We were invited to observe a rehearsal for The Donkey Show last week, with a presentation from Diane Paulus, artistic director of the A.R.T. and director of The Donkey Show. Diane talked about the history of Studio 54 and how its embodiment of “democracy on the dance floor” was a big influence on The Donkey Show. “It was a place that, no matter who you were, you could escape to and be fabulous and have a life that had nothing to do with your ordinary daytime life. . . . You had Elizabeth Taylor, Halston, Barishnikov, Andy Warhol, you name it, there were all there, side-by-side the kid from Queens who could get in because he was fabulous enough and could dance well enough. As a world, that got me really excited,” she explained. We got to meet some cast members from the original New York City cast and hear about the show’s six-year run there. Some members of the NYC cast will be staying in Cambridge for a few weeks as part of the “hybrid” cast (a mix of NYC and Cambridge performers) that will launch The Donkey Show. Rehearsals continued this week and were very exciting! On Saturday rehearsals will move from the rehearsal hall to the actual performance space at OBERON, as everyone gears up for the first performance on Friday, August 21!
Author: Amanda Gutowski
Publication date: August 13, 2009
Featured Comment: We were invited to observe a rehearsal for The Donkey Show last week, with a presentation from Diane Paulus, artistic director of the A.R.T. and director of The Donkey Show.
