(JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- Disruption – the thematic series featuring theater, dance, readings, solo-shows and visual arts exploring the personal and political impact of our current era of social upheaval – comes to a close on Friday, June 16, with The BOX, one of Jersey City Theater Center’s (JCTC) signature events. The BOX – named for the ‘black box’ theater at Merseles Studios –is a curated showcase of music, spoken-word, poetry, dance and other performances on the theme of Disruption .
JCTC presents series of theatre, performances, readings and visual arts on a topic global in scope yet relevant to the community. JCTC solicited submissions for The BOX , which were reviewed using as a criteria: how effectively the work reflected the Disruption theme, originality and artistic quality.
For The “disruption” BOX, this curation process included an interesting evolution. As more musicians, writers and performers became aware of this unique showcase, JCTC received submissions that not only related to the theme, but songs, spoken-word pieces and other performances created specifically for The BOX.
It’s a development welcomed by Olga Levina, Artistic Director, JCTC. “We already have had theatre and dance companies create work specifically inspired by one of our topics, and of course, many of the visual artists have also submitted works they created specifically for the art show in the Merseles Studios gallery,” said Levina. “Seeing now that artists are creating work specifically for The BOX is an affirmation that our thematic series approach – that incorporates many genres of art exploring a single topic – is having an impact. JCTC creates conversations between artists and the community and more and more artists want to join that conversation.”
The line up for this The BOX includes: Sylvana Joyce, Chrissy Roberts, Nerissa Tutiven , Zeynep Jane Bozok, Elena Zazanis, Frank Ippolito, Kenny Jaworski, The Sensational Country Blues Band, Vita Morales, Terry Haman, Brian Lawlor, Rescue Poetix and Tiphanie.
Disruption received a high number of submissions for its BOX and according to Dan Pieraccini, Production Coordinator, JCTC, who arranged and curated the event, one reason for this outpouring was how relevant the theme is to the pervasive oppression many feel about our current era of tumultuous change.
“What's not a disruption, nowadays?” said Pieraccini. “As The BOX grows in its scope, we can begin to experiment more boldly, try some new tricks, and let our artist contributors really stretch their wings. We're going to try and break up the cacophony with some moments of honesty, vulnerability, and positivity.”
Gary Van Miert founder and front man of The Sensational Country Blues Wonders, will be performing his original composition I’ve Finally Got Myself Together But The World Is Falling Apart, a song he composed specifically for The BOX. His band is well known on the local music circuit, and the opportunity to premier a new song in a black box theater setting is a nice change from the typical gigs local musicians play, such as bars, clubs and outdoor stages. “I’ve went to previous ‘boxes’ at Merseles Theater as a member of the audience and fell in love with the place,” said Van Miert. “The challenge of writing a song for this project appealed to me. Art, Theater and Music go hand in hand and I would like to do more performances in conjunction with the Art & Theater community in Jersey City.”
Host and emcee for the Disruption BOX is Anthony Wills jr., an actor, writer, singer, visual artist and performance artist. Wills has performed all over the country and has worked with Susan Sarandon, Philip Glass, and Tony nominee Marla Schaffe.
Fans of the Jersey City and New York City music scene will delight in the fact that The BOX features a rare solo performance by Sylvana Joyce, of Sylvana Joyce & The Moment. Joyce will also share emcee duties with Wills for the evening, and will debut a new song Vultures, inspired by the Disruption theme.
“For Disruption, I decided to tackle the need of mankind to create power struggles,” she said. “I think it's because we don't quite know how to transcend the survivalist mindset where it's every man for himself. It is the idea of artist as a beast with life as prey. The artist preys upon life – often the darker aspects of it –to devour, reveal, tear apart, disrupt the calm, passive mind – and revel in its savage glory.”
Jersey City Theater Center Merseles Studios is located at 339 Newark Avenue in Jersey City, New Jersey.
PHOTO: Premiering new songs inspired by Disruption at the June 16th event will be Sylvana Joyce (right picture) and The Sensational Country Blues Wonders, with Gary Van Miert (left) and Jeff Sutton.
