Trapped inside an ordinary and minimalistic diner, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, James Dean and Humphrey Bogart. This year’s dance concert Famously Yours…Forever is based on Gottfried Helnwein’s painting Boulevard of Broken Dreams.
Stella Hiatt Kane, the choreographer for Famously Yours…Forever, was inspired by Helnwein’s painting following a discussion with her daughter. “My daughter Eryn is a Ph.D candidate in history and we were talking about an interesting book she had read that commented on the popular culture icons and how they have, and continue to, influence every facet of our culture. Suddenly I was captivated to create a one act dance theatre piece based on four of America’s most popular icons gathered together for what very well could be eternity,”
Helnwein’s painting Boulevard of Broken Dreams is an American pop reinterpretation of Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks which depicted five people seated in the same lonely late-night diner.
Otterbein Theatre & Dance has brought Helnwein’s painting to life with Rob Johnson’s scenic design of a giant full-stage rendering of the work as well as the diner in 3-D on stage.
Kane went on to say, “The styles of dance will be reflective of the four icons and their impact on culture and entertainment. This will include the 50’s social dance and jazz dance, the threads of rock and roll, a modern bend to some very personal elements of the stories, ballroom dance and the splashy styles of MGM movie making,”
Music will include popular hits such as Jailhouse Rock, Viva Las Vegas, Play It Again Sam, Born to Be Wild, and Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend.
Otterbein University Theatre will present Dance 2015: Famously Yours…Forever at 7:30 p.m. Thursday Nov. 19, 8 p.m. Nov. 20 & 21, and at 2 p.m. Nov. 22 in the Fritsche Theatre at Cowan Hall. Tickets cost $18 and Otterbein faculty and students get one free ticket with their Cardinal Card. More information at www.otterbein.edu/drama.
Editor's Note: This article has been edited to correct Associated Press style and grammar guidelines.
