Object of her Affection, LAX Festival (Premiere)

September 27 – October 13, 2018, I premiered Object of Her Affection at Automata as part of LAX Festival.

Object of Her Affection 
Performance Times
+ Tickets + Info

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: George Lugg | 213-446-9556
george@performancepractice.org

“Object of her Affection”
at Los Angeles Exchange
[LAX] Festival, 6th Ed.
September 27—October 13, 2018

LOS ANGELES, CA (Sept 7, 2018) – Object of Her Affection is a solo object and puppet-based performance art piece centered on a woman, who in her search for true love develops intimate relationships with inanimate objects.

Created by Marsian De Lellis, and developed with director, Michele Spears, this unconventional love story explores the synesthetic relationship between objects and personalities, and ways that objects can occupy more than one meaning at any given time. There will be twelve performances over three weekends from September 27th to October 13th at Automata as part of Los Angeles Exchange [LAX] Festival, 6th Ed., produced by Los Angeles Performance Practice.

PERFORMANCE TIMES

LOCATION

TICKETS

Tickets are available through Los Angeles Exchange [LAX] Festival. There are also a limited number of tickets available through Object of Her Affection’s Kickstarter Campaign.

THE STORY

Object of Her Affection follows the emotional journey of protagonist, Andrea Lowe, after she has mysteriously fallen from a building. In her final moments, she reflects on her meaningful relationships starting with her first love, a baby’s blanket. As an adolescent, she loses her virginity to a bad-boy hunting rifle and subsequently becomes infatuated with a controversial wall. As Andrea evolves, so do her desires. In adulthood, she forms doomed relationships with monumental structures: a high-profile statue, tragic twin skyscrapers, and a bridge who cheats. Each of these relationships has a profound effect, shaping Andrea’s views on life and love. Finally, she finds solace in Roy, a crumbling tenement who ultimately fails her. (More)

CREATIVE TEAM

Marsian De Lellis (writer, performer, creator) is an interdisciplinary artist who combines sculpture, objects, installation, performance and handmade spectacles to memorialize obsessional lives. Their work celebrates stories of unconventional people whose private manias become public fodder for tabloids and reality television. (more)

Michele Spears (director) is a director/choreographer, performer, theatre producer, and arts educator. Her work has been recognized with New York Nightlife, L.A. Weekly, Saturn, UNIMA, Stagescene L.A., Dramalogue, and Santa Barbara Independent Awards, as well as American Choreographers Award and Ovation Award nominations. (more)

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SUPPORT

Key Collaborators

Direction: Michele Spears
Lighting Design: Andrew Schmedake
Sound Design: Rebecca Kessin
Stage Manager: Kajal Ardestani
Production Assistant: Lupe Lucero
Sound Effects: Grant Baciocco
Lead Soft Fabricator: Christine Papalexis
Lead Hard Fabricator: Chris Sheets
Lead Doll Fabricator: Liz Watson + Peter Ceili
Cantonese Language Coach: Felix Kamchung
Practical Table Lights: Moira Lael MacDonald
Music: Kevin MacLeod incompetech.com

Documentation

2018 Photography: Kelly Stuart, Alex Griffin, Broderick Fox
2018 Video: Justin Streichman, Katherine Sweetman, Alex Griffin
2014 Photography: Rafael Hernandez, Steve Gunther,
2014 Video: Wallace Molina, REDCAT

Fabricators

Pat Brymer, Kristin Charney, Clarissa Estrada, Felicia Funderbunk, Liz Hara, Milena Hunter, Kate Katz, Tim Lagase, Yomy Lopez, Lupe Lucero, Alison Mork, Erika Montenegro, Sarah Oh, Leah Olbrich, Marissa Parr, Nate Pontius, Jessica Scott, Nick Shoob, Kat Vinegrad, Hunter Wells

Special Thanks

Janie Geiser, Susan Simpson, Miranda Wright, George Lugg, Ronnie Burkett, Jean Marie Keevins, Pam Arciero, Cheryl Henson, Lynn Jeffries, Jane Pickett, Allison de Fren, Aaron Martin of Harvard Westlake School, Matt Richter of the LA LGBT Center

Support

Object of Her Affection was made possible through generous funding from The Jim Henson Foundation, The Center for Cultural Innovation, a Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant, The Anna Sosenko Assist Trust, Hatchfund, and Kickstarter with additional support from The Automata Residency Program, The National Puppetry Conference at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, REDCAT, Impro Theatre, Harvard Westlake School, and Los Angeles Performance Practice.

