2023-2024 SEASON
— SEEN TO BE HEARD
— SEEN TO BE HEARD
THE GLUE FACTORY PROJECTS
original evening length dance theater works created on internationally & nationally renowned performers over the age of 40.
MARCH 15 - 24, 2024 @City Theatre's, Lillie Theatre
tickets on sale January 2024
what did you think
you just heard me say?!
guest performers: Alberto del Saz, Evan Fisk, Claire Porter
created by Beth Corning with guest choreography: Victoria Marks
set design by Stephanie Mayer Staley
lighting design by Iain Court
“Wait, that’s not what I said!”
“Well, that’s what I heard!”
tickets on sale January 2024
what did you think
you just heard me say?!
guest performers: Alberto del Saz, Evan Fisk, Claire Porter
created by Beth Corning with guest choreography: Victoria Marks
set design by Stephanie Mayer Staley
lighting design by Iain Court
“Wait, that’s not what I said!”
“Well, that’s what I heard!”
This production will be CORNINGWORKS 26th in this award-winning series.
CORNINGWORKS returns to City Theatre’s LILLIE THEATRE with a multi-disciplinary dancetheater work strategically created for intimately-sized audiences of 50 — up close and very personal.
Sitting nearly on stage gives audiences the chance to feel part of the “conversation”
rather than just “witnessing” it.
what did you think you just heard me say?!,
addresses our ever-growing challenge of interpersonal (mis)communication.
Are the words we hear just interpretations sifted through our personal sieves of experience, culture, gender, language? And even when speaking the same language, are we only hearing what we want to hear?
Would they REALLY say something hurtful to you? Have they done so on purpose in the past?
Is it possible to get beyond our immediate knee-jerk reactions and REALLY listen to what is being said?
Or… is that just too much to ask?
In a world that is continually growing in ways to communicate – via texts and IMs, zooms and chats, Instagram and TikTok – we are literally saturated.
Yet in the meantime, have we stopped listening?
Known for her mature, nuanced, and socially aware approach to tackling provocative subject matter, Corning once again promises not to disappoint. Employing theatrical visuals (imagine 7’ rolling mirrors & airborne text), alongside visceral & poignant choreography,
A seasoned group of collaborators & performers cruise, crash, and glide through the psychological jungle, the physical body language, and all the emotional nooks & crannies of human (mis)communication…
what did you think you just heard me say?! is made possible in part with support from: CORNINGWORKS Board of Directors, The Heinz Endowments, Individual Donors, Opportunity Fund, PA Council on the Arts, The Pittsburgh Foundation, & Nancey Rosenswieg & Dan Arshack.
CORNINGWORKS returns to City Theatre’s LILLIE THEATRE with a multi-disciplinary dancetheater work strategically created for intimately-sized audiences of 50 — up close and very personal.
Sitting nearly on stage gives audiences the chance to feel part of the “conversation”
rather than just “witnessing” it.
what did you think you just heard me say?!,
addresses our ever-growing challenge of interpersonal (mis)communication.
Are the words we hear just interpretations sifted through our personal sieves of experience, culture, gender, language? And even when speaking the same language, are we only hearing what we want to hear?
Would they REALLY say something hurtful to you? Have they done so on purpose in the past?
Is it possible to get beyond our immediate knee-jerk reactions and REALLY listen to what is being said?
Or… is that just too much to ask?
In a world that is continually growing in ways to communicate – via texts and IMs, zooms and chats, Instagram and TikTok – we are literally saturated.
Yet in the meantime, have we stopped listening?
Known for her mature, nuanced, and socially aware approach to tackling provocative subject matter, Corning once again promises not to disappoint. Employing theatrical visuals (imagine 7’ rolling mirrors & airborne text), alongside visceral & poignant choreography,
A seasoned group of collaborators & performers cruise, crash, and glide through the psychological jungle, the physical body language, and all the emotional nooks & crannies of human (mis)communication…
what did you think you just heard me say?! is made possible in part with support from: CORNINGWORKS Board of Directors, The Heinz Endowments, Individual Donors, Opportunity Fund, PA Council on the Arts, The Pittsburgh Foundation, & Nancey Rosenswieg & Dan Arshack.
UNEXPECTED EXPOSURE
THE VIEWING
museumLab @ The Children's Museum
IN RESIDENCE : Sept 19 - Oct 12
PERFORMANCES: Oct 14 & 15, 2023
1:15pm & 2:15pm
performed by Theodore Bliss, Chezney Douglas, Libbie Louis, Mina Willis
museumLab @ The Children's Museum
IN RESIDENCE : Sept 19 - Oct 12
PERFORMANCES: Oct 14 & 15, 2023
1:15pm & 2:15pm
performed by Theodore Bliss, Chezney Douglas, Libbie Louis, Mina Willis
Performed free of charge for audiences this new series is comprised of short portable, dancetheater works, performed by a cast of "younger" professional performers (younger than the performers corningworks engages in THE GLUE FACTORY PROJECTS!)
Opening up the experience of CW's dancetheater works to those who would not ordinarily attend an “in-theater” production. Expanding the path to mutual accessibility, while actively countering these growing times of isolation and division.
Opening up the experience of CW's dancetheater works to those who would not ordinarily attend an “in-theater” production. Expanding the path to mutual accessibility, while actively countering these growing times of isolation and division.
THE PERFORMERS

