College Students Create Unique Theatrical Experience Inspired by The Tempest

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Massachusetts native Samantha Shay and California native Chelsea Didier, seniors at California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), have created an original dance theatre piece called Dancing Behind My Eyelids, which will have its East Coast premier at Oberon in Cambridge in January. Inspired by Shakespeare's "The Tempest" the unique performance contains influences from Icelandic electronica, acid rock, re-imagined Latin choral chants as well as recording artists Múm, Radiohead, Rufus Wainwright, Alexander Balanescu and Kárin Tatoyan.

“Dancing Behind My Eyelids was developed largely because of Chelsea's and my exposure to a wide variety of artists through the CalArts Theatre School that we wouldn't have had the opportunity to be exposed to in a more traditional acting program”

Dancing Behind My Eyelids tells the story of Prospero’s island re-imagined, turned on its head and driven forward directed by Shay and choreographed by Chelsea Didier. Incorporating ballet, modern dance, monkey Kung Fu, Capoeira, acrobatics, French mime and contact improv, Dancing Behind My Eyelids is a piece that brings a fantastical imagining of one man’s mystical power, a daughter’s love and a stranger’s fascination and curiosity.

Dates: January 4^th, 5^th, 11^th and 12^th

Time: All performances 8PM

Tickets: On sale December 9^th

Location: Oberon, Arrow Street, Cambridge

(http://www.cluboberon.com/)

The piece debuted at CalArts in May 2010 and is performed by the Hopelandic Theatre Company. Dancing Behind My Eyelids will be at the Center Stage Theater in Santa Barbara, May 27^th -29^th and is scheduled for the Edinburgh, Scotland Fringe Festival this summer.

Shay, 21, of Southborough, studied at Walnut Hill, a performing arts school in Natick. She attended the Moscow Art Theatre School USA at the American Repertory Theatre in 2006. Shay is also an aerialist and has studied commedia dell'arte, a form of physical theater and characterization.

Didier, 21, of Santa Barbara, graduated from San Marcos High School. She began ballet and modern dance at age 5 and was in a pre-professional dance company from age 8 through high school. She also studied theatre at the BU Summer Program.

"Dancing Behind My Eyelids was developed largely because of Chelsea's and my exposure to a wide variety of artists through the CalArts Theatre School that we wouldn't have had the opportunity to be exposed to in a more traditional acting program," said Shay.

Hopelandic's next piece, Angel Fragments, will premiere in California in May of 2011.