Kickstarter Backers

Adrian Rose Leonard, Alissa Hunnicutt,  Allison de Fren, Amanda Hamm, Amber West, Anita Maloney, Anna Slotky, Barbara Carrellas, Baxley Andresen, Bernie Beauchamp, Betsy Zajko, Bruce Lanoil, Carol Bixler,  Ceili Clemens, Cheri Gaulke, The Creative Fund, Christine Papalexis, Colette Searls, Cynthia Freeman, Dan Evans, Debra Broz, Deborah Hunt, Deborah Oliver, Dolores De Lellis, Elena Dorfman, Felicia Funderburk, Fred Thompson, Glass Half Full Theatre, Grant Baciocco, Greg Pritchard, Holly Laws, Jade Finlinson,  Janie Geiser, Jayne Entwistle, Jennifer Cole, Jess Imme, Jessica Massart, Jim Fouratt, Julie Brown, Julie Phillips, Kate Bornstein, Kate Katz, Katie Shook, Katherine Sweetman, Kelvin Kao, Kristin Charney, Kristina Wong, Kulov, Kyle Loven, Lalouise, Leonora Anzaldua Burke, Lesley Smith, Leslie Tamaribuchi, Lindsey Z. Briggs, Libby Bideau, Linda Hoag, Mark Erdmann, Marlene Kasahara, Matthew Wagner, Max Daily, Melissa Dunphy, Moira MacDonald, Molly Allis, Monica Muniz, Nadia Scheherazade,  Pam Severns, Paul Manchester, Peggy Etra, Paul McGinnis, Paul Zaloom, Peter Ceili, Playlab NYC, Rachel Gibas, Ray Busmann, Rob Hamilton, Ronald De Lellis, Ryan Dillon, Sam Brelsfoard, Sharon Challenger, Sir Ladybug Beetle, Steffany Vance, Stina Hanson, Susan Silton, Suzanne Szucs, Sylvia Ann Soares, Vanessa Gilbert, Valeska Populoh, Zeb L. West

Hatchfund Supporters

Alan Calpe, Alexandra Andresen, Alissa Hunnicutt, Allison Linamen, Amber West, Anna Huff, Anonymous (4), Ariel Rodriguez, Arthur Poore, Barbara Carrellas, Basil Twist, Ben Durocher, Bernie Beauchamp, Caitlin Correll, Camelia Naguib, Carol Bixler, Catherine May, Chad Latham, Cheryl Revkin, Chi-wang Yang, Christine Papalexis, Christopher Sheets, Clarissa Estrada, Cloud Eye Control, Coleman Hough, Dan Evans, David Mack, Deborah Hunt, Deborah Sale-Butler, Debra Eckloff, Eleftheria Lialios, Elizabeth Hara, Eric Kurland, Erica Frank, Erika Montenegro, Estee Taylor, Fariba Ghaffari, Felicia Funderburk, Felix Kam Chung, Frank Santos, Gina Lovoi, Grant Baciocco, Hopper Stone, James Godwin, Janie Geiser, Jennifer Reeder, Kat Vinegrad, Kaylynn Raschke, Kelly Hargraves, Kelvin Kao, Kurt Hunter, Lawrence Siegel, Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, Leslie Tamaribuchi, Lindsay Buchman, Lorena Manriquez, Marissa Chibas Preston, Mark Erdmann, Mark Ruffin, Maya Ahuja, Melissa Dunphy, Mindy Donner, Michael Oleon, Moira MacDonald, Monica Muniz, Nancy Smith, Nguyen Nguyen, Pam Arciero, Paul McGinnis, Paul Spirito, Paul Zaloom, Rachel Rosenthal Company, Ray Busmann, Reed Garber-Pearson, Richard Schwass, Ronni Kappos, Ryan Dillon, Sam Brelsfoard, Sam Wayman, Sarah Frechette, Sarah Peterson, Shannon Dedman, Shari Goodhartz, Sharon Challenger, Steffany Vance, Sylvia Ann Soares, Teresa Flores, Thessaly Lerner, Val Sivilli, Valeska Populoh, Vanessa Gilbert, Wendy Morton, William Funderburk, Zachary Dorn

“(In)/Animate Objects”  

Currently on display in the front window is a version of (In)/Animate Objects”, an installation created by Marsian De Lellis, which originally included over 1,200 handmade dolls. In “(In)/Animate Objects”, a mountain of decaying rag dolls towers to the ceiling upon which their maker, the grandmother, presides from the throne of her wingback chair. The dolls testify to the insatiable need for love at the heart of the obsessional life. Funding for (In)/Animate Objects was provided by the  Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

