BASIL TWIST

OCT 2009

Annual Village Halloween Parade

Jefferson Market Library Spider
Wednesday October 31, starting at 7pm NYC

Twist carries on a thirty-year tradition of puppetry manipulated from homes and buildings along the Parade route. For the 13th year, he manipulates his striking giant spider during the Parade from the dramatic Italianate Gothic Clock tower of the Jefferson Market Library. Each year as the winds of October howl, Twist walks the beloved arachnid up the 149 stairs of this New York landmark to it's perch in the tower. This puppet is a visual treat for those participating in the Parade as well as those lined near the Library who can witness it's annual appearance.

http://www.halloween-nyc.com

VIDEO: Basil with his spider on Halloween

SEPT 2009

at Stadsteater
Stockholm, Sweden

"She is glamour, fatal, divine... she is Joey Arias 'drag queen' with a voice of gold, star of Cirque du Soleil. Alongside puppeteer Basil Twist she has conceived a delirious show enhanced with a good dose of technology. 'Arias with a Twist' is kitsch, psychedelic, superbly sung, between rock and jazz.. and of course with devilish naughtiness (for adults only!)." (Les Echos - Paris)

Performance September 24 - 27th

For more information visit http://www.stadsteatern.stockholm.se/

SEPT 2009

PETRUSHKA

September 26th and 27th
at New York City Center Fall For Dance Festival

"The brilliant puppeteer Basil Twist...whose theatrical imagination has made him one of the most beguiling artists working today" - Gia Kourlis, The New York Times

Petrushka Suite (2001) spins new magic around the legendary 1911 Ballets Russes production of Petrouchka, choreographed by Michel Fokine. It tells of the tragic love triangle between three puppets: the clown Petrushka, the alluring Ballerina and the dashing Moor, whose stories emerge amidst the swirl of a Russian carnival. Julia and Irina Elkina, Russian identical twin pianists, will perform an abridged two-piano version of Stravinsky's masterpiece Hidden puppeteers combine Czech and Japanese puppetry traditions in a tour de force of puppetry technique and previously unseen puppeteers step forward, revealing the detailed choreography involved in bringing these iconic characters to life.

For more information visit www.nycitycenter.org

APRIL-MAY-JUNE 2009

DOGUGAESHI

"Intimate and spectacular, a haunting abstract piece about lost traditions" - The New York Sun

"His 'Dogugaeshi,' seen several years ago at Japan Society, ranks among the most magically charged experiences I've ever had in a theater."

- Claudia La Rocco, The New York Times

at EMPAC, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York Friday, April 24th at 8:00pm April 25th, 2009 at 4:00pm & 8:00pm Sunday, April 26 at 2:00pm		Doguageshi Video Preview Twist unfolds an intimate, abstract, contemporary journey of images and emotions influenced by the rarefied tradition of Japanese dogugaeshi stage mechanism technique and his own encounters with the remaining rural caretakers of this once popular art form. This hour-long performance features original shamisen compositions created and performed live by authorized master musician Yumiko Tanaka. The multidisciplinary production blends Twist's signature puppetry with video projection design by Peter Flaherty, Lighting design by Andrew Hill and sound design by Greg Duffin. "Dogugaeshi" was originally commissioned by The Japan Society in 2003. The World Premiere was presented at The Japan Society in New York in 2004 and subsequently presented in 2007. Major support was provided by Creative Capital, Doris Duke Charitable Trust, The Jim Henson Foundation, and MAP Fund for the creation of this work.
Presented by The Cleveland Museum of Art at the Brooks Theatre at the Cleveland Playhouse Thurs. April 30th - Sun. May 3rd at 3:00 pm Sat. May 2nd - Sun. May 3rd at 7:30 pm
at the Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston, SC Sat, May 30: 2pm preview, perf/8pm opening Sun, May 31: 2pm & 8pm; Mon, June 1: 8pm Wed, June 3: 2pm & 8pm; Thurs, June 4: 8pm Fri, June 5: 2pm & 8pm; Sat, June 6: 12pm & 6pm Sun, June 7: 2pm
at the La Jolla Playhouse in La Jolla, CA in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre Wed, June 10: 8pm opening Thurs, June 11: 7pm & 9pm; Fri, June 12: 7pm & 9pm; Sat, June 13: 7pm & 9pm; Sun, June 14: 2pm & 7pm;

for tickets and further information see:
EMPAC and The Cleveland Museum of Art the Spoleto Festival USA and La Jolla Playhouse

MAY 2009

Joey Arias and Basil Twist

at the Obie Awards After Party
Webster Hall NYC

Joey Arias and Basil Twist perform at Creative Block, the Obie Awards after party.

Creative Block is a huge multidisciplinary arts event that will include burlesque, digital art, performance art, dance and fiber arts from New York's creative emerging artists and avant-garde underground.

Running in tandem with the 54th Annual Obies Awards ceremony, Creative Block will also be held in Webster Halls rooms with diverse and innovative talents from across many disciplines, adding to both the fun and spirit of the Obie Awards.

For more information visit http://obies.villagevoice.com/
Visit Brown Paper Tickets for tickets

APRIL 2009

WONDER BOY

Joe Goode Performance Group
The Joyce/Apr 23-26

'Wonderboy' keeps everyone on their toes.
- SF Chronicle

Performance Schedule Thu-Sat 8pm, Sun 2pm & 7:30pm
DANCE TALK: Monday, April 6, 2009, 6-8pm Join Twist and Goode in conversation with company members, illustrated with dance videos and movement demonstrations.

The fearlessly innovative choreographer Joe Goode comes to The Joyce with Wonderboy, an extraordinary new collaboration with Twist. This beloved dance theater group integrates Twist's exquisite creation into its unique fusion of text, song and dance. Featuring original music by Carla Kihlstedt and Matthias Bossi, Wonderboy is a tale of a peculiar hero isolated by his gift of sensitivity.

For more information visit www.joyce.org

APRIL 2009

PETRUSHKA

Thursday, April 16
Harvard/Houghton Library New College Theatre

Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, 1909-1929 Twenty Years that Changes The World of Art Twist will present excerpts from Petrushka/ a lecture demonstration with the entire Petrushka company.

For more information on the entire symposium visit http://hcl.harvard.edu

MARCH 2009

"Arias" will make its Eurpoean debut at the VIA and EXIT Festivals.

VIA FESTIVAL in Maubeuge, France
Wednesday March 18 -
Friday March 20th at 10 p.m.
For info and tickets: www.lemanege.com

and

EXIT FESTIVAL in Creteil, France
Wednesday March 25 -
Saturday March 28th at 10pm
Friday March 27 - Saturday March 28 at 7pm
For information and tickets: www.maccreteil.com

MARCH 2009

Inside the Mind of Basil Twist

Tuesday, March 3, 2009
7:30 pm at Japan Society

Offered as a part of The Japan Society's presentation of The Awaji Puppet Theatre Company in New York on March 5, 6, and 7th. In 2004, Twist traveled to the island of Awaji in Japan to research and develop his "Dogugaeshi" (commissioned by The Japan Society) and was hosted by The Awaji Puppet Theatre.

For Further Information on this event and The Awaji Puppet Theatre performances please go to www.japansociety.org

FEB/MARCH 2009

Residency at Duke University

Exit the King
directed by Ellen Hemphill
April 5th - 10th, 2009
at Duke University

Basil Twist will work with director Ellen Hemphill and the students at Duke university's Theater and Dance program to create the puppetryfor the classic play, Exit the King