Liturgy for Longing

LITURGY FOR LONGING IS A ONE-of-a-kind theatrical experience created and performed by multidisciplinary performing artist Emily Clare Zempel. In LITURGY, audiences of 10 are invited to contemplate LONGING THROUGH COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCES AND SOLO PERFORMANCE. AUDIENCE MEMBER DESCRIPTION: "The evening is an invitation to witness oneself and others in connection with the subject of LONGING. The sequence of events unfolds through the execution of simple, clear instructions that always allow for one to participate at one's own comfort level. You'll never feel obligated to do something uncomfortable. You may observe more than you participate, or you may find yourself drawn into spontaneous interactions. At times the guests will be asked to offer suggestions for shaping the course of the evening, ensuring that no two shows will be exactly alike. There will be stories and laughter, moments of silence, song and movement, and questions that may or may not be answered. I'm not sure what to call it, and that's a fabulous thing, a sure sign that this is on the cutting edge of something truly new. Part theater, part creative session, part healing art." ----------- PERFORMANCE DETAILS Upcoming Dates: May 15-18 Where: BEACON PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, Studio B: 327B Main Street, BEACON, NY Times vary: SOLD OUT Friday May 16: 8pm Saturday May 17: 8:30pm Sunday May 18: 2:30pm Past Dates: May 9-11 SOLD OUT Friday May 9: 8pm SOLD OUT Saturday May 10: 8pm SOLD OUT Sunday May 11: 4:30pm SOLD OUT Thursday May 15: 7:30pm Tickets must be purchased in advance. Limited tickets available. Tickets are available at three price levels for you to self select. Please read the descriptions and decide which price is right for you. ---------- WHAT AUDIENCES ARE SAYING: "It was personal, it was moving, and so so creative. As I walked home, I thought, it felt like I had been at a retreat." "My favorite part was the fabric wrapping. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see other people wrapping their arm as I was, and we were all in it together. As I said, everyone knows about LONGING. And then you dont feel all alone" "This was perfect. Thank you for sharing the depths of your soul with us. I am forever changed." "Warm, wonder-ful" "Most relatable thing I've ever been to!" "Beautifully imagined and realized" "It was so wonderful to be immersed in your world (and our world) for a couple of hours--thank you!" ----------- More Details: LITURGY: a set of prompts created to encourage communal interaction with deep questions. LONGING: that endless tug towards the I-dont-know. Why do we long? For what? In LITURGY FOR LONGING, Emily has created a deeply personal, radically honest performance that aims to foster connection and engage audiences in unique and meaningful ways. Each audience member begins by entering a hallway to find a note written for them. After reading, Emily guides them into the theatre space to complete simple tasks (such a setting up a place to sit) to make that space their own. In the invitations that follow, each person is encouraged to engage in ways that feel right to them: there is always a choice, including the choice to only observe. These communal elements are woven seamlessly into Emilys performance of her own story, which unfolds through movement, dance, sound, and music. The audience is an integral part of the experience, making each performance a unique, unrepeatable event. For more, visit: http://www.emilyclarezempel.com/liturgy-for-longing [http://www.emilyclarezempel.com/liturgy-for-longing] ----------- ABOUT THE ARTIST Emily Clare Zempel is a multidisciplinary performance artist whose work explores themes of loss, grief, and longing. Local performances include: A Heros Journey (Emilys first solo show funded by Arts Mid-Hudson), as well as Always, Patsy Cline, The Anastasia Files, Scotland Road on Bannerman Island. Emily teaches acting to adults at Beacon Performing Arts Center and researches the performance of emotion at the University of Birmingham. ----------- SPONSORS: Arts Mid-Hudson, Beacon Performing Arts Center, beetle and fred, Flora Good Times LITURGY FOR LONGING is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by Arts Mid-Hudson.