OZ Arts Nashville presents the virtual premiere of ‘Fast/Forward: Nashville Artists Look To Our Future,’ a lively evening of performances featuring Nashville-based dancers, poets, musicians, theatre-makers and more, on November 19 at 7 pm through its website. Hosted by Ciona Rouse, a Nashville poet and writer, the evening will spotlight short-form works from eight different projects, many from OZ artists past and present that explore personal vulnerability, civic responsibility, and the sheer madness of the unexpected.
The performances will be prerecorded in the OZ Arts creative warehouse and reflect on the revelations, revolutions, and resiliency of today. The subtitle of the event, ‘Nashville Artists Look To Our Future,’ signifies the idea of moving forward and uniting as a country to ensure a bright future for all.
“At a time when emotions are running high, and more change is imminent, Fast/Forward is an opportunity for a range of artists to reflect on this historic moment, and to bring us together—even if we can’t all be in the same room for a live performance,” said Mark Murphy, OZ’s executive and artistic director. “I’ve always felt that artists can help us understand a rapidly changing world, and this is a particularly urgent moment.”
Performances and artists include:
- A moving performance of the title song from the upcoming Steal Away, conceived and composed by Dave Ragland with choreography from Shabaz Ujima
- A riveting, self-choreographed solo performance by dancer Becca Hoback
- Special excerpts of the This Holding performance film, introduced by visual artist Jana Harper and choreographer Rebecca Steinberg
- A powerful spoken word performance by local poets Cameron Mitchell and Jems Destine
- A stripped-down, acoustic selection from ghoulish rockers Fable Cry
- An emotionally stirring multimedia-music presentation by Gardening, Not Architecture
- An original solo dance piece created by dancer Joi Ware
Tickets for Fast/Forward start at $15 and are available now at <www.ozartsnashville.org/2020-21-season/>. Ticket holders will receive a watch link and password via email prior to the event and are able to watch the film through Sunday, November 22.
