Lucky Plush Productions
The Better Half
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Lucky Plush Productions
Photo: Cheryl MannA terrific odyssey, full of amusing, varied and tireless dancing.
—Chicago Tribune
About
The Better Half is a playful look at contemporary relationships, combining dance and theater in a work that is emotionally rich, funny, and full of revealing surprises. Inspired in part by Gaslight, the 1944 noir classic in which Ingrid Bergman plays a woman slowly driven mad by her conniving husband, The Better Half invokes feelings of claustrophobia, escape and resilience among couples.
The Better Half is cocreated and codirected by Lucky Plush's Artistic Director Julia Rhoads and Leslie Buxbaum Danzig of the acclaimed physical theater company 500 Clown. With performers from both Lucky Plush and 500 Clown, The Better Half comes to life with the multifaceted cast of Julia Rhoads, Adrian Danzig, Tim Heck, Kim Goldman, and Meghann Wilkinson. The work is commissioned by the MCA Stage and was developed in part through an MCA creative residency.
Running time: 75 minutes, no intermission
Lucky Plush Productions
Photo: William Frederking
Lucky Plush Productions
Photo: William FrederkingAbout the Artist
Lucky Plush Productions is a Chicago-based dance-theater company known for its lush and evocative movement, witty commentary, and artful integration of dance, theater, and visual design. The immediacy of their work often subverts audience expectations in provocative and humorous ways. Since founding in 1999, Lucky Plush has premiered 30 original works including performance installations, two dance films, and nine evening-length productions. They have been presented in a wide range of venues including the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Joyce SoHo in New York, Jacob's Pillow in Massachusetts, and Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago, among others.
Lucky Plush Productions
Photo: William FrederkingDownloads
Funding
Support for this project is generously provided by Pamela Crutchfield.
The Better Half is a National Performance Network (NPN) Creation Fund Project co-commissioned by the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, in partnership with the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, and NPN. This performance is also supported in part by Audience Architects' New Stages for Dance program. Leadership support for the New Stages for Dance initiative is provided by Dance/USA and the MetLife Foundation.