Room, Room, Room, in the many Mansions of eternal glory for Thee and for everyone at The Brick Theater

Room, Room, Room, in the many Mansions of eternal glory for Thee and for everyone is an acoustic hyperpop folk opera about death, sex, God, gender, utopia and the end of the world.

The piece centers on the Publick Universal Friend, an American mystic who had a vision in 1776 in which they were told by two angels to preach the word of God. From the moment of their vision on, the newly reborn PUF refused to use gendered pronouns or presentation, and when asked what gender PUF was, would simply reply “I am that I am.” Room, Room, Room, combines rituals ranging from the 18th century Quaker meetinghouse to the contemporary club, using the story of PUF to reflect on our own experiences as embodied souls in 21st century America. While problematizing the American vision of utopia, we aim to invoke a temporary genderless/genderful? utopia with our audience (even if just for a second).

This project was developed in part by The Assembly’s Deceleration Lab.

cw: discussions of transphobia, death, America, colonial violence, AW: projections, loud-ish music

October 12 will be a preview performance, October 19 will be a sensory relaxed performance.