So wanted to begin talking about some of the artists we’re bringing to Fusebox this April.  Thought I would start with the UK-based performance group, Action Hero.  Here’s a nice interview with them from Theatre Bristol:

http://theatrebristol.net/showcase/action-hero-interview-action-hero

I love the way they’re thinking about space and audience.  It’s essential to my understanding of live performance–this idea of creating a live space.  Temporary communities.  Audience and artists as co-conspirators.  Both creating and thinking together.

Here’s a link to their site:

http://actionhero.org.uk/about/

Going to go see the U.S. premiere of Clare Dyson’s newest dance performance in Houston tonight at Diverse Works:

http://www.diverseworks.org/?pgid=3&subid=7&cid=254&PHPSESSID=d8e30b77de51bf2d3058a69fb93b1eb5

Never seen her work in person, only heard about it.  Very curious.

Monofonus Press is starting a new reading series at the San Jose Hotel that looks exciting.  Made me think about why I seldom go to readings–is there an unnecessary formality?   Maybe some formality is healthy?  Thoughts?  I just know that I don’t go to that many.

Anyhoody, glad to see they’re playing around with this.  I think at the very least it raises some interesting questions about speaking/reading the written word in public:

http://monofonuspress.com/news/teleportal-readings

Hello and howdy!

Welcome to the Fusebox Blog. We’ll be posting frequently leading up to the festival.

What’s new this year?

Lots lots lots! I’ll be posting with new programming developments over the next few weeks. Should have everything finalized by March 7th.  But for a quick teaser, we’re implementing a New Music/Creative Music Symposium (called MASSS) as well as a new arts writing component, which is of particular interest here. Here’s the scoop:

We’re inviting a small group of arts writers from around the country to participate in the festival.   We were interested in expanding the public discussion as well as re-examining what that means.  Essentially, we wanted to create a place for writers to convene, talk and scheme about new approaches to arts writing. New ways of describing work that often defies categorization. They’ll be posting their thoughts/writings here on our blog.

Bigger picture

In a larger sense, we like to think of the festival as a hub. A place for audiences and artists alike to come together and explore ideas together and break rules and talk shop.  It’s an idea engine.  A place to take risks and play and make discoveries.

Why here? Why Austin?

I think about this a lot. I think about Austin’s relationship with the world and what it is that we have to offer the larger community. This is of course a ridiculously large question, but fun/important to ponder. To me, Austin is a great place to heave ideas into a room and see what happens. I admire that sense of “possibility” that seems woven into the fabric of things here. I also admire the sense of adventure that so many Austinites embrace. Audiences are (generally speaking!) game. They’re up for new experiences. They’re up for it.

So that for me is where it starts…this place that embraces new experiences and possibility.

More soon