Pop
Awards: WorldFest 2014- “Best Performance Art,” “Outstanding Innovation in Design,” and “Best Musical Performance” for both Emilie Bendix and Rasmus Rhode. Herald Tribune calls POP! “sublime”, “stunning”, and a “mesmerizing musical romance” Jay Handelman, June 19th, 2014. Blogger Nanettesnewlife says that, “The performance that grabbed me and has yet to let go was “POP!”, “POP! was edgy and made me simultaneously feel uncomfortable and exhilarated” and that she was “left breathless”. Blogger Kim Gaesser reflects that POP!, “really stood out to me amongst all the shows I had seen… This show took me on a journey, and it also took all the other audience members on a separate journey, different and unique for each person.” Pop music is the glue that binds our contemporary western culture, across nationalities, religions, and physical limitations. It is our common reference in our otherwise separate and individual worlds. Through pop music we see our hopes and dreams idealized, we feel uplifted by catchy tunes or recognize our pain expressed in ways that help us to forget. Through pop music we idealize our struggle for success, so that if we fail we at least land amongst the stars. POP! is a ‘Theatre Concert’, a term first coined in 1994, as a Danish concept combining theatre and music into a new artistic expression. POP! takes on the favorite songs from the top of the pop charts to reflect on love and what it means to be human in the modern world. Through quirky compositions and a lot of creative license, we follow two people’s search for meaning and along the way uncover the truth of a generation. POP! performed for the first time at Teaterøen, Copenhagen under the CPH Stage Festival. From there, it toured to WorldFest 2014 in Venice, Florida, USA, where it was awarded a total of 4 awards: “Best Performance Art,” “Outstanding Innovation in Design,” and “Best Musical Performance” for both of the performer. Director: Jeremy Thomas-Poulsen Performers: Emilie Bendix and Rasmus Rhode Scenograph: Emilie Bendix Composer: Matilde Böcher Choreographer: Mille Gori Light Designer: Martin Brad Sound Designer: Morten Frank Stage Manager: Pernille Rosa Thomsen The production is approximately 55 min., without intermission, and is performed in English Produced by Black Box Pangea with support from Københavns Kommunes Scenekunstudvalg