Presented by Boston Court Pasadena, “Blood/Sugar,” Diana Wyenn’s evening-length solo work exploring the theater artist’s own body and Type 1 diabetes, a chronic noncommunicable disease, will be going virtual from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25.
The highly theatrical solo show is a thrill-ride that takes the audience through the roller coaster of diabetes. Conceived originally as a live stage show, it is now a live virtual experience, complete with rich projections, movement, text, and innovative theatricality as historical perspectives and staggering statistics collide with personal narrative and deep humanity to give embodied expression to the complexities of illness.
Inspired by philosopher Jean-Luc Nancy’s “L’intrus” and actor Mark Rylance’s 2004 performance in William Shakespeare’s “Richard II,” Wyenn uses text, video, voiceover, and choreography to challenge the binary of health and illness, while searching for balance in the “bardo,” the liminal space between life and death in Buddhist belief.
Wyenn is a Los Angeles-based director, choreographer, dramaturg, and curator of contemporary performance, who consistently challenges and inspires audiences to see beyond the usual.
Diagnosed in London at the age of 20, Wyenn’s first response to diabetes was to resist immediate treatment in order to make it to the theater on time. Now, after more than 15 years of grappling with diabetes, her relationship with her illness has progressed from denial to a powerful authority over her own well-being.
As a director and choreographer, Wyenn has collaborated on projects with The Walt Disney Co., Lincoln Center, the LA Philharmonic, Center Theater Group, REDCAT, SummerStage, Grand Performances, CAP UCLA, Ford Theatres, Chalk Repertory Theatre, Moving Arts, and Ghost Road Ensemble, among others.
In addition to her freelance work, Wyenn is the co-founder of Plain Wood Productions with her husband Laban, a former pro-skateboarder turned music video director. Together, they direct and produce music videos, short films, and live performances.
She is also a member of Vice President Al Gore’s Climate Reality Leadership Corps and serves as artistic director of TIOH Arts and Culture at Temple Israel of Hollywood.
To learn more about her and her work, visit www.dianawyenn.com.
“Blood/Sugar” weaves the personal with the existential, and the historical with the expressive, to illuminate the day-to-day choices that shape the lives of more than 422 million people worldwide.
The performance is immediately followed by a conversation between Wyenn, the audience, and local diabetes educators and nutritionists.
“Blood Sugar” is live broadcast by PXT Studio, and produced by Plain Wood Productions.
To RSVP for the virtual experience, visit https://ci.ovationtix.com/112/production/1031328?performanceId=10566113.
