The Builders Association motiroti Alladeen

"Brilliant pop theater marriage of East and West."--The Guardian

The age-old tale of Aladdin is the point of departure for Alladeen, which transports its themes of desire and transformation from the days of the ancient Silk Road into the age of the Internet. Alladeen is a collaboration between The Builders Association, an ascendant New York City multimedia performance ensemble directed by Marianne Weems, and designers Keith Khan and Ali Zaidi of motiroti, an installation art/performance spectacle team from London noted for rich visuals and keen socio-political insights. Together they survey their culturally hybrid home cities (plus Bangalore, India, a center of international telemarketing and the East-to-West technology brain drain) while examining the ways identity shape-shifts when diverse Third World and First World cultures collide.

Co-commissioned by the Wexner Center, Alladeen employs a state-of-the-art web of technology and live performance. Flamboyant Bollywood-inspired sequences, striking video imagery and special effects, and an atmospheric electronic score summon again the sly genie who promises to make rags-to-riches dreams come true.

Sponsor, Fellow, and Donor Circles members are entitled to two free tickets to Alladeen as a benefit of their membership if they have not already received ticket to Ballet Preljocaj (subject to availability).