LaChanze & More to Join The Flea’s
2nd Annual House Party
On Thursday, Sept. 29, 7:30pm until Midnight, The Flea Theater (20 Thomas Street) is presenting its 2nd Annual House Party entitled Blooming: A Flea Shindiggity, a coming out celebration, presenting to the world a new found vision for the future of experimental art created by Black, Brown and queer artists. Flea Champion and Tony Award-winner LaChanze will be in attendance. Viewers will enjoy multidisciplinary art experiences from Jack Fuller, Mur, Paris L’Hommie, Chanon Judson, Artistic Director of Urban Bush Women, James Scruggs, Zora Howard, O’Neil Scott, Nickolas Vaughn, Yonatan Gebeyehu, Amara Granderson and renowned artist The Flea’s very own Board co-chair, Nona Hendryx. The party will feature the sounds curated by DJ Jon Ali, open bar and classic Jamaican cuisine from Miss Lily’s, silent and live bidding and dancing. Meet the artists here.
DJ Jon Ali
Founded in 1996, the Flea is known for its critically acclaimed productions (The Guys with Sigourney Weaver, She Kills Monsters, Syncing Ink) has produced more than 160 world premieres in its 25-year history, earning many awards including two Obies and a Special Drama Desk. Previous Flea productions that have become part of the theatrical canon include Kim Davies’ Smoke, Ellen McLaughlin’s The Trojan Women, Will Eno’s Oh, the Humanity, Thomas Bradshaw’s Fulfillment, Edward Iskandar’s The Mysteries and NSangou Njikam’s Syncing Ink.
“The Flea will be teeming with talent and expression at this year’s House Party,” says The Flea’s Artistic Director, Niegel Smith. “Guests will be greeted with immersive performances all over our three-story performing arts complex with deeply resonant dance, singing, drag performances, acting, painting and DJing from incredible Black and queer artists in The Flea community. This is a party like no other – a get down shindiggity true to the aesthetic highs of all Flea events. I can’t wait to turn a look and celebrate with everyone in attendance.”
Paris L’Hommie
Blooming anew is a transformative process that challenges, molds and eventually rebirths. The Flea is excited to present to the world a cohort of revolutionary artists that are creating works, which in many ways, respond to our society’s longing for an evolved human consciousness. As they navigate their fractured realities and bounce between worlds imagined, they will challenge audiences to sojourn to new realms where constructs of culture, race and gender become muted relics of a painful past.
“I am really excited to join a team that is intentionally working to create a space for Black, Brown and queer creatives to be safe, to create and to share with the world authentically and unfiltered,” says Interim Executive Director, Renee K. Smith. “This work allows for those who have been marginalized or othered to feel at home in a central space. The Flea is that space and a key resource for these artists. It is our goal to transform the theater into a multidisciplinary arts hub where the community can come and share, grow and be together.”
Chanon Judson
Blooming: A Flea Shindiggity
The Flea, 20 Thomas Street
Thursday, Sept. 29, 7:30pm until Midnight