THE LIFE AND DEATH OF MARINA ABRAMOVIC, Starring Robert Wilson, Willem Dafoe and More, Begins Tonight at Park Avenue Armory

Robert Wilson's The Life and Death of Marina Abramovic will have its U.S. premiere and its only New York performances in Park Avenue Armory's soaring Wade Thompson Drill Hall, tonight, December 12 - December 21, 2013.

The production reimagines the extraordinary life and work of Marina Abramovic, from her challenging childhood in the former Yugoslavia to her present day work as a performance artist. The work straddles multiple artistic disciplines-incorporating elements of theater, music, design, and visual art. Wilson's dynamic staging will be realized in the Armory's soaring 55,000-square-foot drill hall.

Marina Abramovic will star in the title role, playing herself as well as her imposing mother. She will be joined by actor Willem Dafoe, and singer Antony (of Antony and The Johnsons), performing original music and songs.

The Life and Death of Marina Abramovic premiered at the Manchester International Festival in 2011, and has since played to sold-out audiences and rave reviews in Madrid, Basel, Antwerp, Amsterdam, and Toronto.

The final production of the Armory's 2013 season, The Life and Death of Marina Abramovic exemplifies the Armory's mission of providing artists with the means to break the mold of traditional presentation, expanding their creative practices through collaboration and use of the Armory's dynamic platforms. The season also included Karlheinz Stockhausen's trailblazing score OKTOPHONIE with a lunar environment designed by Rirkrit Tiravanija; Paul McCarthy's monumental installation WS; the dramatic staging of British playwright Matt Charman's The Machine, in which Garry Kasparov battles IBM's Deep Blue computer; Massive Attack V Adam Curtis, a film and music experience exploring 30 years of politics; and the introduction of a new, intimate recital series held in the newly revitalized Board of Officers Room.

More information on Park Avenue Armory's 2013 artistic season may be found at www.armoryonpark.org.

THE LIFE AND DEATH OF Marina Abramovic will feature Robert Wilson, Marina Abramovic, Antony, Willem Dafoe in its U.S. Premiere. Commissioned by Manchester International Festival, and Teatro Real Madrid with Theater Basel, Art Basel, Holland Festival, Salford City Council and deSingel, Antwerp.

SCHEDULE:

Thursday, December 12 at 7:00 p.m. (Preview, Limited Availability)

Friday, December 13 at 8:00 p.m. (Limited Availability)

Saturday, December 14 at 8:00 p.m. (Limited Availability)

Sunday, December 15 at 3:00 p.m.

Tuesday, December 17 at 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, December 18 at 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, December 19 at 7:00 p.m.

Friday, December 20 at 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, December 21 at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Tickets start at $45; www.armoryonpark.org / (212) 933-5812.

Artist Talk:

Sunday, December 15 at 6:15 p.m. (Sold Out)

A discussion with Marina Abramovic and Willem Dafoe.

Tickets: $15/$12 Armory members; www.armoryonpark.org / (212) 933-5812.