Event Details
Program Note
The movement score and choreography in LXIV (six.four) and Immortal Games emerged from a collaboration among KC Bevis, Phill Wood, James Morrow and The Ensemble. The piece reflects a shared creative process, with dancer freestyle layered into its very structure—improvised and freestyle movement that is not incidental, but essential. Crash artists train freestyle as rigorously and intentionally as one would any codified technique. Here, freestyle is both practice and presence: a way of being, responding, and storytelling.
History of The Immortal Game
The Immortal Game, played in 1851 between Adolf Anderssen and Lionel Kieseritzky, is one of the most celebrated chess matches in history. Anderssen, playing White, opened with the King’s Gambit and followed it up with the Bishop’s Gambit, quickly launching into a bold and aggressive attack. Throughout the game, he sacrificed significant material, including both rooks, a bishop, and even his queen, in order to maintain pressure and rapid development. Despite the heavy material loss, Anderssen masterfully coordinated his remaining pieces—especially his bishops and knights—to launch a final combination that culminated in a brilliant checkmate. The game is remembered not just for its outcome, but for its artistic beauty and fearless creativity, making it a timeless example of attacking chess and a cornerstone of chess history.
ACT l: LXIV (six.four)
LXIV (six.four) is told from the perspective of the Black pieces. It invites audiences into their world leading up to the 1851 Immortal Chess Game, uncovering the motivations and systemic forces that shaped their choices—revealing the humanity behind the strategy.
UPawn A Time – Full Ensemble
I. Material Count
Pawndering – Hannah “June” Barrows
Knight Fight– Logan “L2K” Howell, Rodrigo “Rico” Mercado
Angle of Intent– Monternez Rezell, Eryn Jones
Castle Culture – Brandon “Kaio” Hunt, Phillip “Phree” Wood
Heavy Is the Crown – Tina Diaz
Rule of One – Penny
II. Piece Activity
Service of One – Tina Diaz, Penny
Line of Sight – Hannah “June” Barrows, Brandon “Kaio” Hunt, Phillip “Phree” Wood
Scholar’s Mate- Monternez Rezell, Eryn Jones, Logan “L2k” Howell, Rodrigo “Rico” Mercado
Movement Direction: KC Bevis and Phill “Phree” Wood
Music:
Sound Score: e j e c t; There Is No Time (Prelude) – Madlib; Life is a… – Tella X (feat. Dagawd); Gargoyle’s Prayer– Joshua Moreno; Sound Ancestors – Madlib; Like Someone in Love– Bjork; Take Note – Mansur Brown; Datskat– The Roots
–10 Minute Intermission–
ACT ll, Immortal Games
Immortal Games sees the 1851 Immortal Chess Game unfold – artists embody the opposing pieces that bring a checkmate to fruition, pushing the limits of structured freestyle and embodied gameplay.
Immortal Games- Full Ensemble
Artistic Concept: James Morrow and Rob Flax
Freestyle Score set by James Morrow, KC Bevis, and Phill Wood in collaboration with the ensemble.
Composer – Rob Flax
Musical Score Performed by: Rob Flax and James Morrow
MidiChess Software Engineer: Shaun McFall
The musical score was composed by Rob Flax and performed live by Rob Flax and James Morrow at the annual Chicago Dance Crash Gala on Monday, May 19th at Hairpin Arts Center. The musical score for Immortal Games was composed using Flax’s Chessboard Drum Machine, a groundbreaking creation that transforms a chess board into an electronic instrument using original software by engineer Shaun McFall.
Cast
King Bartholomew – Penny
Queen Folomew – Tina Diaz
Rook Arthas – Phillip “Phree” Wood
Rook Daryl – Brandon “Kaio” Hunt
Bishop Malachi – Monternez Rezell
Bishop Mabel – Eryn Jones
Knight X – Logan “L2K” Howell
Knight Wayne – Rodrigo “Rico” Mercado
Pawn Parker – Hannah “June” Barrows
Crew
Lighting Designer – Ely Kleinsmith
Stage Manager – Robyn Wilson
Cinematographer
Daniel Williams