Live! The Realest MC (2011)

"Live! The Realest MC is a work inspired by both the story of Pinocchio and an early solo work of mine entitled Inventing Pookie Jenkins. The similarity in these characters lies in their quest for acceptance. For one, it’s a quest to become a “real boy;” for the other, it’s a quest for “realness.”  Reimagined into an evening-length, ensemble work that investigates gender roles within my community, this story took on a deeper dive when faced with the 2010 media headlines surrounding the untimely death of college student Tyler Clementi and 13-year-old Ryan Halligan in 2003. I began to think about a time in my life when I prayed that I could go unnoticed. Hoping that if I get my voice to sound like the other male students around me, I wouldn’t be found out. I just wanted to be a robot…a puppet…but maybe without the lederhosen." - Kyle Abraham

Choreography: Kyle Abraham in collaboration with A.I.M; Costume Design: Kyle Abraham and Kristi Wood, with additional costume support by Maribeth Maxa, Liz Prince and the staff of Perry Mansfield; Lighting Design: Dan Scully; Editing Advisor: Alexandra Wells; Filmmaker: Carrie Schneider

Live! The Realest MC was created with support from The MAP Fund, which is generously supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and Princess Grace Foundation-USA. This work was created, in part, during a Creative Development Residency at the Bates Dance Festival, with generous support from Major Choreographic Sponsor Rockefeller Brothers Fund and from Choreographic Sponsors David DeMuro & Chris Longobucco. This work was developed, in part, through a Danspace Project residency at the Institute for Curatorial Practice in Performance (ICPP) at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, through a 651 ARTS Artist Development Initiative residency at the Mark Morris Dance Center in Brooklyn, NY as well as during a residency provided by The Joyce Theater Foundation, New York City, with major support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Live! The Realest MC is a National Performance Network (NPN) Creation Fund Project co-commissioned by Miami Dade College in partnership with On The Boards, Bates Dance Festival, Dance Place, 651 ARTS and NPN.