Coming to the Redfern: Spectrum Dance Theater's Theater of Needless Talents

From Jackie Hooper, Redfern Arts Center:

Spectrum Dance Theater will perform _The Theater of Needless Talents, _a moving tribute to imprisoned Jewish artists, on Tuesday, October 16, at 7:30 p.m. at the Redfern Arts Center at Keene State College.

This provocative work, directed and created by award-winning choreographer Donald Byrd, melds dance, theatre, and cabaret with a live musical score by Erwin Schulhoff, a Czech composer and pianist who died in 1942 in a Nazi concentration camp. The Theater of Needless Talents pays homage to the Jewish artists, who though imprisoned in Nazi death camps, managed to create, perform, and bring laughter and hope to themselves and fellow inmates. It is Donald Byrd’s tribute to Schulhoff, his brilliant music, and all artists who died during the Holocaust.

Members of Spectrum Dance Theater will visit with patrons in the lobby before the performance and answer questions after the show in the Main Theatre. In addition, KSC Music Professor Elaine Ginsberg will talk about the Music of the Holocaust in the Harry Davis Room at 6:30 p.m. prior to the performance. All of these outreach activities are free and open to the public. Tickets are required to attend the performance. Tickets range from $25 to $13, and $5 for Keene State students. For tickets, call the Redfern Box Office at 603-358-2168 or order online at www.keene.edu.

For more on the performance and Spectrum Dance Theater, see the full story at the keene.edu news site.