by Thomas DesJardins

‘Chance’ at BBT
Innovative production combines the efforts of more than 100 artists
Review by David Edwards
Las Cruces Bulletin

The audience at opening night of “Chance” Friday, June 11, at the Black Box Theatre was part of something very unique and I felt fortunate to be there and be a part of it.

“Chance” was conceived by Megan Mc-Queen and directed by McQueen and Shannon Ellison. More than 100 dancers, choreographers, videographers/filmmakers, singers, song writers, musicians, actors, technicians, designers and visual artists combined their talents to create a marvelously effective and affecting theatrical piece.

McQueen had been intrigued by the ideas of dancer/choreographer Merce Cunningham since she took an introductory dance class in college. In the program notes, McQueen discussed Cunningham’s notion that “chance can reveal to a choreographer ways of combining movements that the rational, conscious mind might not otherwise have thoughts of on its own.”

Looking for a “chance” herself to find some “new artistic stimulation” and gather a large group of collaborators together, she thought of having local artists take musical compositions and create dance and film responses, but not actually put them together until shortly before performance.

No Strings Theatre Company artistic director Ceil Herman suggested that local composers be used for the project. Visual artists also created paintings, drawings, collages and photographs based on the music selected.

The result of all this effort is an evening of 16 songs, each interpreted through film and dance. They are wistful, touching, emotional, challenging, abstract, literal, narrative, comic, bizarre and all worthy of more in-depth thought and discussion than I have space for.

There were pieces I was more fond of than others, but I appreciated all of them. I found myself thoroughly enjoying the evening.

Not all the films or music are going to be everyone’s cup of tea. The films are amateur – and I don’t mean amateurish – they are not polished professional-looking video, but that is part of their appeal.

I found myself not knowing where to look at times – becoming wrapped up in the video and then having my attention drawn to the dance – not wanting to miss anything. A second viewing may be in order and I rarely, if ever, see a theater piece more than once.

I missed the spoken word’s presence in the production – it is there in song lyrics and the short video clips that introduce each piece, but I wondered if having a verbal response to a piece of music or a dance might have been an interesting expansion of the concept. Maybe for “Second Chance.” In any case, take the opportunity to see this intriguing endeavor.

To go to the online reservation form, click here

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