So I Married Abraham Lincoln…
Choreography: Randee Paufve
Dancers: Valerie Gutwirth, Rebecca Johnson, Katie Kruger, Mo Miner, Nadia Oka, Jill Randall, Christy L. Thomas
Chorus: Chris Evans, Maya Woodson Turman, Ruth E. Paik, Mira Katz, Elizabeth Coleman Yount, Rebecca Abdenour, Tanya Celeste Chianese, Erin Dare, Nitipat Ong Pholchai
Lighting Design: Gabe Maxson
Set Design: Jack Carpenter
Costume Design and Construction: Keriann Egeland
Sound Composition: Heather Heise
So I Married Abraham Lincoln… is based on ideas about Mary Todd Lincoln as the original First Lady body, a prism-like surface upon which the American public projects adulation, fear and judgment, setting the stage for the love and mistrust of American first ladies through history.
Aided by a chorus of ten additional performers, the piece includes other characters: former First Ladies, the Lincoln’s children, and a cadre of soldiers.
Premiere: January 2012, Dance Mission Theater, San Francisco
June 2012, Conduit Dance Inc., Portland, OR
VIDEO > Highlight reel. Shot and edited by Loren Robertson Productions. 2012.
Three dancers sit in a line of chairs and look back at three dancers crouching on the floor, looking forward. A black dress hangs in the air over the dancers. Dancers: Katie Kruger, Christy Thomas, Jill Randall, Nadia Oka, Valerie Gurwirth, Rebecca Johnson. Photo: Gabe Maxson
Nadia Oka sits on the floor in a dark room, a ring of lights on the floor illuminates her, her arms and legs reach toward the sky. Dancer: Nadia Oka. Photo: Gabe Maxson
Rehearsal for “So I Married Abraham Lincoln.” The dancers are mid-jump in the same straight shape with their legs stretching long and their arms hugging their body. Dancers: Katie Kruger, Christy Thomas, Jill Randall, Nadia Oka, Valerie Gurwirth, Rebecca Johnson, Mo Miner. Photo: Pak Han
Dancer Mo Miner, mid-jump during a rehearsal of “So I Married Abraham Lincoln.” Her body makes an arc shape with eyes looking up, legs outstretched behind her. Dancer: Mo Miner. Photo: Pak Han
Dancers Jill Randall, Christy Thomas and Katie Kruger wrap their arms around one another. Dancers: Jill Randall, Christy Thomas, Katie Kruger. Photo: Pak Han
Dancers sit in fancy dress, leaning against each other with tired, defeated expressions on their faces. Dancers: Mo Miner, Jill Randall, Katie Kruger, Nadia Oka. Photo: Pak Han
Nitipat Ong Pholchai kneels in the middle of a room, touching his throat and looking up at the ceiling. Dancers sit in a circle around Ong, watching him. Dancers: Chris Evans, Maya Woodson Turman, Ruth E. Paik, Mira Katz, Elizabeth Coleman Yount, Rebecca Abdenour, Tanya Celeste Chianese, Erin Dare, Nitipat Ong Pholchai. Photo: Gabe Maxson