AN EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL WINNER FOR BEST NEW MUSIC, “DEATH BOOGIE,” COMES TO THE AUDITORIUM THEATRE SEPT. 5 – 7, 2013
The Auditorium Theatre’s Katten/Landau Studio Hosts Hip Hop Poetry Musical Written and Performed by Actor/Poet Darian Dauchan
The winner of two Musical Theatre Matters Awards including Best New Music and Best Innovation in Musical Theatre at the 2012 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, “Death Boogie ,” comes to the Auditorium Theatre’s Katten Landau Studio, September 5 – 7, 2013. Written and performed by actor/poet Darian Dauchan accompanied by local Chicago musicians, and directed by Jennifer McGrath, the “New York Times” hails this innovative, modern hip hop musical as “a polished, invigorating spoken-word performance.” Tickets ($12 – $20) are available online at AuditoriumTheatre.org , by calling (800) 982-ARTS (2787) or at the Auditorium Theatre Box Office (50 E Congress Pkwy).
With the addition of ‘Death Boogie’ to the Auditorium’s 2013 – 14 Season, we continue the Auditorium’s mission to offer pioneering, diverse entertainment never before seen in Chicago,” said Executive Director of the Auditorium Theatre Brett Batterson. “The Katten/Landau space provides the perfect setting for this intimate, powerful demonstration of inventive musical theatre that speaks to audiences through multiple media platforms.”
Both a concept album and a theatrical production, “Death Boogie” follows the fictional story of Victor Spartan, a blue collar worker turned revolutionist. Spartan may lead a comatose lifestyle by day but at night, he hears the poetic sounds of revolution. A political romp that uses a combination of music (violin, bass and beat-boxing) and comic book illustrations to convey the deeply rooted call to action, Dauchan embodies Spartan along with various characters including a Greek Titan, a soldier, a prisoner of war and a child to examine the notion of martyrdom, altruism, and courage in this high energy whimsical narrative.
About Darian Dauchan
An award-winning solo performer, actor and poet, Darian Dauchan, has brought his talents to both stage and screen. In the past six years, Dauchan has embraced the art of Spoken Word/Performance Poetry touring throughout the country at poetry venues including the Green Mill in Chicago. Founder of “The Spoken Word Almanac Project,” a poetry collective committed to writing poems on current world events, he conceived the spoken word show “Slam 101” for Lincoln Center’s Meet the Artists Series. Performance credits include: “Twentieth Century” with Alec Baldwin on Broadway, “Law and Order” (NBC) and “Bet the House” (Nickelodeon). His solo work includes “Fallen Patriots” (NYC Fringe), “Texaco's Last Stand” (Ohio Theatre/IGNITE Festival), “Media Madness” (Kitchen Theatre, Ithaca, NY), “Entertainer's Eulogy” (Memphis, TN), “Kitchen Theatre” (Ithaca, New York), “Whitefire Solo Theatre Festival” (Los Angeles, CA), “Theatre ROW” (United Solo Festival) and most recently, “Obamatry: A Spoken Word Remix on the 44th President of the United States of America” (Under St. Marks Theater). He has won numerous awards for both his poetry as well as his performance work.
About Director Jennifer McGrath
Director Jennifer McGrath has always lived and worked by the strong belief in the power of the arts to educate, inspire and rehabilitate. She has been dedicated to encouraging other to find their artistic voices and works in various fields of entertainment as a choreographer, stage manager, teacher and event planner. McGrath has also collaborated with Dauchan on the critically acclaimed “Obamatry: A Spoken Word Remix on the 44th President of the United States of America.” Other directorial credits include “Citizen Girl,” “The Burning Cities Project” (Fringe Festival, NY) and an arts education outreach tour of the South African play “Woza Albert!”
Performance Schedule and Ticket Information
Death Boogie” at the Auditorium Theatre:
Thursday, September 5 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, September 6 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 7 at 8 p.m.
Tickets ($15, $12 for students on Thursday; $20, $15 for students on Friday and Saturday) are available online at AuditoriumTheatre.org , by calling (800) 982-ARTS (2787) or in-person at Auditorium Theatre’s Box Office (50 E Congress Pkwy). Discounted tickets for groups of 6 or more are available by calling (312) 341-2357.
Auditorium Theatre’s 2013 - 14 Season:
The full Auditorium Theatre 2013 – 14 season includes Ballet West’s “The Sleeping Beauty” and a Mixed Rep that includes “Diamonds (Pas de Deux),” “Rubies” and “The Lottery” (October 4 – 6); Hungarian State Folk Ensemble (November 22); “Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah” (January 18 - 19); Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (February 28 – March 9); Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan with “Songs of the Wanderers” (March 14 and 16); Houston Ballet’s “Aladdin” (March 22 – 23); Chick Corea and Béla Fleck (April 5); River North Dance Chicago (April 12); “The Idan Raichel Project” (May 15); and Paul Taylor Dance Company (May 17–18).
About the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University
The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, located at 50 E Congress Pkwy, is an Illinois, not-for-profit organization committed to presenting the finest in international, cultural, community and educational programming to Chicago, and to the continued restoration and preservation of the National Historic Landmark Auditorium Theatre. The Auditorium Theatre is generously supported by the Illinois Arts Council and the Palmer House Hilton. For more information about programming, volunteer and donor opportunities or theater tours, call (312) 341-2310 or visit AuditoriumTheatre.org.
