Available Light Theatre: John Cage 101
A theatrical mixtape celebrating the renegade life and controversial ideas of the 20th century’s most influential experimental composer.
Performance Space
If there was a rule about music in place, John Cage found a way to break or at least tease it, posing fundamental questions about the relationships between art and real life. In a style emulative of Cage’s indeterminate “happenings,” John Cage 101 tells the story of the composer’s life through 38 vignettes, exploring how art can be both ordinary and sublime. In the true fashion of Cage’s work, the play makes room for spontaneity and audience interaction. Forgot to turn your cell phone off? No worries—its ring only adds to the soundscape of the show.
In introducing Cage to audiences, it’s only natural that Cage’s many collaborators have a voice as well. John Cage 101 is a primer for those interested in learning about the intersection of Cage’s work with many of his contemporaries, perhaps most importantly, Merce Cunningham, Cage’s longtime collaborator and life partner. (program approx. 90 mins.)
IMAGE CAPTION: John Cage 101, photo: Matt Slaybaugh.