Big Dance Theater makes BAM Debut with Supernatural Wife

Annie-B Parson and Paul Lazar's Big Dance Theater makes its BAM debut with the New York premiere of Supernatural Wife. This dance-theater adaptation of Euripides' Alkestis tells the tale of King Admetos, who avoids death by sending a surrogate, his wife, in his stead. Supernatural Wife had its world premiere in March at Le Théâtre National de Chaillot in Paris.

Utilizing Anne Carson's spare and immediate translation of one of the great dramatic works based on Greek mythology-and harnessing the gestures of early cinema and the dark melodrama of Yiddish theater to relate the play's tragicomic events-Supernatural Wife explores the timeless themes of death, grief, and self-sacrifice through a fluid mix of dance, theater, music, and video. The score features a choral composition by Chris Giarmo (performed live) and includes a minimalist instrumental piece by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David Lang. "Each medium is perfectly mastered. [All forms] combine in making this tragedy a complete and hybrid form-the ancient aligns with modern technology," says Les Trois Coups. Supernatural Wife was performed at the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival and at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis prior to its New York premiere at BAM.

Big Dance Theater makes BAM debut with Supernatural Wife-Nov 29-Dec 3

Based on translation of Euripides' Alkestis by poet Anne Carson

BAM's 150th anniversary celebration continues through Dec 2012

American Express is the BAM 2011 Next Wave Festival sponsor

Supernatural Wife
Based on Alkestis by Euripides translated by Anne Carson
Big Dance Theater
Directed and choreographed by Paul Lazar and Annie-B Parson

Sound by Jane Shaw
Set by Joanne Howard
Video by Jeff Larson
Lighting by Joe Levasseur
Costumes by Oana Botez-Ban

BAM Harvey Theater (651 Fulton St)
Nov 29-Dec 3 at 7:30 pm
Tickets start at $20

Artist Talk: Grief in Greek Tragedy
Anne Carson with Annie-B Parson and Paul Lazar on Alkestis
Dec 1 at 6pm
BAM Hillman Attic Studio
Tickets: $10 ($5 for Friends of BAM)