"Gravitational Fool", a Neo-Cabaret Extravaganza, Comes to Endicott on Sept. 27
Endicott College is excited to bring you "Gravitational Fool", a remarkable performance by singer-songwriter Brian King, backed by his neo-cabaret band, What Time Is It, Mr. Fox?, and aerial silks performers. This multifaceted circus-style show comes to Endicott College’s Manninen Center for the Arts, Rose Performance Hall, on Thursday, September 27, 2018 at 8:00 p.m. This show contains strong language and adult themes
The uplifting performance asks audiences to consider: “How often do we play The Fool?” Society has often relegated “the queer” to various roles: the clown, sad Pierrot, the sissy, the funny fop, the lonely dandy. But how do these archetypes both empower and limit our identities and relationships? Brian King performs an internal/external wrestling match onstage with catchy and uplifting music through makeup, costume, monologues, and original music. From soul-searing ballads to hilarious songs about “sex with the ex,” “Gravitational Fool” will cure you of your clown phobia.
It is presented in association with GLOW, a new "Moveable Festival" offshoot of Provincetown's non-profit Afterglow Festival and funded in part by the Expeditions program of the New England Foundation for the Arts, made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional support from six New England state arts agencies.
The show brings together local artists with national acclaim, including aerial silk artists from Rockport native Eileen Little’s company, Seaside Circus.
“This will be like a homecoming for the show,” said Nathan Cohen, violinist and co-founder of What Time is it Mr. Fox? who also hails from Rockport. “We’ve performed it in Provincetown, and Boston, but most of us are from north shore.”
Tickets are $20 General Admission, $10 Seniors and students of other institutions, and $1 for EC ID holders. Please visit tickets.endicott.edu for tickets, and www.endicott.edu/centerforthearts for more information.
"'Gravitational Fool' is about identity and its many, many layers," Brian King explains. "We have the 'we' everyone says we are, the 'we' we want to be, and perhaps the many contradictory 'we's we actually are. When you're a queer person this can be further complicated by the various ideas society has about who you should be. We are very excited to perform this show at Endicott and see how it resonates with students. When I started college, I was dealing with some of these same issues and questions. Coming from a small town where everyone had their own notions about who I was, then suddenly immersed in a completely new environment, I had the opportunity not only to reinvent myself, but perhaps reveal more of who I really was. This is that time in life when you get a fresh canvas - new friends who don't know your family or remember that embarrassing thing you did in the 5th grade. You can really step into who you want to be. The bigger question the show asks is, especially in this new age of social-media, how do we stay true to ourselves rather than get lost in the pursuit of approval?"
Lead singer, Brian King, is a singer, songwriter, and performance artist acclaimed for his gender-defying voice which Whoopi Goldberg once said was the last sound she wanted to hear before sleep to ensure beautiful dreams. With his original songs, Brian carries audiences through raw meditations on love, sexuality, and identity. Both solo or with his neo-cabaret band, What Time Is It, Mr. Fox?, Brian King has performed to packed houses like Oberon and Club Passim in Cambridge MA, Dixon Place, Joe's Pub and The Duplex in NYC, and venues throughout the US.
Named after a Victorian children’s game, What Time Is It, Mr. Fox? can time-travel from 1960’s New Orleans soul to the minstrels of Medieval France before landing in the Tin Pan Alley era of NYC. Led by the gender-defying voice of Brian King, the ensemble delivers their own brand of smoky cabaret, neo-soul and acoustic noir, sounding something like Tom Waits and Amy Winehouse performing in a French cafe. What Time Is It, Mr. Fox? is known for its original songs which marry rich lyrical imagery with a cinematic sensibility, exploring themes of love, spirituality, sexuality, and identity. Whether stripped down for acoustic coffeehouses and living room concerts or immersive multimedia shows in clubs and theaters, Mr. Fox brings honesty, energy, and emotional authenticity to every performance.
Praise for performances by What Time Is It, Mr. Fox? And Brian King: "Time has come for Mr. Fox,” from The Boston Herald, "Catch him as his star rises,” from Time Out New York, and “a triumph of mood and style, an unforgettable musical, theatrical and emotional experience.”- Edge For music, tour dates, and other information, visit www.whattimeisitmrfox.com.
Location: Rose Performance Hall, Walter J. Manninen Center for the Arts, Endicott College, 376 Hale St, Beverly
Date: Thursday, September 27, 8:00 - 10:00 pm
Admission: General Admission: $20; $10 for seniors and students of other institutions; $1 to Endicott ID holders