San Diego's avant-garde theatre enthusiasts, mark your calendars because UC San Diego is once again teaming up with La Jolla Playhouse for the Without Walls (WOW) Festival, bringing an eclectic mix of performances from April 24 to April 27. The festival is opening its doors to a world where art knows no bounds – think electronic orchestras framed by a cacophony of car taillights, massive processing puppets, and even a time-travel escape game. Insider tip: attendance is free, with just a few shows asking you to part with $12 to $37. According to UC San Diego News, this is where art bursts from its traditional confines and dances in the unexpected.
A medley of UC San Diego faculty and student-made wonders. Insiders can throw themselves into "Green Memories," an immersive journey through nature's highs and lows, while "THE JUMP UP!" fuses attendees into a makeshift orchestra. University talent doesn't stop there, with a site-specific play titled "Goldilocks Screentime," scrutinizing the fine line between wellness and web-induced paranoia. With UC San Diego Theatre and Dance alumni also in the mix, featuring works like "Tale Travelers" and "when my body talks," it's clear this festival's roots are planted deep in academic soil. As reported by UC San Diego News, this collaboration is just one blooming branch of ArtsConnect, UC San Diego's pathway to a rich artistic landscape.
Highlighting the convergence of art and science, one installation stands out: Professor of Music Shahrokh Yadegari and Assistant Professor of Visual Arts Memo Akten's creation, inspired by Iranian poet Forugh Farrokhzad’s work. Delving into ecological decline, their immersive art installation promises to marry 32 channels of sound with captivating video simulations. With sessions running every half hour, this sensory enclave is a 20-minute testament to nature and technology's intertwined fate, put on by the tech-forward minds of UC San Diego Qualcomm Institute. As UC San Diego News aptly noted, it's art curated to dazzle and enlighten.
Yet, the festival isn't shy about critically examining current issues. Take "Goldilocks Screentime," a theatrical exploration of internet wellness tips' dark side, emerging from a proverbial rabbit hole to the real world at the foot of Tim Hawkinson's mammoth "Bear" sculpture. Spearheaded by student directors Lula Britos and Claire McNerney, the piece is the brainchild of an advanced performance class, cleverly dubbed the "WOW Class." As they told UC San Diego News, their mission is crafting a narrative journey that vaults beyond text into movement and thematic visuals.
Bringing up the rear with a beat, the festival invites drummers of all ilk to make some noise at Epstein Family Amphitheater alongside Sandbox Percussion and UC San Diego Professor of Music Steven Schick, showcasing "THE JUMP UP!" in its West Coast debut.
