An in-process presentation of “Lord Chamberlain’s Men,” a dance-theater work directed and choreographed by Robbie Fairchild, Guild Hall’s William P. Rayner artist in residence, will happen there on Saturday at 7 p.m. The program will offer a sneak peek before it premieres at New York City Center’s Fall for Dance Festival next Thursday.
Inspired by Shakespeare’s sonnets and the origin story of “Romeo and Juliet,” the performance explores themes of identity, forbidden love, and sexual longing that recur throughout the Bard’s writing, according to Guild Hall. With Christopher Wheeldon, an award-winning director and choreographer, as creative consultant, the work combines movement, text, and electro-acoustic music into a blend of narrative and choreography.
Fairchild is an actor and dancer whose career spans Broadway, the West End, film, and television. A former principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, he can be seen as a principal dancer in “Etoile,” the Amazon Prime Video ballet series, along with Luke Kirby and Charlotte Gainsbourg. For his 2015 Broadway debut in “An American in Paris,” he won a Drama Desk Award, an Outer Critics Circle Award, a Fred and Adele Astaire Award, and a Theatre World Award, and was nominated for a Tony as best leading actor in a musical.
The creative team also offers music by Sean Forte and Ben Waters, after Tchaikovsky, book by Rick Elice, costumes by Marion Talan de la Rosa, light design by Clifton Taylor, and assistant choreography by Lily Shepard. The other performers are Nico Greetham, Rachel Lockhart, and Vincenzo di Primo.
Tickets are $30.
Our Place in the Ocean
The Matthiessen Talks will feature “Hope Spots and Hidden Worlds — Humanity’s Place in the Ocean” on Sunday at 4 p.m. Sylvia Earle, a noted marine biologist, undersea explorer, and founder of Mission Blue, will be joined by Carl Safina, a marine ecologist, writer, and founder of the Safina Center. Together they will reflect on a pivotal moment for understanding our place in the ocean’s intricate web of life, according to Guild Hall.
The discussion will highlight collaborative restoration efforts with the Shinnecock Bay Hope Spot, involving Ellen Pikitch, executive director of the Institute for Ocean Conservation Science, and the Indigenous Advisory Council. Hope Spots recognize a water body’s cultural, recreational, and traditional importance. Integral to the Shinnecock community, the bay holds great cultural, ecological, and spiritual value. Mission Blue inspires global action by uniting a coalition to support marine protected areas.
Tickets are $35.
