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Press Contact: Tamar Fortgang
REDCAT's Publicist and Promotions Manager
fortgang@muse.calarts.edu / 661-253-7724 (Do Not Publish)

Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater, REDCAT presents In What Language?
A groundbreaking multidisciplinary new work by Vijay Iyer and Mike Ladd

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Oct 6, 2004, Los Angeles, CA -REDCAT, CalArts' downtown center for innovative visual, performing and media arts, presents the West Coast premiere of In What Language? A Song Cycle of Lives in Transit, a poignant and moving work of music and poetry by Alpert Award-winning pianist/composer Vijay Iyer, with spoken text by poet/hip-hop artist Mike Ladd. Improvisational in nature and hybrid to the core, this is the first creative collaboration between these two leading contemporary artists and will run for three performances, October 14-16 at 8:30p.m.

In What Language? is a multimedia performance in the form of an urban song cycle drawn from a broad range of musical influences: experimental jazz, hip-hop, contemporary chamber music, African and South Asian rhythms. The piece depicts the interior monologues of various travelers and laborers of color confronting the hyper-globalized setting of an international airport. Directed by Rachel Dickstein, the work is scored for seven musicians and four speaking voices, with lighting design and video projections by Clifton Taylor.

In What Language? draws its title and inspiration from the experience of Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, who, transiting through JFK Airport in spring 2001 between international film festivals in Hong Kong and Buenos Aires, was unjustly detained by INS officials. Ironically, this incident, which occurred prior to 9/11, has greater resonance in the current era, characterized by systemic mistreatment of 'foreigners' and simple-minded notions of ethnicity and cultural identity.

REDCAT is located in downtown Los Angeles at the corner of W. 2nd St. and S. Hope St., inside the Walt Disney Concert Hall complex. Tickets are $28 for the general public, $20 for students with valid ID. Seating is general admission. Tickets may be purchased at the REDCAT box office - located at the corner of 2nd and Hope streets, calling 213.237.2800 or by clicking here.

In What Language? is funded by The Herb Alpert Foundation and Robert B. Egelston, with additional support from The Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust. It was commissioned by the Asia Society in New York City, where it premiered in 2003, and is a sponsored project of Creative Capital Foundation. The album of In What Language? has been released on Pi Recordings, www.pirecordings.com.

California Institute of the Arts, CalArts, the first U.S. higher educational institution to integrate the visual and performing arts under one roof, is recognized as the nation's leading laboratory for the arts. Housing six schools -- Art, Critical Studies, Dance, Film/Video, Music and Theater -- CalArts embraces creative cross-pollination among diverse art forms and traditions, and strongly encourages each artist to pursue his or her vision within a broad context of social and cultural understanding.

Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater, REDCAT, an interdisciplinary arts center that allows Los Angeles audiences to follow the latest developments in the performing, visual and media arts from around the world, is a natural extension of CalArts' educational mission. Its programming features a wide-ranging array of interdisciplinary performances, music and dance concerts, multimedia performances, theater works, film and video screenings, readings and art exhibitions.

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