La MaMa to Present Two Shows by Split Britches This October

La MaMa in association with Split Britches presents Unexploded Ordnance UXO, a new project inspired by the unexploded Civil War ammunition buried on Governor's Island in New York Harbor and the iconic Stanley Kubrick film, Dr. Strangelove. Exploring performance, installation, and conversation, Lois Weaver and Peggy Shaw invite you to contribute to this developing intergenerational work around aging, unexplored desires and unexpressed tensions, and how we look forward in a world with an uncertain future.

A "Project in Progress," Split Britches developed the work in collaboration with audiences in London, New York and Los Angeles over a 2 year period including, most recently, an Elders in Residence program on New York's Governor's Island in September. The company will return to La Mama in 2018 with a final performance. Unexploded Ordnance UXO is a combination of performance and an experimentation with formats for public conversation and references Weaver's work with The Long Table. Unexploded Ordnance UXO is not yet open for review.

A metaphor for unexplored potential, particularly in elders, Unexploded Ordnance UXO recognizes the unmined resources in us all and seeks to tap that in order to solve problems. Studies have shown that people often experience a burst of creative development as they reach 60 years of age.

The project's reference to Dr. Strangelove will be apparent in the following ways: the stage will be set with a large round table for public discussion called the 'Situation Room' echoing the film's iconic circle called the 'War Room'. The company will encourage conversation on our current situations with election anxiety anticipated to be a popular topic. All topics will be discussed with a sense of urgency in solving some of our big problems by referencing a 'doomsday' scenario like the threat of nuclear disaster in the film.

Peggy Shaw will take on the character of the bombastic general (played by George C. Scott in the film) and Lois Weaver will assume the gentile and ineffectual President (played by Peter Sellars) as dramaturgical engines for the conversation and as sources of comedy performance.

Shaw and Weaver will also recall their old favorites of Mike Nichols and Elaine May as inspirations for duets on subjects of power, communication, relationship, gender, women wear and age.

IF YOU GO:

Split Britches: Unexploded Ordance UXO

October 6th - 16th

Thursday, Friday & Saturday 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15 @ 8PM

Sundays, 9 & 16 @ 6PM

Tickets: $25 Adults; $20 Students/Seniors

Ten tickets prices at $10 each are available for ever performance, in advance only, as part as La MaMa's 10@$10 ticketing initiative. 2-show discount packages are available.

Lamama.org or 866-811-4111

The Downstairs, 66 East 4th Street, New York, NY 10003

La MaMa in association with Split Britches presents Retro(per)spective

(October 20th - 22nd)

Peggy Shaw and Lois Weaver of Split Britches present a Retro(per)spective of their 35 years of gender-bending vaudevillian performance. show Called Retro(per)spective this evening is a compilation of performances that act as a Split Britches greatest hits album for those who remember the 1980's and a Split Britches primer for those who may have missed it! This scrapbooked show weaves together much-loved moments from their earliest work, including Upwardly Mobile Home (1984), and Anniversary Waltz (1989) and Belle Reprieve (1990) as well as more recent pieces from the likes of Lost Lounge and Miss America. Ideal for old friends and new acquaintances, Retro(per)spective encapsulates Lois and Peggy's humorous and distinctive take on love, life, work and play.

Split Britches: Retro(per)spective

October 20 - 22

Thursday, Friday & Saturday 20, 21, 22, @ 8PM - Sunday, 23 @ 6PM

Tickets: $25 Adults; $20 Students/Seniors

Ten tickets prices at $10 each are available for ever performance, in advance only, as part as La MaMa's 10@$10 ticketing initiative. 2-show discount packages are available.

Lamama.org or 866-811-4111

The Downstairs, 66 East 4th Street, New York, NY 10003

Founded in New York in 1980 with Deb Margolin, Split Britches continues with the duo and solo work of Lois Weaver and Peggy Shaw which spans satirical, gender-bending performance, methods for public engagement, videography, digital and print media, explorations of aging and well-being and iconic feminist theatre.

An integral part of New York City's cultural landscape, La MaMa has a worldwide reputation for producing daring work in theatre, dance, performance art, and music that defies form and transcends boundaries of language, race, and culture. Founded in 1961 by theatre pioneer and legend Ellen Stewart, La MaMa is a global organization with creative partners and dedicated audiences around the world. La MaMa presents an average of 60-70 productions annually, most of which are world premieres. To date, over 3,500 productions have been presented at La MaMa with artists from more than 70 nations.