New York, NY
Icons/Idols: In The Purple Room
Follow the orphan Irene into the heart of Byzantine power
Byzantine Choral Project’s ICONS/IDOLS: IN THE PURPLE ROOM is a choral drama and immersive installation, with book and lyrics by Helen Banner, music by Grace Oberhofer and installation design by Afsoon Pajoufar. Follow the young Athenian orphan Irene into the heart of Byzantine power as tensions between religious and political factions threaten to rupture an empire. Listening to the story unfold on their phones, a socially distanced audience is guided through a space charged with birth and death, where power is fought over and exchanged, the mighty can be destroyed, and fragile bodies attempt to channel the divine. With a haunting score inspired by Byzantine chant, featuring the voices of ten female and non-binary performers, IN THE PURPLE ROOM wrestles with how to make something new out of a shattered world. *Note: There are no live performers in the space. Audience members listen to the show on their own phone/mp3 player/portable device, using their own headphones or earbuds. Information will be emailed in advance with instructions on how to download the audio before coming to the show. A wheelchair accessible version of the audio and show will also be available to book in advance. All visitors and staff will be required to wear masks while inside the building. Timed entry will ensure members of separate parties remain six feet apart when inside the installation, and strict capacity limits, enhanced air filtration, health screening and contract tracing protocols will be in effect. A copy of the full safety plan will be available upon request.
Audience Role
Passive, no required interaction.
Ages: 16 +
Content Advisories
Interaction Advisories
Mobility Advisories
5
Events
6
Years on EI
About New Ohio Theatre
New Ohio Theatre is a two-time Obie Award-winning theatre under the leadership of Robert Lyons, Artistic Director. The New Ohio serves New York’s most adventurous theatre audiences by developing and presenting bold work from today’s vast independent theatre community. They believe the best of this community, the small artist-driven ensembles and the daring producing companies who operate without a permanent theatrical home, are actively expanding the boundaries of where American theatre is right now and where it’s going. From their home in the West Village’s historic Archive Building, the New Ohio provides a high-profile platform for downtown’s most mature, ridiculous, engaged, irreverent, gut-wrenching, frivolous, sophisticated, foolish, and profound theatrical endeavors.