Fusebox Fest runs April 7-14, 2024
Fusebox Fest is back for its 20th year. Taking place April 7th-14th all over Austin, this year’s programming includes all of the mysteries, experiences, and singular performances festival goers have come to expect over the last two decades, including several in conjunction with their now year-long partnership with Texas Performing Arts.
There’s really something for everyone in this year’s programming, and even more to throw yourself into blind. And regardless of what you go to or how many events you attend, you’re guaranteed to leave impressed. Storytelling, as always, is at the core of this festival, but how the story is told is what makes Fusebox a unique outlier even among other visual and performance arts festivals around the world. This year, you can immerse yourself into Austin’s parklands and end with an aerial show in a wooded area. You can see visual poetry and storytelling from Indigenous Australian tribes in one of the largest-scale productions the festival has ever premiered. Hop on the Art Cruise and have curator Michael Anthony Garcia take you around to many of Austin’s galleries. Finally, to celebrate Fusebox Fest’s 20th year, there will be an exhibition at the Contemporary Austin commemorating many of the fest’s events over the two decades (on display several months following the festival).
But what are the festival creators most excited about this year? How is it not exciting to have your avant-garde festival coincide with the eclipse?! You can join Fusebox for three days of eclipse fun, culminating in the premiere of a new piece by Graham Reynolds written specifically for this once in a lifetime event at the Long Center on Monday, April 8th.
See the link for description of each of this year’s dozens of events and listen below to hear morning host Taylor Wallace talk to Fusebox Fest Co-Artistic Director Ron Berry (an extended version of the on-air interview). And to get the best taste of what you can expect, check out their YouTube channel.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
32 Sounds (Presented in Partnership with Texas Performing Arts)
An immersive documentary and profound sensory experience that explores the elemental phenomenon of sound. From filmmaker Sam Green and featuring original music by JD Samson, 32 specific audio recordings are woven into a cinematic meditation on the power of sound to bend time, cross borders, and profoundly shape our perception of the world around us.
Chris Grace: As Scarlett Johansson
Exploring both Chris and Scarlett’s biographies through stand-up comedy, stage combat and the songs of Tom Waits, this show reimagines what is and isn’t possible… or appropriate… in the life of an artist. Chris Grace: As Scarlett Johansson is a lovely, wry, empathetic comic tribute from one Asian actor… to another.
Anito
The world of ANITO is a meeting place, wherein a collaborative ecology of storytellers gather to tap deep into the grounds of their collective ancestral memory. In Philippine folk tales the Ficus Indica, or Balete tree is considered a portal that connects the three worlds: the Skyworld, Underworld, and the middle world of earth. They are the dwelling places for supernatural beings like the kapre (tree demon) or tikbalang (humanoid animal)….Crawling upon a refurbished planet a collaborative ecology of storytellers gather to tap deep into the grounds of their collective ancestral memory. In this space of latency miraculous forms emerge of intricate labour. Ancient babies dance megafauna in nonlinear evolutions. Seasons change in a world of sheer terror and tremendous beauty. The world of ANITO is a meeting place; a fertile petri dish incubating distinct and recombinant organisms.
Way of Water: Onion Creek
Audience members will begin with an immersive audio walk and then witness a performance on a restored urban floodplain. The dance will feature municipal workers and community members who steward the watershed. Directed by Allison Orr & Krissie Marty. Production Design by Stephen Pruitt. Music Direction by Graham Reynolds with commissioned composers Vanessa Burden, Orion Garcia and DJGL.
Art Cruise
As a means of showcasing Austin’s vibrant art scene and connecting it to the more performance-based core of the festival, guest curator Michael Anthony García presents this year’s visual arts programming. Ride along on the Art Bus Cruise and the Almost Real Things team will take you from gallery to gallery while you enjoy libations and groove to music. At each stop you’ll take in the art work and learn more about the galleries, exhibitions, and artists. (Full schedule for each day in link).
