“The acrobatic and martial arts inspired choreography, mixed with hard hitting hip hop from different eras and then delicate interactions between characters makes you want to see the show again because you know there’s so much you missed the first time around.” – Splash Magazines
“They have broken the traditional rules of dance and made something that will get your adrenaline pumping.” – 3rd Coast Review
Chicago Dance Crash’s flagship production of their 20th anniversary season pulls out ALL the bells and whistles to paint a colorful picture of life, strife and relationship goals after the end of the world. The company’s hybrid style of hip hop & contemporary movement is supercharged for your post-pandemic pleasure with a considerable cast size, a radio-friendly soundtrack and a cohort of up-and-coming choreographers on the national scene. Of course, TEOTWAWKI was never meant to be easy! Both comedy and suspense are baked into the onstage adventure as it’s told through the eyes of an 8-year-old narrator who’s memory and exact grasp of her surroundings leave quite a bit of room for flair.
After a vague and expansive “boom” takes the fun out of everything — our young, female hero keeps it simple in the apocalypse by keeping her distance. No company, no contact, just her and a ‘boombox.’ It isn’t until events join her with one person then another and another that choices have to get made; friends or family, love or blood, peace or freedom. Sprinkle in a greedy gang of marauders, a distant city beyond the wastelands and a ton of stylistic, high-energy movement and now… it’s complicated.
Choreographers include creative artist and Archangels Chicago artistic director Annie Franklin, hip hop & street dance specialist Jimmy Weeden and LA-based dancemaker James Gregg making his return to the Windy City. Crash rehearsal director KC Bevis serves double duty as both co-choreographer and the lead, onstage role as our protagonist. “Booms Day” promises to look like nothing ever seen before at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts with both a heavy lift and healthy technical budget employed by costume designer Jeffrey Hancock and lighting designer Erik S Barry.
This two-act, PG-rated production is created by writer Mark Hackman and director/lead choreographer and artistic director of Chicago Dance Crash Jessica Deahr + told by actors Molly Harris and Christian Castro.
#ItsBoomsDay