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Liminal presents R. W. Fassbinder's MARILYN MONROE CONTRE LES VAMPIRES

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Liminal presents R. W. Fassbinder's Marilyn Monroe contre les vampires aka Phoebe Zeitgeist aka Blood on the Cat's Neck a 360º immersive sci-fi video opera at Disjecta Gallery 8371 N Interstate Ave, Portland OR

Seven shows, limited seating: Thursday, December 8 at 7:30, Friday, December 9 at 7:30 & 9:30, Saturday, December 10 at 7:30 & 9:30 , Sunday, December 11 at 5:30 & 7:30

Tickets at liminalgroup.org $20 general (student and artist rates available) mature content, recommended ages 14 up.

Featuring Carissa Burkett (soprano) as Phoebe Zeitgeist
with Linda Austin, Todd Van Voris, Carla Grant, Wayne Haythorn, Eleanor Johnson, Don Kern, Alex Reagan, Danielle Ross, and introducing Evan Corcoran as Donald J. Trump

Written by Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Translated by Denis Calandra
Direction, original music and media design by John Berendzen
Developed by John Berendzen and the ensemble
Costume by Manot VonRocket and Faerin Millington
Video and tech by Rory Breshears, Ben Purdy, ShaRon Porter, Jared Lee

This December 8-11, Liminal fights back with Marilyn Monroe contre les vampires, an operatic multimedia installation performance of a 1972 darkly comic anti-establishment play written by influential enfant terrible filmmaker Rainer Werner Fassbinder. Itself influenced by Arthur Schnitzler's La Ronde, sci-fi comics, and copious alcohol use, Fassbinder's Marilyn Monroe contre les vampires is a hilarious and unflinching stab at all classes of society.

In this (literally) biting social satire, Phoebe Zeitgeist is a singing alien sent to Earth to report back an eyewitness account of human democracy in action. She encounters characters from all areas of life who educate her well on what it means to be human. However, Phoebe has a problem: she learns our words, but she still can't figure US out. Marilyn Monroe drives a fever pitch, culminating in the sexiest version of Hegel's Science of Logic ever set to music. Beer and wine will be served.

Liminal combines performance art, video and opera into a unique, immersive experience. A hybrid of theatre and gallery installation, of live performance and video, there is no central stage and audiences are invited to walk around the 360-degree videoscape and performance (seating is provided for those needing it). The viewer encounters both live and recorded performers: a ghostly ensemble of video actors projected onto screens throughout the space, interacting with each other, with Phoebe and with the audience to create a unique video-opera experience.

Also: Vampires.

TRIGGER WARNINGS: substance abuse, sexual harassment, semiosis, societal complacency, firearms, fetishes, Donald J. Trump, structuralism, choking, white people, biting, suicide, Hegel.

Featuring Fassbinder zines by Going Places

Theater Fans' Choice Awards
2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats
Best Lead Performer in a Play - Top 3
1. Daniel Radcliffe - Every Brilliant Thing
29.4% of votes
2. Nathan Lane - Death of a Salesman
11.9% of votes
3. Ayo Edebiri - Proof
7.3% of votes

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