Lovers of dance, music and theater rejoice: the FRESH MEAT FESTIVAL is baaaaack! Not that it ever went away, but COVID sent the festival into cyberspace for three long years. This June 14–18, the festival will return to Z Space Theater in San Francisco’s Mission district.
For 2013, the beloved festival will expand to six performances featuring 3 different programs—and the festival itself will take advantage of Z Space’s 13,000 square feet, with artists performing all around the building. This “site-specific” format means that tickets will be limited, to allow for smaller audiences to enjoy this up-close and personal, intimate site-specific format.
In other words: buy those tickets now, because these shows will sell out quickly. And don’t forget to come early to enjoy the popular FRESH MEAT FESTIVAL photo booth!
Founded in 2002, the annual festival is a raucous, joyful celebration of trans and queer performance—featuring innovative, edgy, exquisite, and moving performances. Festival audiences come from across the bay, across the country, and around the world to attend this cherished event.
Fresh Meat’s Director of Operations Shawna Virago says, “Despite the almost 500 anti-trans bills introduced in legislatures across the country, the artistry at the FRESH MEAT FESTIVAL is at least 500 times stronger in impact and power; what the haters don’t understand, and what this festival proves, is that Queers are the future!”
The 2023 FRESH MEAT FESTIVAL features 18 artists and ensembles, most performing world premieres.
Artists from the Bay Area, Seattle, Austin, New York, Portland, and more will perform everything from bomba dance and music, to vogue performance, hip-hop, Afro-Latin dance, aerial dance, stand-up comedy, live music, and much more.
Artistic Director Sean Dorsey enthuses, “We’re especially excited about the world premieres we commissioned especially for the festival, by our 6 FRESH WORKS! commissioned artists: Andrea Horne, Charles Peoples III, Elena Rose, KING LOTUS BOY, NEVE, and transcriptions01 (aka Peekaboo).”
Communications Director Sarah Taborga adds that this year’s new format will have artists performing in unexpected locations throughout the theater: “I’m looking forward to this incredible lineup of trans and queer artists performing on balconies, in the lobby, in quirky nooks and crannies, and on the main stage at this iconic festival!”
FRESH MEAT FESTIVAL artists are truly at the leading edge of performance, with exquisite craft; these artists and this festival are not just creating but transforming culture.
Note: To protect the health of each other and performers, KN95 masks will be provided and required for audiences. Z Space is wheelchair accessible and has all-gender bathrooms. ASL interpretation will be provided at three performances.
For more information, see the following program details or visit:
https://tinyurl.com/yc6s5xjn
Program A
(7:30 pm Wednesday–Thursday, June 14–15; ASL June 15)
The festival’s grand Opening Program will be hosted by local drag superstar Churro Nomi, and will feature several world premieres, including new works commissioned especially for the festival by longtime community activist/elder Andrea Horne and pioneeringperformance artist KING LOTUS BOY. The program will also include contemporary dance by JanpiStar, aerial dance by Myles Hochman, music by hip-hop artist LBXX, and Afro-Latin dance by Angie & Audrey (Austin).
Program B
(7:30 pm Friday–Saturday, June 16–17; ASL June 16)
This weekend program will also brim with world premieres, including the debut of new pieces commissioned for the festival by leading vogue innovator Sir JoQ, sound healer/musician Charles Peoples III (New York), and poet/wordsmith Elena Rose (Portland). The lineup will continue with Bay Area favorite Sean Dorsey Dance, bomba music and dance ensemble Batey Tambó, and a breathtaking aerial dance by BANDALOOP/Becca Dean. These shows will be hosted by the delightful Churro Nomi.
Program C
(2 pm Saturday–Sunday, June 17–18; ASL June 17)
The festival’s Closing Program will close the festival out with a bang! Gracing the stages of Z Space will be world premieres commissioned for the festival by groundbreaking movement/performance artist NEVE (Seattle), acclaimed poet/wordsmith Elena Rose (Portland), experimental cellist/composer/multi-instrumentalist transcriptions01 (aka Peekboo), the First Lady of folk-punk Shawna Virago, queen of comedy Natasha Muse, and gravity-defying aerial dance by BANDALOOP/Becca Dean. The brilliant KING LOTUS BOY will host.
2023 FRESH MEAT FESTIVAL of Trans and Queer PerformanceJune 14–18 (various times) Z Space (450 Florida Street @ 17th Street, San Francisco) For artist lineup, access info, and tickets: https://tinyurl.com/58sb3dcd
Arts & Entertainment
Published on June 8, 2023
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