THEO BLISS is a movement & improvisational artist. They are a resident artist at The Space Upstairs and a current company member of The Pillow Project where they have been featured in the full length-works (in person) and UNDERSTARS, as well as being a regular improvisationalist at Second Saturdays. Theo recently presented an original solo multimedia work "I, um, well..." at PearlArt's Charrette Series at The Kelly Strayhorn's Alloy Studios and is currently developing a feature-length work. Most recently, they studied at Springboard Dans Montréal, performing in a work by Juliano Nuñes. They also attended Point Park University's Conservatory of Performing Arts with a concentration in Modern Dance, performing in works by Jason McDole, Pearlann Porter, Penny Saunders, Jessica Lang, and Bob Fosse. This is their second season with UNEXPECTED EXPOSURE.

CHEZNEY DOUGLAS a queer dancer/ visual artist born & raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, began their formal dance training at the age of 5 at Bunker Dance Center. They continued their dance training there along with attending Las Vegas Academy of the Arts focusing on dance and 3D design until graduation. Chezney’s training includes that of tap, jazz, modern, contemporary, and multiple folkdance styles. Chezney has had worked with, and performed the works of Peter Chu, Stacey Tookie, Naomi Stikeman, Anthony Morigerato, Sonya Tayeh, Chloe and Maude Arnold and Roger Van der Poel. During their college career at Point Park University, Chezney worked with and performed the works of Tyce Diorio, Peter Chu, Adam Hougland, Pearlanne Porter, Robert Priore, Jason McDole, Colleen Hooper, and David Norsworthy. Currently Chezney is a teaching artist at Point Park University, and performing artist with The Pillow Project. This is their second season with UNEXPECTED EXPOSURE.

LIBBIE LOUIS is a professional freelance mover and creator. She recently completed her BFA degree with a major in dance at Point Park University, and is currently a company member of Pearlann Porter’s The Pillow Project. Libbie worked and performed with CORNINGWORKS production of THE TIPPING POINT in January 2022. This is their second season with UNEXPECTED EXPOSURE.

MINA WILLIS is a Pittsburgh-based choreographer and performer. She recently graduated Summa Cum Laude from Point Park University in the Fall of 2022 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Modern Dance and Minor in English. While attending PPU, she trained with faculty such as Garfield Lemonius, slowdanger, Jae Man Joo, Jason McDole, and Kiesha Lalama. She has performed in several Student and Faculty/Guest Showcases, working with choreographers such as Penny Saunders. Mina’s additional training includes Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Nova Linea Contemporary Dance, Whirlwind Dance, Broadway Dance Center, American Ballet Theatre, and Ballet Austin. She is a past member of Celebrity Dance Competition’s Junior and Senior Crew where she assisted the instructors, served as convention staff, and performed during the "Nationals at Sea" cruises. She has choreographed for San Antonio’s W-I-P Youth Project/W-I-P Creme, Insight Dance Ensemble, The Switch at the Space Upstairs, and PPU’s Student Choreography Project. She was recently awarded 1st place for her work "1/3" at SALT's SHAPE Choreography Festival in 2022, as well as showcased her piece "Tooth" at NACHMO Pittsburgh's January Choreographic Showcase in 2023. She just recently performed with The Pillow Project's new full length work "(in person)," directed by Pearlann Porter and John Lambert in 2023. Currently, Mina is Adjunct Faculty at Point Park University where she teaches Modern dance, and as a Flexologist at Stretchlab. This is her first season with UNEXPECTED EXPOSURE.