The Neo-Futurists, the venerable ensemble that's performed the late-night staple Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind since 1988, has announced an upcoming slate of prime-time programming and new supplemental artistic initiatives.
The two full runs in prime time will both be staged in 2016. Malic White and Molly Brennan are the co-creators of POP WAITS (February 4–March 12), described as "an athletic, participatory, clown rock opera" about songwriting, inspired in part by Iggy Pop and Tom Waits.
Mike Mother (April 28–June 4), created by Jessica Anne, features Anne and her "friend of a friend" Mike Hamilton in a two-person and multiple-guinea-pigs show partially inspired by Marsha Norman's play ’night, Mother.
Additionally, co-artistic directors Bilal Dardai and Kurt Chiang announce Neo-Lab, a new play development program that will present one work annually for development throughout the season, beginning with ensemble member Tif Harrison's Saturn Returns. The play will have public workshop readings on October 15 and February 29. The Arrow, created by Chiang and Lily Mooney, is another new workshop initiative, with four groups of writer-performers collaborating on experimental writing and culminating in quarterly performances beginning this fall. Finally, the Neo-Futurists will launch GO! A Podcast About Creativity, exploring the group's processes in crafting new two-minute plays for Too Much Light each week as well as its full-length works.