This semester, we have the honor of profiling some of the incredible professional artists involved in the TDM fall production. Our next artist spotlight shines on interdisciplinary artist Andy Russ, who is working as the Sound Designer on the production. Check out more of Andy’s work at passiveaggressivenoveltycompany.com.
What do you do as an artist? What’s an upcoming project you have that you’re excited about?
I am an interdisciplinary artist, with an interest in fictional temporal structures. This most often manifests as live multimedia performances, stealing ingredients from dance, theatre, film, and music, with an occasional sprinkle of poetry and animation. I have a number of upcoming projects that I am very excited about: creating an experimental Victorian toy theatre opera, built around imagined Jules Verne stories; designing an audio drama series with writer/director Don Mays, exploring spirituality and the meaning of life; and producing a drive-in theatre event, interweaving live dance performances with dance films called “Small Moves; Big Picture.”
What excites you about the TDM production this fall?
Having worked on past TDM projects, I am very eager to engage again in the creative “A Game” energy that the students always bring. As a designer, I am also excited by the challenge of creating a collaborative work of performance, whose process and product live entirely within the boundaries of virtual space.
What has it been like so far to work on a project with students in virtual space?
Unfortunately, at the time of this interview, I have not yet had a lot of time interacting with students, as most of my involvement will be activated during the last 2 weeks of production. That being said, when I have jumped into the zoom-space, it has been very interesting to see how the virtual environment supports the project’s goal of “horizontal theatre making.” Traditional hierarchies of “who gets to say what when” are eliminated, as everyone exists in their own equal square of zoom real estate. This makes for a very unique conversation and collaboration structure, that seems very appropriate to the subject matter that the students are exploring
Photo Credit: Nikki Carrara