Photo Flash: THE CRUCIBLE at Oakland's Hot Couture 2017

For Hot Couture 2017, The Crucible Founder Michael Sturtz's designed a directed a nine-minute theatrical vignette with hand balancers and contortionists acting out the story of "The Origin of Love" from "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," which involves beings with four legs and four arms, attached back to back-to-back, roaming the Earth.

"Zeus separates them with his lightning bolts, and that's the idea of love that everyone is trying to find their other half." - Michael Sturtz

Hand Balancing & Choreography for Children of the Sun: Jennings McCown & Xiaohong Weng. Contortion & Choreography for Children of the Earth: Dwoira Galilea Scheffer & Chloe Marvel Light Axelrod. Aerial Dance & Choreography for Children of the Moon: Antonio Martinez & Meredith Ostrowsky. Live Vocals: Hedwig: Megan Fenske, Thor: Chris Niemer, Zeus: Michael Sturtz. Back up vocals : Skate Stone & Mimi Heft. Stage Choreography: Elizabeth Strong-Cantrell. Costumes Designs: Lisa Jones, Annie Temmink, James Zormeir, Alexandra Candia, Elwyn Crawford & Julie Shryne
Fire Props: Michael Sturtz, Ian Wreck, & Voltage Metal Works team. Foundry Pattern & Furnace Tending: Nick DiPhillipo & Denise Snær-Gauder. Stage Management: Jay Kravitz, Jen Colasuonno, & Karla Hargrave

Photo Credit: Mehrban Jam

The Crucible
The Crucible
The Crucible
The Crucible
The Crucible