Guthrie Theater Hosts Flying Foot's 'French Twist'

 The Guthrie Theater is pleased to present Flying Foot Forum's French Twist, a foot-stomping, heart-stopping, slap-happy faux-French pastiche of dance, song and comedy that's both inspiring and entertaining. Directed and choreographed by Joe Chvala, French Twist begins May 8 and runs through May 18, 2008, in the Dowling Studio. Tickets are priced from $18 to $34 and are on sale through the Guthrie Box Office at 612.377.2224, toll-free 877.44.STAGE and online at www.guthrietheater.org.

French Twist takes us on a whimsical time-bending tour of the Paris of our wildest imaginings.  From the vibrant street life, to the royal court of a foppish French monarch, to a decadent underground nightclub, the production stirs up a wacky percussive dance/theater brew inspired by vaudeville, tap dance, cabaret, follies, opera, hambone, clowning and other popular and percussive art forms. Director/choreographer Chvala fuses and reconfigures these time-honored theatrical traditions into an artful and unexpectedly poignant evening of exotic characters, delightful comedy and percussive dance.

Mixed into this eclectic brew of new music, dance and comedy will be critically acclaimed Flying Foot Forum classic comedy pieces including the insanely inspired "All Creatures Now Are Merry Minded" and the madcap "One's All Two's All Zig Zall Zan." The show will also feature original music by Victor Zupanc and Eric Jensen, played by a roving accordionist and a four piece band that will appear onstage interacting with the cast throughout. Rhythm-wizard Peter O'Gorman will create and perform an intricate found object kitchen drumming concoction whipped up by three very serious French chefs and one bumbling impostor, while slapping themselves (and each other) silly throughout the night in true Flying Foot fashion.

The entire piece is framed by a fantastic faux-fin de siecle set from Michael Hoover, gorgeous time-bending costumes from Mary Anna Culligan, painterly lighting from Marcus Dilliard, a bone-shaking sound design from Cody Anderson, and the stage management skills of Lindsay Wollward. Sit back and watch the fabulously furious feet fly as founding members Jan Campbell, Joe Chvala, Karla Grotting and three-year veteran Jeremy Bensussan are joined by Doug Anderson, Lisa Bark, JP Fitzgibbons, Julianne Mundale and Charles Robison to create the cast of French Twist.

For more information on Flying Foot Forum, visit www.flyingfootforum.com.

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