One Yellow Rabbit’s High Performance Rodeo has a long history of offering unique theatrical experience to Calgary patrons. Of the many types of shows that have been part of the last 23 years, there has always been at least one gay performer or related show. Not an accident, says curator Michael Green.
“It is absolutely a conscious decision. I really wouldn’t feel comfortable having a festival that didn’t have at least one show that wasn’t blatantly gay. At the same time my definition of queer includes gay. There are all kinds of queer works at the festival but always at least one gay work.”
Recent years have included gay band The Hidden Cameras, one-man show Stand Up Homo!, Annie Sprinkle’s wedding, and last years smash hit BASH’D! The Gay Rap Opera.
“Bash’d came to us from New York and then went back afterwards. That was a smashing success. The Hidden Cameras went on to sell a number of albums after they played here. The interesting thing about Annie Sprinkle’s wedding was that it was year three of a seven-year project that she was doing around the world, but only in Calgary could they get married legally. It was an event of international stature and a real community event because everyone in Calgary was invited to their wedding. That was really beautiful. On our very first festival 23 years ago we had new work by Sky Gilbert, who was the artistic director of Canada’s largest queer festival in the country. I do my best to bring gay work to the festival and hopefully put Calgary’s gay community on the map in an international way that will also appeal to a broad public.”
This year’s most obvious gay-related show is Scott Thompson’s Scottastrophe. While Scott made it clear in our December 2008 issue that the show was not about being gay, as an openly gay performer Green does consider it the primary gay show of the Festival.
“OYR and the Kids in the Hall have been friends from the beginning. We always have kept up with each other’s work and been fans. Scott is the fourth of the five kids we have had at our festival.”
There are other shows that will be of specific queer interest, although the festival offers a broad spectrum that will interest regardless of your sexuality.
“I don’t want to trick your readership into coming to see something and then go away and say oh that wasn’t gay or that was too queer for me. I can say for young people who are exploring their sexuality and the definition of queer, they should not miss Midway and Freak Show. Fans of the outrageous gay painter Francis Bacon should not miss Theatre Labors’ Body Fragments. The first love affair between men that was ever written about was Gilgamesh and Enkidu, which is in OYR’s Gilgamesh Lazyboy.”
What else awaits rodeo goers? The list is so long it would be impossible to touch on each, but there are a few events that have already generated a buzz. One is the addition of acclaimed pianist Philip Glass who will have several concerts and events.
“We are very lucky to have him as our artist in residence. A number of years ago we had him out as a solo performer. We quite liked him and got along well. As he has developed, his work has become more spectacular and beautiful, he is more influential now than he has ever been. More people are hearing his work through films. We called him and asked if he would be interested in coming back to something a little out of the ordinary. Together we cooked up this idea of him collaborating with the Kronos quartet to perform his film score for the 1931 Bela Lugosi film Dracula. That is going to be screened live, and it is only the third time in the world it has been done - New York, LA and now in Calgary.”
Another highly anticipated show is Frankenstein, playing at Theatre Calgary.
“I have seen the piece and I can tell you it is the most stunning piece of theatre in Canada right now. There is a reason it is touring North America for 7 weeks right after the rodeo, and why it is almost sold out. It is a piece of stunning virtuoso theatricality. The set is made entirely of paper, I just love the gorgeous light that is thrown onto it. It actually is not only a charming story, but in fact the story from the Mary Shelley Novel. You can take the whole family to that. I also think your readership should plan on coming out to High Performance Chef. That is going to be an experience for Uninhibited Gourmands. Four restaurants, one night each; the chef has been invited to perform as an artist. They will create art that we will then show up and eat and enjoy.”
Green’s excitement for the event is contagious.
“When it comes time to decide who is invited to the festival, I imagine that we are putting on a smorgasbord. It is really important that we respect the breadth of taste that Calgary has, the varied appetites. We are a multidisciplinary theatre company, always have been, so we have to have a variety with dance, music, international work, different segments of our rich community. Calgary loves it, and that feels good! When we are given the opportunity to do something that Calgarians express so much satisfaction in, actually buy tickets and come. It is not often in the world that one gets the sense that you are doing the right thing. With the High Performance Rodeo there is full evidence of that.”
