WORDS : MUSIC : ACTION
Historically, Western culture has identified persons who are not members of the privileged class as “others” or “outsiders” and seeks to conceal their existence by casting men to play women’s parts, whites to perform in blackface, redface, and yellowface, and non-disabled actors to portray disabled characters. Where are the boundaries between sound, speech, act, silence, metaphor, and the real? Who determines who is "in", who is "out," and who is "other"?
On the Cusp investigates these and other boundaries. Poised between theatre, music, and movement; between story, song, and act; between mundane, alien, and ecstatic, the four works that are On the Cusp open onto dark worlds of difference and reveal who is “outside” and “in,” where power and agency lie, and how art can further resistance.
Performed by artists with and without disabilities and part of a thematic exploration of the junction of “Otherness” and Power, On the Cusp features Playing God, a new work by Enama based on the poetry of Gwendolyn Brooks, with additional classic works of the past century including Tongues by Sam Shepard, Cascando by Samuel Beckett, and Tristan Tzara's The Gas Heart.
a ladder beckons . . . a narrative fractures . . . a voice is silenced
On the Cusp is an in-person | live-streamed hybrid event on the cusp of technology and immersion. For the full immersive experience, please bring your WiFi-enabled device capable of playing YouTube video (e.g. smartphone, iPad, etc.) and headphones or earbuds.
ACCESSIBILITY : On the Cusp and SITE/less are wheelchair accessible. Captioning and complete texts will be provided online and in print both evenings. Audio interpretation will be provided at the Saturday, September 25 show. A wheelchair accessible/gender-neutral restroom will be available. Please refrain from wearing scented products. For other accommodation requests, please contact Christophe Preissing at [email protected]
Covid-19 Public Health attestation - in effect Sept 2020 and current as of 13 Aug 2021
Admitted audience members must wear masks and maintain social distance, and will be seated by staff.
By confirming your reservation, in order to be admitted to the event you provide and agree to the following attestation standards outlined below as required by State of Illinois and City of Chicago ordinances.
- Bring proof of vaccination or proof of negative Covid test results within the last 72 hours
- Bring current valid picture ID
- Agree to the attestation standards:
I currently do not have any symptoms known to be associated with COVID-19 as determined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and have not had such symptoms within the past 10 days.
I will conduct an assessment of my health for COVID-19 symptoms 24 hours before entering the venue and will monitor my health for new symptoms throughout my time on the premises.
I will not enter the venue or I will immediately leave if: I have tested positive for COVID-19; I am exhibiting COVID-19-related symptoms; I have been informed by a medical or public health entity that I have had close contact with a COVID-19 positive person; or I have recently traveled to an area with widespread, ongoing transmission of COVID-19 (including any state or territory designated by the City of Chicago Department of Public Health Emergency Travel Order if I am subject to the Emergency Travel Order).
I am not currently required to self-quarantine to comply with the City of Chicago emergency travel order or a travel order implemented by any other governmental authority.
I will wear a face covering or mask covering my nose and mouth at all times while in the venue.
I will follow other venue-required COVID-19 mitigation measures, including: Maintaining a physical distance of at least six feet whenever possible when I am with others, and Washing my hands with soap and water frequently, or using hand sanitizer when soap and water is not available.
By choosing to enter the venue, I am making an ongoing commitment to follow the COVID-19-related guidance and safety precautions as communicated herein. I understand that if I fail to follow the requirements set forth in this attestation, my access to the venue is denied.
