Installation Operettas: Moon Bears and Sister Wives by Mark Southerland

Friday, October 23rd and Friday, November 6th, 2009

Installation Operettas: Moon Bears and Sister Wives is a series of two unique performances conceived and curated by composer, musician, performer, and sculptor Mark Southerland, a 2008 Charlotte Street Generative Performing Artist Award Fellow.  Performances take place October 23 (“Dream Arc”), 8 pm and November 6 (“Banquet Boat”), 8 pm & 10 pm, at Urban Culture Project’s la Esquina, 1000 West 25th Street, KCMO. Admission is $10 at the door.

This experimental, narrative-driven, two-part multimedia extravaganza will blur the boundaries between genres and disciplines, showcase technical brilliance, challenge perceptions of jazz music, and create an immersive real-time experience. Involving an expansive and diverse group of highly accomplished musicians, visual artists, and other performers, the events will unfold in operatic fashion as stories told through a dramatic mix of instrumentals, voice, props, lighting, sculptural elements, and artful backdrops.

Dream Arc, Oct. 23,  will feature special guests Helen Gillet, a highly accomplished cellist and vocalist from New Orleans, and Sait Arat, a master at the Darbuka and recent resident of Istanbul.  For Banquet Boat, Nov. 6, they will be joined by Brian Haas, a modern jazz giant on piano and founder of Tulsa’s Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, and Annie Elicott a very talented jazz vocalist, also from Tulsa OK. Other performers and artists may include: Jeff Harshbarger, Shay Estes, Brad Cox, Arnie Young, Dave Ford, Ashley Miller, Emily Moore, Beniah Leusckie, Kent Burnham, Scott Johnson, Ruby Hanson, Jake Johannes, Matt Tady, Joy Stempleman, Shawn Hansen, Margaret Gordon, Ryan Gale, Jade, Laurel Birdsong, Jori Sackin, Laura Ellen Frank, Ari Fish, Peggy Noland, Stewart Losee, Peregrine Honig, Chris Bell, and many more. Read the full press release.

For photos of the event, check out our flickr.