American Realness

Michelle Ellsworth

Preparation for the Obsolescence of the Y Chromosome

Friday, June 8, 8:00pm 
Saturday, June 9, 8:00pm 

Run time: 50 minutes

Hollins University, Studio Theater
Roanoke, Virginia
FREE

Preparation for the Obsolescence of the Y Chromosome attempts to prepare (both on a micro and macro level) for the end of men. Simultaneously committed to conservation and archival efforts, Ellsworth works in the tradition of folklorist Alan Lomax. Using web technology, replacement apparatus (including a male gaze simulator), choreography (including gratitude-inspired token gestures), and the latest data from the Whitehead Institute at MIT, this work both combats and fuels rumors about the implications of the Y Chromosome’s reputed shrinkage.

Preparation for the Obsolescence of the Y Chromosome was commissioned by MCA Denver’s Feminism + Co and EcoArts Connections.

photo by Ian Douglas


Conceived, Created, and Performed: Michelle Ellsworth
Web Designer and Programmer: Satchel Spencer
Lighting designer: Ryan Seelig
Set and Props: Priscilla Cohan
Preparation for the Obsolescence of the Y Chromosome was commissioned by MCA Denver’s Feminism + Co.


Priscilla Cohan received her Bachelor of Fine Art from University of Colorado in Studio Ceramics. Her work in the theater includes performances in Richard Goulis’ Block, and as a puppet in Jainie Geisers’ Evidence of Floods, House of Birds by George Peters and Melanie Walker, and in The Adventures of Zimmo!, a 5 DVD for children. Her contributions to stage sets include, Hey, Stop That! written and directed by Thalia Field, The Rise and Fall of Pirate Jenny by Ethelyn Friend and Gifts from Unknown Islands by Mark McCoin.

Michelle Ellsworth makes solo performance/video work, websites, and drawings. She is a 2013 Creative Capital and New England Foundation for the Arts’ NDP Grantee and a 2011 United States Artists Knight Fellow. Ellsworth’s work has been commissioned by: On The Boards, Danspace Project, the National Performance Network, Diverseworks, and Dance Theater Workshop. She has performed and taught at Brown University, Columbia College, Naropa University, The University of Costa Rica, and in Ireland. Her drawings and spreadsheets have been published in CHAIN and her screen dances have been seen around Europe and throughout the U.S. michelleellsworth.com

Ryan Seelig’s Lighting Design credits include: Clytigation dir. Michelle Ellsworth(On The Boards), Early Shaker Spirituals(The Wooster Group), You For Me For You(Ma-Yi Theater Company), MTV’s The Music Experiment: Of Monsters and Men(Angel Orensanz Center). Losing Tom Pecinka (Morgan Gould and Friends), and Dog Eat Dog (Morgan Gould and Friends).
Other: Lighting Supervisor for The Wooster Group and the International tour of Young Jean Lee’s Untitled Feminist Show.
Education: BA from Fordham University at Lincoln Center

Satchel Spencer is video maker, web programmer, photographer, and traceur. His work has been performed at On The Boards, Brown University, Juilliard, the New School, Denver Museum of Contemporary Art, and Dance Theatre Workshop.


“Andrew Dinwiddie and Michelle Ellsworth have scrutinized the act of transformation in two virtuosic solos.”
By Gia Kourlas, The New York Times, Published May 26, 2012

“Tifprabap.org exists online and not just as the title of Michelle Ellsworth’s completely, winningly ridiculous new solo.”
By Claudia La Rocco, The New York Times, Published April 19, 2008

“[A] lark that’s half science and half pure hilarity.”
By Susan Froyd, Westword, Published March 9, 2011