“(In)/Animate Objects”  
Fabrication Assistance

Adrian Rose Leonard, Aimee Rousey, Ajax Stevens Hulce, Alicia Louise Wells, Alissa Hunnicutt, Allison de Fren, Amanda Faith Maddock, Amy Rush, Anne Clendening, Ariel Brickman, Automata, Ben Durocher, Broome Street General Store, Charles Herman-Wurmfeld, Cheryl Revkin, Chris Sheets, Christine Papalexis, Dayna Mondello, Debra Broz, Devra Golden, Dolores De Lellis, Donna De Lellis, Eric Brightwell, Georgette Perantoni, Henry Watkins, Janie Geiser, Jenny Brown, Jean Marie Keevins, Jen Dohn Watkins, Jessie Anna Martinez-Wilton, Kate Katz, Kelly Hargraves, Kristin Charney, Lisa G. French, Liz Hara, Liz Brown, Liz Watson, Leah Olbrich, The Los Angeles High School of the Arts, Luca Dalzell, Matilda Dohn Watkins, Martin Nepton, Mia Dalzell, Morgan Rebane, Maria Cristina Jimenez, Michele Dunn, O-Lan Jones, Pam Arciero, Peggy Maltby Etra, Peter Ceili, PJ McWhiskers, Renata De Lellis, Ronald De Lellis, Sarah Oh, Sharon Challenger, Simone C. Williams, Spencer Lott, Stephan Counts, Taylor Bibat, Tiffany Hope, Tina Koneazny, Tim Lagasse, Tony Agostinelli, Una Zipagan, velvet leigh, Wyatt Gray, Yoko Kanayama

Collaborator Bios

Marsian De Lellis (Writer, Performer, Creator) is an interdisciplinary artist who combines sculpture, objects, installation, performance and handmade spectacles to memorialize obsessional lives. Their work celebrates stories of unconventional people whose private manias become public fodder for tabloids and reality television. MarsianDeLellis.com

Michele Spears (Director) is a director/choreographer, performer, theatre producer, and arts educator. She has worked in traditional theatre genres, dance, cabaret, opera, puppetry arts, film, television, and new media – but is most attracted to projects that can’t be easily categorized.  She is a founding member of Impro Theatre where she performs, directs, and teaches, as well as an associate artist with the LA Gay Men’s Chorus where she choreographs. Originally from Kentucky, she is an alum of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and the Directors Lab West, and now lives in Los Angeles with her pack.
michelespears.com

Andrew Schmedake (Lighting designer) is a lighting designer for theater, dance and live events. His career has ranged from opera and ballet to cruise ships, haunted houses and immersive theater. Presently, Andrew lives in Los Angeles and lectures at UC Santa Barbara. He earned his MFA in Lighting Design from Carnegie Mellon University. schmedakelightingdesign.com

Becca Kessin (Sound Designer) is a sound designer working in Los Angeles and regionally since 2006. Theatre is her life’s great passion, particularly new play development.  She teaches Sound Design at California State University, Fullerton. Seeing her students flourish in their chosen field brings her great joy.. rebeccakessin.com

Kajal Ardestani (Stage Manager) – is a Los Angeles based Stage Manager that studied stage management at California Institute of the Arts. Her professional career spans over 10 years, including Resident Stage Manager for children’s theater company Magic Mirror Theater as well as The Los Angeles Guild of Puppetry. She is overwhelmed with excitement and joy to be working with such a talented cast and crew!

Lupe Lucero (Production Assistant) was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Her professional theatre work involves Teatro Jornalero, Independent Shakespeare Co., Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles, Company of Angels, La Colectiva Chorizo y Maguey, The Latino Theatre Company, Las Ramonas, The Getty Villa – Theatre Lab, and The Antaeus Company.

Christine Papalexis (Lead Soft Fabricator) has been performing and making puppets and costumes since discovering her love of puppetry at Bob Baker Marionette Theater in Los Angeles. Hand puppets were next, followed by cable, animatronic and hydraulic puppets for movies, television, videos and commercials. She recently completed her directorial debut with a short marionette film, “Amaterasu”, based on a Japanese folk tale. Christinepapalexis.com

Grant Baciocco (Sound Effects) is a creator and puppeteer who works regularly with The Jim Henson Company.  His puppetry credits include work on The Muppets, Wet Hot American Summer, Last Week Tonight and the current incarnation of Mystery Science Theatre 3000 on Netflix where he plays M. Waverly and is the lead puppeteer on Crow.  Grant was inducted into the Podcasting Hall of Fame in 2018. MrGrant.com

Kelly Stuart (photo documentation) is a photographer working in L.A. and NYC, whose work has been seen in the New York Times, and other publications. She specializes in theatre and dance photography. She is currently working on a book of street dance juxtaposed with police and surveillance culture in New York City.

Alex U. Griffin (video documentation) is a cinematographer and photographer based in the Los Angeles area, with services worldwide. Alex is also a puppeteer active in the puppet community; a film coordinator for Handmade Puppet Dreams, Vice President of the Los Angeles Guild of Puppetry and President of the Puppeteers of America.

Automata is a Los Angeles nonprofit organization dedicated to the creation, incubation, and presentation of experimental puppet theater, experimental film, and other contemporary art practices centered on ideas of artifice and performing objects. Automata is dedicated to creating and nurturing work that is engaged in cutting edge performance, media/art practices, and in deep conversation with our contemporary culture of simulation and mimicry (digital, robotic and otherwise), while still embracing the aura of the handmade and hand-operated.