The Kitchen is pleased to present the world premiere of Quicksand, an opera-novel for music, dance, and light, composed from a novel of the same name by the late Robert Ashley. This work, divided into three acts of 16 scenes each, combines separate and “moveable” sequences of choreography by Steve Paxton, electric orchestra composed by Tom Hamilton, and light environments by David Moodey to present a unified work without a linear narrative structure.

Using Ashley’s signature blend of speech and song, Quicksand tells the story of a composer who has been coerced by a U.S. Government Agency ("the Company") to serve as a low-level spy. Traveling with his wife to an unnamed South Asian country run by a military dictatorship, he becomes involved with plans to overthrow the government through his close friendship with two tour guides. With the assistance of four American mercenaries sent by "the Company,” the composer participates in the capture and imprisonment of the country’s leaders, and the destruction of the torture operation by which the dictatorship has maintained its power.

Music and Libretto by Robert Ashley
Orchestra composed by Tom Hamilton
Choreographed by Steve Paxton
Light Design by David Moodey
Performed by Maura Gahan and Jurij Konjar
Sound design and live mix by Tom Hamilton

January 28-30 and February 4-6, 7pm
Tickets $20

Online tickets for this show are currently sold out. A waiting list for all shows will begin one hour before showtime, in person at the box office the night of the performance.

The performance is 3 hours long with an intermission. 

The Kitchen gallery space will be open until 7pm on all performance evenings to view the exhibition From Minimalism into Algorithm. Additionally, in conjunction with Quicksand, Mary Lucier's video installation The Trial, which uses documentation footage of Robert Ashley's The Trial of Anne Opie Wehrer and Unknown Accomplices for Crimes Against Humanity will be on view in The Kitchen lobby.