AMERICAN RENDITION (2008)

An American Rendition uses integrated text, movement and extended vocal techniques to depict the story of an American citizen who is kidnapped, interrogated and tortured in a secret prison while we distract ourselves with TV reality shows. Using the remote control as a theatrical device, the company flips from reality (too hard to watch) to Reality Show (WAY more fun) as they offer up savage parodies of American Idol, Fear Factor, and America’s Next Top Model, shows which feature humiliation that we find delicious. An American Rendition was voted one of the top ten performances of 2008 by both Thirteen WNET and Gay City News.

Premiere: The New Duke on 42nd St, New York City 2008

Concept/Direction/Text: Jane Comfort
Choreography: Jane Comfort and Company
Composer: Joan La Barbara
Visual Design: Steve Miller
Costumes: Liz Prince
Lighting Design: David Ferri
Video Projection: Jung-eun Kim
Dramaturgy: Jim Lewis

Cast:
Jessica Anthony
Leslie Cuyjet
Sean Donovan
Olase Freeman
Lisa Niedermeyer
Peter Sciscioli
Ellen Smith

Funding:
Commission by the NPN Creation Fund, the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency, and the American Music Center Live Music for Dance Program, The Department of Cultural Affairs

01_Rendition_1Postcardfront
02_Rendition_2shot_05_018
03_Rendition_3
04_Rendition_4shot_06_016
05_Rendition_5shot_07_105
06_rendition
07_Rendition_7
08_Rendition_8_shot_07_084
09_Rendition_PhotoByJohnWilton_JW01746
10_Rendition_PhotoByJohnWilton_JW01749
11_Rendition_PhotoByJohnWilton_JW01766_2
12_Rendition_PhotoByJohnWilton_JW01781
13_Rendition_PhotoByJohnWilton_JW01799
14_Rendition_PhotoByJohnWilton_JW01801
15_Rendition_PhotoByJohnWilton_JW01826
16_Rendition_PhotoByJohnWilton_JW01836
17_Rendition_PhotoByJohnWilton_JW01840
18_Rendition_PhotoByJohnWilton_JW01844
19_Rendition_PhotoByJohnWilton_JW01845
20_Rendition_PhotoByJohnWilton_JW01874
21_DarrinLeslie
22_IdentifytheBitch
23_JessEllenWhiplash
24_JessJump
25_JessJump2
26_LeslieModel
27_MPersonJessFolded
28_PeterPullArms
29_PeterPullLeg
30_petersteponseanhead
31_SeanChair
32_SeanEYES
33_SeanJump
34_SeanUPsideDown
35_senatorduet
36_waterboard

"Jane Comfort, (is) a choreographer who's tackled political issues with passion and mordant wit...Aided by her splendid colleagues, Comfort stitches her disparate materials together with almost faultless theatrical skill."

--VILLAGE VOICE

"Jane Comfort’s An American Rendition is the latest work in an oeuvre that continually reaches beyond what most other New York choreographers are producing. "

--WNET

“An American Rendition is dark, biting satire of the ilk that's so brilliantly constructed that it makes you laugh out loud while feeling almost sick inside as you gradually realize the true horror of what you're laughing at."

--BACKSTAGE