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An intergalactic dance party is landing in Tribeca this fall.
From September 10 through October 18, The Flea will transform its theater into the Stardust Club for Beyond the Stardust, a new immersive nightlife experience that blends live music, performance art, theater and a healthy dose of cosmic escapism.
Conceived by The Illustrious Blacks and Niegel Smith, the 60-minute production promises an "Afro-disco-space-punk spectacle" complete with original music, aerialists, dancers, go-go performers and a dance floor where audiences become part of the experience.
The premise is delightfully bonkers, according to a press release: "New York City. Tonight. The Stardust Club at The Flea is electric with the spirit of intergalactic royalty who've come here to...well...to put it simply, honey, shake off all that shit going down and stay in the groove."
The show features 12 original songs created by The Illustrious Blacks in collaboration with composer W. Andrew Raposo. The duo—partners Monstah and Black!—have spent years building a devoted following with performances that fuse DJ sets, live vocals, avant-garde fashion and choreography into something that feels equally at home at a nightclub, an art installation and a concert venue.
For Beyond the Stardust, that aesthetic expands into a fully immersive environment with multiple stages, a bar, a glam station and plenty of opportunities for audience interaction. Think less traditional theater and more futuristic nightclub fantasia. Niegel Smith, who co-created the show and wrote the book, directs and choreographs with sets by Oscar Escobedo, lighting design by Kate McGee, costumes by DeShon Elem and sound design by German Martinez (Sound Designer). The cast will be announced at a later date.
The production arrives as part of The Flea's season-long emphasis on joy, celebration and community. Smith, the theater's artistic director, describes the work as both a party and a response to the state of the world—a reminder that pleasure, liberation and collective gathering can be acts of resistance in their own right.
Tickets go on sale later this summer. Beyond the Stardust runs September 10 through October 18 at The Flea in Tribeca. For more information, click here.