Pivot Arts Announces Arts Incubator Program and Pop-Up! Performance Series

Pivot Arts and Loyola University's Department of Fine and Performing Arts (DFPA) further their partnership with a unique performing arts incubator program for artists that includes mentorships for Loyola undergraduates. The program gives companies and individual artists time and space to develop work that is innovative and often blurs the boundaries between music, dance, theater and other disciplines. Students work alongside professional artists on each project as performers, assistant directors, dramaturgs and production managers.

Additionally, Pivot Arts will launch a series of Pop-Up! Performances taking place November 2013 through April 2014 throughout Chicago's Uptown and Edgewater Neighborhoods.

PIVOT ARTS/LOYOLA UNIVERSITY INCUBATOR PROGRAM:

While there have long been solid development programs for playwrights at established Chicago theaters, Pivot Arts and Loyola's Department of Fine and Performing Arts (DFPA) are teaming up to provide space to ensembles and artistic partners who need time to develop original and collaborative work. This is the second year of the incubator program, last year's artists included: Chicago Opera Vanguard, Dog and Pony Theater Company and playwright/musician, Ruth Margraff, and her band Café Antarsia Ensemble.

The incubator program begins this November with nationally respected puppeteer and founder of Redmoon Theater Company, Blair Thomas, who is creating a puppetry work accompanied by the music of Chopin that will tour local living rooms in December and Chicago Park District spaces in Spring of 2014. Entitled, CHOPIN "SCHERZO IN B MINOR," the piece is one of three works comprising Blair Thomas's A PIANO WITH THREE TALES, and will feature original characters and narrative, rod- style puppets, and a live pianist.

Playright and rock journalist, Mark Guarino teams up with rocker and founder of the British band, the Mekons, Jon Langford to create a new musical about a man with an ailing wife who convinces the city of Roswell, NM to build an alien theme park. The recession hits, the plans are cancelled and his dream dies. Guarino and Langford last collaborated on THE FAME OF LOFTY DEEDS for the House Theater to critical acclaim, this project is directed by Pivot Arts co-founder, Julieanne Ehre.

Hearts and Brains will further develop GASHLYCRUMB ORPHANGE, an immersive clown show based on the gleefully macabre world of author/illustrator (and Rogers Park native) Edward Gorey. Two performers, Lacy Catherine Campbell and Jeff Trainor, present the stories of individual orphans' arrival at Gashlycrumb through an exploration of theatrical genres.

The Dilettantes will develop Science Night, a live, interactive game composed of middle-school style science experiments. The Dilettantes is a three-person collective consisting of: Erika Grammel, Rebecca Stevens and Aaron Weissman. They seek to create artistic experiences out of ordinary life by selecting things decidedly unassociated with art or theater (for example, the scientific method) and creating an interactive performance.

The incubator program will culminate in a public showing and reception on Monday, March 31, 2014. For more information on the incubator visit www.pivotarts.org.

PIVOT ARTS POP-UP! PERFORMANCE SERIES:

In addition to the incubator program, Pivot Arts will launch a series, Pivot Pop-Up! Performances happening November 2013 through April 2014 in Chicago's Uptown and Edgewater neighborhoods at local businesses and empty storefronts. The series kicks-off with a performance by folk singer Angela James on Tuesday, November 12 at 7 pm at Lickity Split Frozen Custard and Sweets, 6056 N. Broadway Ave., Chicago.

The next Pivot Pop-Up! is Friday, December 6 at 8 pm, the Lawrence Peters Outfit will perform as part of Late Night Andersonville with Edgewater's own Thomas Comerford opening (venue TBA). For an updated schedule of Pivot Pop-Up! Performances, visit www.pivotarts.org.

Pivot Arts develops new work and presents performances throughout the year culminating in a large-scale, multi-arts festival. Our vision is that of a vibrant community where unique collaborations between artists, businesses and organizations leads to the support and creation of innovative performances.