Feel more in The Future!  Dream better in The Future!  Live forever in The Future! BRAT Productions pairs together physical theater, rock and roll cabaret and a new photo exhibition in Always Coming Soon: The Future, from Thursday, January 15 through Saturday, January 17, 2015 at The Painted Bride Art Center (230 Vine Street). Follow the journey of a troupe of misfit vagabonds who find a 'machine' in a trash heap. As they struggle to decide whether or not to step inside, they reveal more questions than answers: what happens when the time passing is the only thing that is happening? Is the moment to come greater than the moments before? Are all of our best moments already behind us? Tickets are available now for $20 at https://paintedbride.org/events/thefuture/

Brat Productions, Painted Bride, Theatre, Theater, Philadelphia, Painted Bride, Photo by Jauhien Sasnou

Always Coming Soon: The Future merges BRAT's signature rock cabaret performance style with devised physical theater techniques to create a performance that is highly visual and deeply satirical. Drawing from clown, absurdist theater and traditional cabaret, this show is true to BRAT's mission to produce work that hybridizes genres and performance styles. Using composer Peter Gaffney's satirical prog-rock music as a jumping off point, Always Coming Soon: The Future is inspired by vintage circus imagery a dark style of clown performance that connects with the audience in an immediate way while also revealing unbearable truths.   

BRAT's latest production of The Future will also feature a new gallery exhibition featuring the stunning photographic portraiture work of Jauhien Sasnou, who became interested in the production during its initial run. Sasnou shot a series of theatrical portraits that capture the players in character and shed a new light on the role of performer in front of a camera.

With the new retelling of The Future comes an interesting new venue and partner for BRAT. "The Bride’s commitment to local performances that embrace both risk and artistic excellence make them a perfect co producing partner for BRAT," said Conda. "The Painted Bride has long been a place where visual and performing arts exist side by side, creating the perfect atmosphere for a deeper exploration of Always Coming Soon: The Future."

The full original cast returns, including BRAT Artistic Director Jess Conda. Always Coming Soon: The Future features stage direction by Scott Sheppard, BRAT's 2013-2014 Resident Artist, and additional performances by Tabitha Allen, Rob Cutler, Justin Rose. Composer and Lead Artist Peter Gaffney leads a band of experimental musicians, including Philadelphia favorite Andrew Nelson.

Always Coming Soon: The Future runs Thursday, January 15 at 7:00pm, Friday, January 16 at 8:00pm, Saturday, January 17 at 2:00pm, and Saturday, January 17 at 8:00pm. Tickets are available now for $20 at https://paintedbride.org/events/thefuture/

For more information, visit www.Bratproductions.org, follow on twitter.com/Bratproductions, and like on www.facebook.com/Bratproductions.

PREVIEW THE FUTURE - BRAT BENEFIT

BRAT Productions announces a new Launchpad! happy hour series the second Monday of every month January through March 2015. This is a chance for an informal celebration of all things BRAT; to have conversations with BRAT artists about the work, and to get an intimate look into pieces that we are producing or flirting with producing.

The first of the series launches Monday, January 12, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Fergie's Pub with music from Always Coming Soon: The Future. Composer Peter Gaffney, Jess Conda and others will play tunes from the show. Get to know the music before you see the show, and hear the music in the super intimate setting of Fergie's Pub. Launchpad! happy hours are $5.00 suggested donation to support BRAT. All bar tips also are being donated to BRAT.

HISTORY OF THE MUSIC IN THE FUTURE

Between 2009-2010 Peter Gaffney wrote approximately 50 songs as an exploration of characters and themes surrounding time and control culture. The music was first performed in 2010 a monthly variety show series called The Experiment by Cabaret Red Light, of which Gaffney was co-founder. In 2013, BRAT Artistic Director Jess Conda approached Gaffney about re-staging a condensed version of the song catalogue and creating a new dramatic structure in which to present the music. The BRAT creative team chose 9 songs and is presenting them tonight under the title Always Coming Soon: The Future.