Springing into action
A busy season for Jon
Electric Company has an unusual structure, for a theatre company. Our production calendar rotates through the Core Artists as lead creators on a timeline of years. One reason for this is because all three of them have huge, varied practices—as artists and educators and activists, so they can’t be centrally involved in ECT’s main production all the time. They’re like planets orbiting a sun—sometimes further out, sometimes closer, but also still connected by their shared gravity.
All that is to say, Jon is currently at about the furthest point of his orbit, and is doing all sorts of cool and exciting things way across the other side of the solar system. So we wanted to tell you about them!
First, after the annual Core Artist retreat earlier this month, he jumped into rehearsals with Crystal Pite of Kidd Pivot working on Assembly Hall. They were integrating a new cast member and getting the show ready for an upcoming European tour.
Next, Jon and Crystal were once again nominated for an Olivier Award. Assembly Hall is up for Best New Dance Production. In fact, two of this year’s four nominees are Canadian—Assembly Hall and the National Ballet of Canada’s triple bill Frontiers.
Finally, he’s headed to New York as part of a collaboration he started last year with NYC Ballet star Sara Mearns and acclaimed choreographer Guillaume Côté. Half of a double bill curated by Mearns, Don’t Go Home is a new dance-theatre piece for two performers. It will play April 3-5 as part of New York City Centre’s Artists at the Centre Series.
Their creation process was also partially filmed as part of a 25-minute documentary about Mearns—Stage Animal , available to stream for free on ALL ARTS as of March 18. (Fellow Canadians: just close the box asking for your Zip Code)
Can’t wait to find out what Jon’s going to bring back from his journey to the far reaches. Before we know it, his orbit will come back around and he’ll be making something new with us again . Stay Electric âš¡
