Bodies of Work ZOE SARNAK
Bodies of Work is a theatrical series that employs The BringAbout’s method of development and signature intertwining of music, text, movement and sound design to immerse audiences into the powerful, complicated, and thrilling world of songwriters. Bodies refers to the songwriter’s body of work and to the bodies bringing the story to life.
SYNOPSIS
Introducing Bodies of Work ZOE SARNAK. For the first time, award-winning composer and lyricist Zoe Sarnak shares her own story from the stage, in a piece that leads the audience through the expansive and intimate life moments that influenced her songwriting process. From the piano, or with a guitar in hand, Zoe uncovers family cycles of immigration and assimilation, unpacks queerness and the expansive horizon of a different kind of family making, and teeters on the heartbreak and nerves of her risk-reward relationship with work, art, and the future.
Bodies of Work is purposefully a mid-career examination of Zoe’s body of work. Rather than a look back at the end of a life's work and story, the piece poignantly addresses the pressing decisions and challenges facing Zoe right now. Even with a significant “body of work” out in the world, so much of the future is still wide-open and ever-evolving. The audience is actively engaged in Zoe's present circumstances, as she seeks answers by delving into her past. They are folded into songs, led to dance, engaged with dialogue, and invited to join Zoe on this pursuit to rediscover what it feels like to do back flips off the diving board, even after you’ve had your first belly flop, to love unabashedly even after the painful end of a marriage, and to continue making art even when that means finding the reserves to start again at a new beginning. In a very exciting and real way, creating and sharing Bodies of Work will undoubtedly impact the future landscape and legacy of Zoe’s body of work.
MUSIC
The piece flows theatrically with live music, sound design, dance and dialogue connecting and interrupting 15 of Zoe’s songs written over the past decade. The songs that make up Bodies of Work have won awards and been performed in professional productions in New York, Los Angeles, and all across the country. That said, this show imagines them in an intimate setting, performed by Zoe herself, while still incorporating scope, scale and movement.
CAST
Zoe Sarnak, a band of 4 musicians, and 7 performing artists who sing and dance continuously throughout the piece.
Cast members are made up of a cohesive group of BringAbout artists and long-time collaborators of Zoe.
DESIGN
Time and place are established with sound design, theatrical lighting, and minimal props. Bodies of Work can be staged in a proscenium theater or unconventional setting with theatrical lighting for an immersive experience.
CREATIVE TEAM
Co-created by Jennifer Jancuska & Zoe Sarnak
Music, Lyrics and Text by: Zoe Sarnak
Conceived, Directed & Choreographed by: Jennifer Jancuska
DEVELOPMENT
Bodies of Work ZOE SARNAK started with a multi-day BringAbout Residency and interview process, capturing Zoe’s very personal experience of writing more than 20 songs over the past decade. We focused on the journey of each song since its inception, its history and rewrites. We then got on our feet, repeating snippets of memory, both in monologue form and dialogue as various cast members took on characters in real life and on the page. We began to sculpt “building blocks'' leading us into and through each song and towards our overall narrative. Once back in New York, we selected six of the building blocks to develop on our feet with BringAbout dancers, singers, and musicians over the span of three in-studio residencies. Video from day 1 in the studio is shared below. This development method was instantly informative. The story is vivid, authentic, relatable, spectacular, and inspiring. Music is led by composer and lyricist Zoe Sarnak alongside Luke Wygodny (cello, guitar), Christian McGhee (percussion), and Nick Connors (piano).
The second video here captures development of the Bodies of Work take on Open Water, performed by Zoe Sarnak, Veronica Otim and The BringAbout company. An audio recording of Open Water is also included in the MUSIC section below for further reference.
Upcoming development:
New York Stage and Film (summer 2024)
CUNY Initiative Residency at Baruch College, NY (2024 - 2025)
ABOUT THE MUSIC
Bodies of Work includes 17 songs written by Zoe over the past decade, plus a brand new song that has never been shared.
Here are samples of songs included in Bodies of Work.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Zoe Sarnak and Jennifer Jancuska are both named to the Broadway Women’s Fund “Women to Watch on Broadway” 2024 List!
ZOE SARNAK
Zoe is a New York City-based composer, lyricist, and writer. She is a Jonathan Larson Award winner; and a finalist for the Ebb, Kleban, and Billie Burke Ziegfeld Awards. Her work has been developed with and presented by Second Stage, New York Stage & Film, The Public, Roundabout Theatre Company, Williamstown Theatre Festival, New York Theatre Workshop, WP Theatre and many more. Works include: NY Times Critics Pick, THE LONELY FEW (with Rachel Bonds) at MCC and The Geffen; GALILEO (with Danny Strong and Michael Weiner) at Berkeley Rep; A CROSSING (with Josh Bergasse, Mark St. Germain, and Calpulli Mexican Dance Company) at Barrington Stage Company; the upcoming world premiere of EMPIRE RECORDS (with Carol Heikkinen) at McCarter Theatre; PARTICLE FEVER (with David Henry Hwang and Bear McCreary), SPLIT (with Michele Lowe) and others soon to be announced. Her music has been featured by the NY Times Live, The Guggenheim, the BBC, and in benefit concerts and albums for Everytown. www.zoesarnak.com @zoesarnak
JENNIFER JANCUSKA
Jennifer Jancuska (she/her) is the founding Artistic Director of The BringAbout, a 501(c)(3) organization that is transforming the way dance is integrated into the making of new musicals through residencies, fellowships, BC Beat, theatrical partnerships and the conceiving of new works. BringAbout programming connects more than 200 artists annually to collaborate, contribute and grow in ways that are only happening at BringAbout.
Jennifer has seven years of Broadway experience leading the Broadway company of HAMILTON as Resident Choreographer. Her work as a choreographer has been seen at The Old Globe, Berkeley Rep, The Public Theater, Ars Nova, Little Island, Dallas Theatre Center, Goodspeed, Madison Square Garden, New York Musical Festival, Osolo Rep, Little Field, The Drama League, The Skirball Center, Trinity Rep, The Royal George Theater, Flat Rock Playhouse and more. Especially impactful collaborators include Marc Bruni, Nevin Steinberg, Philip Rosenberg, Jason Sherwood, Anita Yavich, Trish Santini, Pig Pen Theatre Co, Scott Wasserman, Enrico de Trizio, Ben Holtzman, Sammy Lopez and Universal Theatrical Group’s Chris Herzberger and Lowe Cunningham.
Jennifer is known for producing the sold out bi-annual event BC BEAT, described by The New York Times as the place to “step into the spotlight and re-imagine the possibilities for dance in musical theater.”
As a teaching artist, Jennifer has brought The BringAbout’s method of development to dance, musical theatre and writing programs across the country and abroad including New York University, Syracuse University, Ithaca College, Pace University, University of the Arts, College of Charleston, and Shanghai Theatre Academy. Jennifer is a graduate of Cornell University and member of the Society of Directors and Choreographers. JenniferJancuska.com @jencuska
ABOUT THE BRINGABOUT RESIDENCY ARTISTS
Veronica Otim @veronicaotim
Ephie Aardema @ephieaardema
Luke Wygodny @lukewygodny
Jasmine Rafael @jasminejrafael
Mason Reeves @rasonmeeves
Denise Chan @_denise_chan
Devon McCleskey @devon.devoff
Veronica Fiaoni @verynverny
Maxwell Carmel @maxwellcarmel
Timmy Thompson @theperksofbeingtimmy
Nick Connors @nickconnors
Mason Frasher @frashmanjr
Christian McGhee @christianxmusic
James Jin Images @jamesjinimages