ArtsEmerson Announces COLD BLOOD, From Belgium's Astragales

ArtsEmerson, Boston's leading presenter of contemporary world theatre, proudly welcomes the return of Belgium's Astragales with Cold Blood, by choreographer Michèle Anne De Mey and filmmaker Jaco Van Dormael, the creators of the unforgettable Kiss & Cry. A fabulous journey to the heart of the infinitely subtle, Cold Blood draws images of an overwhelming simplicity: the memories we carry when we pass from life to death. Filmed live on stage, skillfully choreographed hands move within miniature film sets and are projected on the big screen.

The limited Boston run of only five performances takes place May 30 through June 3, 2018 at the Emerson Cutler Majestic Theater, located at 559 Washington Street in Downtown Boston. Tickets range from $20-$85, and may be purchased online at www.ArtsEmerson.org, by phone at 617.824.8400, or in person at the box office. Student, senior and group discounts are available.

"This company's first visit to Boston, with Kiss & Cry," shares ArtsEmerson Artistic Director David Dower, "is still one of the most talked about and fondly-remembered shows we've ever presented - and we have eagerly awaited their return. There's a deep commitment to beauty and whimsy here that work on us well below the surface in the moment, and then traverse into our dreams. Not unlike Manual Cinema and Pigpen, companies that work miracles out of everyday objects, De Mey and Van Dormael weave this kind of hallucinatory wonder right before our eyes, and yet we can't imagine how it's done. Our capacity to experience this beauty as wonder is a unique human trait that connects us across differences. I can't wait for folks to share, in the most profound sense of shared experience, Cold Blood."

Is there life before death? That's the big question posed by this completely unexpected, mesmerizing show from the troupe behind ArtsEmerson's 2013 word-of-mouth phenomenon, Kiss & Cry. Utilizing that same theatrical magic - cinematic techniques, miniature sets, dancing hands and a poetic voice-over - Cold Blood cycles through a series of different lives (and deaths) in a hypnotic dream-like state. You'll laugh, you'll cry - you'll never look at your hands the same way again. Join us for a celebration of life, the senses, love and the final moments of light.
Under the direction of Belgian choreographer and dancer Michèle Anne De Mey and the award-winning filmmaker Jaco Van Dormael - director of the 2009 cult favorite Mr. Nobody starring Jared Leto - master artists use live film projection on stage to bring miniature worlds into full view of the audience. Click here to view the video trailer: https://youtu.be/WDPjls6vqlU.

Astragales is a contemporary dance company with Belgian choreographer Michèle Anne De Mey. Founded for the first time in 1989, Astragales accompanies its projects internationally, firmly rooted in its native Belgium. Michèle Anne De Mey works a dance today in dialogue with other disciplines through strong collaborations, friendships of long dates or new encounters. http://www.astragales.be/.

ArtsEmerson is Boston's leading presenter of contemporary world theatre and is the professional presenting and producing organization of the Office of the Arts at Emerson College. Founded in 2010 by Robert J. Orchard, the year the US Census confirmed there was no single cultural majority in Boston, ArtsEmerson committed to building a cultural institution that reflects the diversity of our city by engaging all communities through stories that reveal and deepen connections to each other. By cultivating diversity in the art and in the audience, ArtsEmerson ignites public conversation around the most vexing societal challenges as a catalyst for overcoming them. ArtsEmerson is committed to welcoming everyone into its landmark venues, located in Boston's downtown Theatre District, for a diverse program of contemporary theatre, film, and music from around the city and around the world. In addition, ArtsEmerson engages in a range of community partnerships and produces a series of initiatives that make visible the rich diversity of cultural activity in the region. ArtsEmerson is led by Artistic Director, David Dower and Executive Director, David Howse. For more information, visit ArtsEmerson.org.

Based in Boston, Massachusetts, opposite the historic Boston Common and in the heart of the city's Theatre District, Emerson College educates individuals who will solve problems and change the world through engaged leadership in communication and the arts, a mission informed by liberal learning. The College has 3,780 undergraduates and 670 graduate students from across the United States and 50 countries. Supported by state-of-the-art facilities and a renowned faculty, students participate in more than 90 student organizations and performance groups. Emerson is known for its experiential learning programs in Los Angeles, Washington, DC, the Netherlands, London, China, and the Czech Republic. The College has an active network of 39,000 alumni who hold leadership positions in communication and the arts. For more information, visit emerson.edu.