"TRUNK SHOW!" by PUSH Physical Theatre

Darren Stevenson and Heather Stevenson
Co-Artistic Directors

Internationally renowned for their superhuman acrobatics and boundary-pushing artistry, PUSH Physical Theatre transcends limits in their cutting-edge virtual “Trunk Show!” Travel with PUSH Physical Theatre on a journey of expression through movement, telling a story of hope and resilience. Hear first-hand from the performing artists and experience their evocative storytelling through spoken word and physical narrative. “Trunk Show” culminates in the critical and original work, “See Me,” that speaks to our time—a powerful call for racial justice performed by featured guest artist Hassiem Muhammad and PUSH Co-Artistic Director Darren Stevenson.

ABOUT PUSH PHYSICAL THEATRE

Intense athleticism, gravity-defying acrobatics, and soulful artistry are the trademarks of award-winning, genre-defining PUSH Physical Theatre. Founded in Rochester, NY in 2000 by husband-and-wife team, Darren and Heather Stevenson, out of a desire to “push” the boundaries of conventional theatre, PUSH has since earned an international reputation as one of the world’s leading physical theater companies.

Darren Stevenson - Co-Artistic Director
Heather Stevenson - Co-Artistic Director
Ashley Jones - Company Member
Sydney Burrows - Company Member
Hassiem Muhammad - Guest Artist
Darren "DJ" Stevenson Jr. - Videographer

Thank you to the following sponsors whose support made the DVD release available free of charge so that all of Rochester can enjoy the finest in art and performance: The Rubin Family Foundation, Justice Charitable Fund, Rochester Area Community Foundation, Drs. Dawn and Jaques Lipson Enhancing Life Fund, Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation.

COMPANY MEMBERS

Darren & Heather Stevenson (Founding Artistic Co-Directors, PUSHers), Born and raised in England, Darren met New Jersey native Heather during their mutual studies at The Center in St. Louis. Their shared love of theatre and performing planted the seeds for their relationship and eventual collaboration.

After completing their studies at The Goldston & Johnson School for Mimes and touring together, the couple founded the Studio School of the Arts in Atlanta, Georgia. They relocated to Rochester, NY with their two children in 2000 and created PUSH Physical Theatre, growing it over the next 18 years into the international touring company that it is today.  

Darren and Heather have created many new works for PUSH, including full-length adaptations of Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Robert Louis Stevenson’s Jekyll & Hyde. Shorter works include “Flight 1549,” set to the audiotape of the miraculous airplane landing in the Hudson River; and “-abled,” an exploration of addiction. Heather’s touching look at the elderly in “The Visit” is a thought-provoking counterpoint to Darren’s powerful take on war in “The Soldier.” A grant from the Farash Foundation enabled collaboration with RIT’s National Institute for the Deaf to create “Red Ball,” a study of the real and virtual worlds using iPad technology. They created Arc of Ages, a full-length exploration of Jewish history and culture, which featured an unprecedented 23 physical theatre performers trained by PUSH. 

The Stevensons received the 2009 Performing Artist of the Year Award from the Arts & Cultural Council for Greater Rochester, as well as the Community of Color/Anton Germano Dance Award. Darren was awarded the University of Rochester’s Lillian Fairchild Award in 2017 for PUSH’s collaborative work on a multi-media opera that brought together U.S. and Mexican artists for premieres in both countries for the second time. 

Cross-genre collaborations with other world-renowned artists are becoming more and more frequent for the genre-defining company, such as its recent partnerships with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and the Ying Quartet. 

The Stevensons have also created a children’s education division called PUSH Pins and are sought-after teaching artists, developing programs that help students connect with curriculum concepts, life skills, and social issues. They also run an annual summer intensive for adults that attracts students from all over the world.

Sydney Burrows (PUSHer), originally from Rochester, NY, earned her BA in Dance and English from Goucher College and studied dance and physical theater at Accademia Dell’Arte in Arezzo, Italy. In addition to working for the University of Rochester as a Digital Strategist, Sydney is a freelance dancer and Assistant Editor for DIYdancer, an international online and print dance magazine. She is thrilled to be performing with PUSH.

Alexis Gaetano (PUSHer) has studied performing arts for 25 years under the direction of many talented teachers.  She is the Artistic Director of Rochester based dance company, Mossa Dance. Her company has performed locally and throughout the United States and she has conceptualized and directed 15 original full length ballets as well as countless other standalone pieces. Her work has been featured in The Rochester Fringe Festival, The Susan B. Anthony Women’s Rights Bicentennial celebrations, The Mrs. New York Pageant, as well as numerous concert, community, and charitable events. She has been a guest performer with Genesee Dance Theatre and PUSH Physical Theatre. Prior to starting her company, Alexis was the Founding Owner and Artistic Director of Mossa School of Dance, which she opened at the age of 19. She has been a dance educator and choreographer for 14 years. Alexis strongly believes in the power of storytelling movement. She has made it her personal mission to revitalize the world of ballet by making it more accessible and relatable to audiences, and leading with a culture of kindness and collaboration amongst dancers. 

Ashley Jones (PUSHer) is a physical performer, actor, and deviser. After earning his BA European Theatre Arts from Rose Bruford College, London and training in Physical Theatre at Academia Teatro Dimitri in Switzerland, he went on to train with Phillipe Gaulier and Angela De Castro in theatrical clowning, which has formed a large part of his solo practice. As a physical performer, Ashley has worked and trained with UK-based theatre companies Gecko Physical Theatre, Nonsuch Theatre, and Frantic Assembly. His recent credits include: The Party’s Over (2017), Eclipse (2017), The Russian Play (2017) and Into the Clouds (2018). As Artistic Director of Theatre Kinaesthetic, Ashley continues to develop and produce his own work exploring physical modalities within ensemble and devised performance. His credits with Theatre KinAesthetic include Rite of Passage (2015, 2016).

Darren Stevenson, Jr. (Video Projectionist/Sound Engineer) has been working on theatrical productions ever since his first show with PUSH Physical Theatre in 2009 as a deckhand. With hands-on experience in the real world of theatre, he graduated to his present duties, and tours with the company all over the world.

James Cunningham (Lighting Designer/Technical Director) owns and operates Rockshow Lighting, a concert lighting design company providing design and staffing for music festivals, touring acts, and venues. Recent adventures include multiple national tours with folk-rock act Carbon Leaf, international runs with pop-reggae act SOJA, and festival stage designs and staffing for Floydfest and Red Wing Roots. James uses the grandMA2 console line for lighting control, and employs Resolume Arena for video playback and live effects.

Josefina Calzada-Garza (Costume Designer/Fabricator), a native of Mexico, has been a veterinary doctor, a ceramics artist, a jeweler, and now a costume designer. She met PUSH through their work on No Se Culpe, a multi-media opera that was co-composed by her husband, Carlos Sanchez-Gutierrez. “Life is very interesting and takes you on many paths if you let it!”