At the end of March, DiverseWorks presents the world premiere of Houston musician, writer, and theater artist Anthony Barilla's Apocalypse Town.
Apocalypse Town is a musicological memoir of a town in north Kosovo, its music and Barilla's experiences living there. The work is part monologue, part travelogue, and part concert: an interdisciplinary work of performance art combining film, text, rock music performances, foreign songs and Houston musicians. Apocalypse Town runs for only five performances, March 21 - 25.
Barilla moved to Mitrovica, Kosovo five years ago, and Apocalypse Town features adaptations of Kosovo songs ranging in style from epic folk to hip hop to punk. The diverse selection includes the epic folk songs of Augustina Ukaj, the hip hop of DJ Blunt, popular songs of the 60's and 70's by artists like Nexhmije Pagarusha and Muharrem Qena, the 80's rock of Viktorija and the modern punk of Hosenfefer. Most of the songs were adapted from translations by Abdullah Ferizi and, when possible, used by permission of the original authors, many of which remain largely unknown outside of Kosovo.
At the same time, is also an examination of collective memory: the collective memories of that town, and our American collective memory—specifically our memories of a war and a place that most Americans have forgotten, a war that America fought only 13 years ago.
About Anthony Barilla
Anthony Barilla is a composer, musician and theater artist best known for his work with Infernal Bridegroom Productions, a Houston-based theater company widely respected for their challenging ensemble work. Between 1998 and 2007 he worked on 35 IBP productions, including the world premieres of works by Tamarie Cooper, Lisa D’Amour, Brian Jucha, Suzan-Lori Parks and Jason Nodler. In 2003 he was named IBP’s artistic director. During his tenure, Barilla was responsible for, among many other things, the development and musical direction of Speeding Motorcycle, a rock opera based on the songs of Daniel Johnston that went on to receive national attention and critical acclaim. He has composed scores for theater companies in Houston, Atlanta, Austin and Pittsburgh as well as for Public Radio International's This American Life, and he writes and records his own songs under the name “The Truth and Reconciliation Commission.”
In Kosovo he founded Blackbird Books, a non-profit library, bookstore and cafe. He has directed two theater projects in Kosovo with the support of the Swiss Cultural Programme in the Western Balkans. He regularly works with some of the region's best young musicians at the Mitrovica Rock School, an inter-ethnic initiative of Musicians Without Borders aimed at restoring the city's proud rock music culture. He's also been lucky enough to work with some of the regions best older musicians, many of whom he wrote about in Apocalypse Town, and he regularly tours and performs with a Serb/Bosnian/Dutch/Texan rock outfit called R.O.T.S.
About The Support
Much of Apocalypse Town was conceived during two residencies. The first took place in 2009 at the MacDowell Colony and the latter in 2010 as part of the Brown Foundation Fellows Program at the Dora Maar House in Ménerbes, France.
Much of Apocalypse Town was conceived during two residencies. The first took place in 2009 at the MacDowell Colony and the latter in 2010 as part of the Brown Foundation Fellows Program at the Dora Maar House in Ménerbes, France.
About The Cast And Crew
Apocalypse Town is performed by Anthony Barilla and his band, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, who are Chris Bakos, Wayne Barnhill, Kevin Blessington, Jeffrey Miller, Cathy Power and Kirk Suddreath, with a special guest appearance by John Duboise. The performance's assistant directors are Christa Forster, Lindsay Kayser, Charlie Scott and Tek Wilson.
Tim Thomson created the video for Apocalypse Townfrom source material shot by himself and Barilla, both in Texas and in Kosovo, as well as from found material.
The companion book to Apocalypse Town contains extensive background information on the performance's songs, as well as additional writing, photography, maps, secrets, lyrics, extra songs and other helpful and confounding materials related to the show. The book is edited and designed by Lindsay Kayser. Some illustrations were provided by Cathie Kayser and Tim Thomson. The companion albums were recorded by Anthony Barilla and Chris Bakos, with performances by Barilla, Bakos, Power, Forster and Ruud Borgers.
The lights for Apocalypse Town were designed by Aaron Asher. The sound design was developed by Barilla from a concept by Charlie Scott. The live performance sound was designed by Chris Bakos, who also provided choral arrangements.
