MEDUSA USA

Conceived of by Katie Merritt & Denise Yvette Serna
Collaborating Directors: Iman Kerroua, Carolina Migli, & Jack Paterson
A Global Hive Labs Project: Bouche Theatre Collective, La Compagnie Certes, ChezActors, & Fusion Theatre

August 18, 2019
Steppenwolf Studio Theatre
1650 N. Halsted St. Chicago, IL 60614

Movement Directed by Earl T. Kim | Access Coordinator Anna Donnell | Dramaturgy & Translation by Emma Pauly | Featuring Terri Lynn Hudson, Melody DeRogatis, Jenn Geiger, Mari DeOleo, River Coello, and Electra Tremulis. With Carolina Migli-Bateson, Alice Robbi, Elisa Ferrari, and Eliza Harris

Do you dare to meet Medusa’s gaze? The God, the mortal, the erotic power that disables men, the fearsome image that wards off evil, the dangerous monster to be destroyed: Medusa. Now sharing her own legend, Medusa is once again a power player in this feminist retelling, arresting us in her gaze.

A multidisciplinary project devised by an international ensemble over 2 years in four countries (USA, UK, Italy and France). Medusa aesthetically and dramatically integrated design and services for audience members with disabilities into the creation process.

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“It’s an arresting vision, and one that makes Medusa’s final decision – to accept her fate at Perseus’ hand – to feel as if it is made with absolute agency. As feminist retellings go, that’s a successful achievement.” – The Reviews Hub

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“A truly accessible production and an empowering contemporary perspective on the classic Greek myth.” – Theatre T

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“Medusa also represents an opportunity to proactively incorporate aspects of accessibility that can often go overlooked in more institutionalized arts organizations.” – Chicago Reader

Gallery

Medusa is a multidisciplinary performance devised by an international ensemble of artists over one year, in four countries. Medusa celebrates the intersectional feminist revitalization of western mythology, the integration of accessibility design into the generative process, and the way social location affects participation in and interpretation of artistic experiences.

Featuring live music, dance, spoken word, multimedia and visual art, audiences will encounter Medusa’s journey, physical transformation, and isolation through all 5 senses.

There are 20 seats in the house that are free admission, available on a first come, first served basis. If you are able, please purchase a ticket in advance. This will allow the most equitable access to free admission seats, as well as supporting our creative expenses.

This Relaxed Performance will offer:
Open Captioning
Audio Description
Touch Tour

This performance is family friendly, and we welcome those who use mobility devices, service animals, and respiratory devices. The performance venue has step-free access, easy access to all-gender restrooms, and a nursing room. Resource materials such as social stories, story synopsis, and a seating map will be available in advance to help guests prepare for their visit.

If there is another way we can open our space to you, please let us know in advance, and we will do our best to make it possible! If you have any advance questions or requests, please reach out to Anna Donnell, (annalizdonnell@gmail.com; 602-278-8684).

Global Hive Laboratories integrates access design into the devising process from Day One. This includes thinking intentionally about how what we share can be experienced by different kinds people, and how to develop Accessible content that is present in every performance of a piece, rather than specifically assigned dates for those who would seek out those services.

Accessibility is intrinsic to our values as a collective and to the core of what we DO. We create an environment in which performers, directors, designers, playwrights, and audience members feel welcome to work with us and experience our productions. We can expect mistakes, shortfalls, and misunderstandings along the way, but if we go into providing access with open minds and hearts, we can always improve.