Joe Chvala and The Flying Foot Forum Present PASSING THROUGH PIG'S EYE

Dancing their way from summer into fall, Joe Chvala and The Flying Foot Forum present a characteristically bold new production throughout downtown Saint Paul inspired by the city's history. Passing Through Pig's Eye, a roving performance of wildly entertaining and eclectic dance, music and comedy, will engage audiences of all ages. Playing August 25 - September 11, Passing Through Pig's Eye is collaboration by 16 of the Twin Cities' finest dancers, singers, actors, and musicians including: Rush Benson, Jeremy Bensussan, Joe Chvala, Annie Enneking, Brian Evans, Karla Grotting, Galen Higgins, Adam Kiesling, Kaleena Miller, Natalie Nowytski, Peter O'Gorman, and Darrius Strong.

Part enchanting history tour, part splashy dance party, Passing Through Pig's Eye ushers audiences to multiple locations throughout downtown Saint Paul where performances happen and history is revealed in intriguing, percussive ways.

The production begins and ends at Park Square Theatre. In between, performers guide their audience groups on a journey to six different indoor and outdoor sites, leading them in dances and songs along the way and providing a bit of Saint Paul's colorful history. Each Passing Through Pig's Eyeperformance culminates in a large group song and dance party back at Park Square.

The production offers two performance tracks, each one a separate performance with its own, unique journey through Saint Paul. Audience members may choose which performance track they would like to experience. (They are also encouraged to return for the alternate track at a later performance time.) Regardless of which performance track one attends, both options offer a highly enjoyable, complete excursion.

The artists have been recruited from all parts of the Twin Cities vibrant music, dance, and theater scene. Included are:

• A driving rhythmic piece by Kaleena Miller and Galen Higgins, two stars of Rhythmic Circus

• A collaboration between uniquely talented traditional American string band musician Adam Kiesling and choreographer Karla Grotting, who was named the 2015 Artist of the Year in Dance by City Pages for her retrospective concert Lost Voices in Jazz.

• A new friction-based percussion and movement piece set in a mysterious basement created by McKnight Composer Fellow, Peter O'Gorman. O'Gorman also brings his unique and virtuosic percussive vision to many of the other pieces as a collaborator.

• The forces of nature combine in a wild duel dance based on a Celtic proverb, created collaboratively by Flying Foot Forum's founding artistic director,Joe Chvala, along with actor, singer, songwriter, and fight choreographer Annie Enneking of the band Annie and the Bang Bang, and vocal phenomenon Natalie Nowytski, who, along with multi-instrumentalist Scott Keever (who will play most of his instruments throughout the night), are almost half of the Balkan party band, Orkestar Bez Ime. This clash of fighting equals will be performed by the dynamic duo of Brian Evans and Rush Benson.

• Evans and Benson will recreate their wildly successful, physically outrageous trilogy of short dances based on secret handshakes, super heroes and in-school detention that premiered at the Flying Foot Forum's concert at the Guthrie in 2015.

• Evans will create a new outdoor, interactive piece that will involve throwing paint.

• Rising star Darrius Strong of Strong Movement premieres a new piece with dancers Brian Evans, Rush Benson and two fresh-on-the-scene triple threats: Ayana Dubose and Michelle Lemon.

• Longtime Flying Foot Forum company member Jeremy Bensussan creates a moving piece about relationships through time with a cast that includes himself, Joe Chvala, founding Flying Foot Forum company member Jan Campbell, 10-year Flying Foot Forum veteran Charles Robison, Galen Higgins, and Molly Stoltz of Zorongo Flamenco.

• Vocal powerhouse Coleen Sommerville-Leeman rounds out the cast as a ghostly tour guide and Torch Singer.

Performance Schedule: Performances are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 pm, August 25 - September 11. Preview performances will be held Thursday, August 25, through the Saturday, August 27 matinee. The 7:30 pm performance on August 27 is Opening Night, with the run continuing through September 11.

It is recommended that those who attend dress comfortably and, as they are able, be ready to sit on the floor and stand occasionally. Sturdy walking/dancing shoes are highly recommended, as are umbrellas and slickers for nights when rain is in the forecast.

Tickets: All seating is general admission. Preview tickets are $20, and regular-run tickets are $28. Discounts are available for seniors ($5 off), military ($10 off), those age 30 and under ($21 tickets), and for ASL patrons (50% off for you and a guest). General and student public rush tickets will be available at the door for $20 and $15, respectively (cash only). Tickets are on sale at the Park Square ticket office, 20 W. Seventh Place, or by phone: 651.291.7005, (12 noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday), or online at parksquaretheatre.org.