Address:
155 First Avenue
East Village, NY 10003
Phone: 212-254-1109
Website: www.theaterforthenewcity.net
Description: "Nuclear Love Affair" (world premiere) by Sanaz Ghajarrahimi and Ben Hobbs. Johnson Theater - Sunday, August 14 at 7:00PM; Tuesday, August 16 at 9:00PM; Thursday, August 18 at 9:00PM; Thursday, August 25 at 7:00PM; Friday, August 26 at 9:00PM; Saturday, September 3 at 5:00PM. Running Time: 90 minutes | Tickets $15.
In this spectacular multimedia investigation of America in the Atomic Age, unnerving images, rattling rhythms and disturbing text collide with slapstick and highly aggressive physical storytelling to create an erotic pop culture explosion. Focusing on the period of 1941-1969, "Nuclear Love Affair" traces America's obsession with violence through the social and political chain reaction caused by dropping of the atomic bomb. Iconic figures, historical tales and stock film footage are layered with a frenetic music score that combines hits from the era with modern beats to build an expressive and surreal landscape. Featuring Elvis Presley dancing through Vietnam, Charlie Chaplin at Hiroshima, Lucille Ball doing a commercial for an electric chair, and Marilyn Monroe teaching us all how to duck and cover, "Nuclear Love Affair" is a twisted take on the journey of the American Dream. It looks at where we have been, and begs us, "Where do we go from here?"
Sanaz Ghajarrahimi (Director and Co-Author) is an Iranian-American director and choreographer. With Built for Collapse, she has directed and choreographed "Orpheus and the Plastic Masquerade" (Galapagos Art Space), "Elephant Man" (Wings Theatre), "Stork and Owl" (Bleecker Street Theater), "Hamlet" (Galapagos Art Space, Grace Exhibition Space) and "Romeo and Juliet" (Access Theater). Other selected directing credits include "Kill To Eat" by Caridad Svich (Hangar Theatre), "House" (Brooklyn Lyceum), "The States of Panic" by Jon Marans (The Barrow Group), "Melancholy Play" by Sarah Ruhl (Robert Moss Theater) and "Jet of Blood" by Antonin Artaud (Studio Theater). Ghajarrahimi is a Drama League Alumnus and Artistic Director of Built for Collapse. She earned her BFA at New York University. Ben Hobbs (Choreographer and Co-Author) is a performer, choreographer and visual artist. Currently a cast member of the Off-Broadway hit "Fuerzabruta," Hobbs earned his BFA in Drama from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. He also studied Traditional Chinese Opera at Shanghai Theater Academy and Dance at Point Park University. He has over 18 years of dance and acrobatic training. With Built for Collapse, he has choreographed and performed in: "Nuclear Love Affair" (Theater for the New City), "Orpheus and the Plastic Masquerade" (Galapagos Art Space), "Elephant Man" (Wings Theatre), "Hamlet" (Galapagos Art Space, Grace Exhibition Space), "Romeo and Juliet" (Access Theater). Other selected performance and choreographic credits include: Lynn Barr Dance Theatre (Judson Church, Kaatsbaan, 2007-2010), Theater Mitu's "Hair" (Skirball Center for the Arts), "Savage:Love" (Edinburgh Festival Fringe).
