Aspen Show Tix

Aspen Film Presents: Shortsfest 2026 PROGRAM 10
2026-04-11 17:00 (America/Denver) | Wheeler Opera House, 320 E Hyman Ave, Aspen, CO 81611, 81611
Celebrating its 35th year, Aspen Shortsfest is one of only five Oscar®- qualifying festivals in the US strictly dedicated to short films. This year’s festival features new works from 25 countries, encompassing ten programs and 61 short films, of which there are 8 World, 1 International, 5 North American, 6 US and 37 Colorado Premieres. Each program contains a variety of comedic, dramatic, documentary and animated short films.

Wheeler Presents Mountainfilm on Tour: Big Green World
2026-04-16 18:30
Mountainfilm on Tour is coming to Aspen bringing a selection of culturally rich, adventure-packed and inspiring documentary films curated from the Mountainfilm festival held every Memorial Day weekend in Telluride, Colorado.The Big Green World program features a vibrant collection of short documentaries that celebrate resilience, connection to nature, and the transformative power of adventure.• Personal Growth & Overcoming Fear: Films like Beyond Beliefs and One Inch from Flying follow individuals as they confront personal challenges—whether it’s learning to swim on a wild river trip or finding balance on a highline—showing how stepping outside comfort zones leads to growth and new perspectives.• Nature, Craft & Ancestral Wisdom: Earthworks draws parallels between the art of ceramics and the precision of rock climbing, while Let My People Go Skiing weaves together Indigenous knowledge, science, and snowsports to empower Alaska Native youth and reclaim cultural narratives.• Resilience & Redefining Success: Brothers of the Sea and Momo share stories of overcoming adversity—from orphaned surfers who become loving fathers to a performer who rises from a small African village to the heights of Cirque du Soleil.• Adventure & Environmental Stewardship: Arctic Alchemy and Adaptive Avalanche highlight the importance of exploration and inclusivity in the outdoors, featuring climate scientists, adaptive athletes, and the quest to make wild spaces safer and more welcoming for all.• Joy & Mastery in the Outdoors: Jackson Goldstone – Solo celebrates the pure joy and skill of mountain biking, as trails become playgrounds for creativity and athleticism.

Wheeler Presents: Los Lonely Boys
2026-04-17 19:30
For Los Lonely Boys—brothers Henry, Jojo, and Ringo Garza—family has always been at the heart of their music. After years of touring, the trio took a break in 2019 to focus on their families, returning to the road in 2022 reinvigorated and even opening for The Who. Hailing from San Angelo, Texas, the Garzas created their own bluesy “Texican rock & roll” sound and turned it into a global sensation. Their breakthrough came when Willie Nelson’s nephew discovered their demo; Willie soon booked them for Farm Aid and recorded with them at his studio. Their 2003 debut album, Los Lonely Boys, re-released by Epic, featured the No. 1 hit “Heaven,” which earned them a Grammy and spent 76 weeks on the Billboard Top 200, selling over two million copies. They’ve collaborated with legends like Carlos Santana and Willie Nelson, played iconic venues, and supported global causes. Their journey, chronicled in the documentary Cottonfields and Crossroads, has seen both triumph and hardship—most notably Henry’s serious stage accident in 2013, which led the band to refocus on what matters most: family and music. Now back in stride, Los Lonely Boys continue to write, record, and tour with renewed passion. Their 2024 release, Resurrection (BMG), blends their signature Texican rock & roll with elements of soul and roots music, earning critical acclaim and energizing live audiences. More than two decades after their debut, they remain a vital force in music, proving their story is still unfolding.

Celebrate with us: What I Did for Love - The Life of Mead Metcalf
2026-04-18 15:00
A celebration of the life of the legendary Mead Metcalf, founder and owner of the Crystal Palace Theatre Restaurant.

Wheeler Presents: "Infinitely Yours" and other works by Miwa Matreyek
2026-04-21 18:30
Step into a world where animation, performance, and environmental storytelling converge in a singular, dreamlike experience. Internationally acclaimed artist Miwa Matreyek brings her spellbinding shadow performances to the Wheeler Opera House for one night only. Blending cinematic animation with live performance, Matreyek’s silhouette becomes part of the projected world—moving through oceanscapes, cityscapes, and surreal dream sequences that explore the relationship between humanity and the natural world. Her work has captivated audiences at TED, MoMA, Sundance, and beyond, and now comes to Aspen for an unforgettable evening of visual poetry and performance. The evening features three of Matreyek’s most celebrated works:

Myth & Infrastructure: A fantastical journey through shifting landscapes, where the artist’s shadow becomes an integral part of the animated world, conjuring scenes of wonder and transformation.
This World Made Itself: A visually rich, semi-scientific, and emotionally resonant journey through the history of the Earth—from the birth of the universe to the rise of human civilization.
Infinitely Yours: A kaleidoscopic and urgent meditation on the climate crisis, this piece physicalizes the overwhelming stream of environmental news through haunting, surreal imagery.

Matreyek’s work invites us to see the invisible, feel the intangible, and reflect on our place in a rapidly changing world.

ACES, Aspen One, City of Aspen, CORE, POW Presents: The Future is Local
2026-04-22 18:00
Community Action Fair | 3-5pmLecture | 6-7:30pmCelebrate Earth Day in Aspen with a community-wide gathering focused on environmental stewardship, climate action, and civic engagement.Join us for an afternoon Community Action Fair featuring local environmental organizations and local farms, followed by a free evening lecture at the Wheeler Opera House exploring the intersection of environment, politics, and community resilience.The lecture will include storytelling, data-driven insights, and comedic relief as we explore the vital link between political decision-making and environmental survival. From the state and national level to the Roaring Fork Valley, we are diving deep into how policy shapes our climate, our land-use, and the very resilience of mountain communities like Aspen. An inspiring, hopeful look at how local voices and decisions shape the future of the places we love.The evening will feature: Rollie Williams (Climate Town) You might know him from his hit YouTube series Climate Town, where he breaks down the most frustrating aspects of the climate crisis with a mix of investigative rigor and “laugh-so-you-don’t-cry” humor. Rollie will take the stage to demystify complex policy issues, showing us why politics is the most powerful tool we have in the fight for a livable planet.Drew Petersen (POW Athlete & Podcaster) Professional skier and advocate Drew Petersen joins us to discuss the mental health side of the movement. Through the lens of his work with Protect Our Winters (POW), Drew will share insights on navigating climate anxiety.Julie McCluskie (Speaker of the Colorado House) In an exclusive pre-recorded “State of the State” environmental address, Speaker Julie McCluskie (D-Dillon) will provide a briefing on recent and upcoming environmental successes and challenges in our state.Hannah Berman, Sustainability & Philanthropy Director at Aspen One, will bring the conversation home with a first look at the 2026 Colorado Climate Damages and Adaptations Costs Report as well as what that means for meaningful climate action.And Tara Stitzlein is the Chief Executive Officer of the Community Office for Resource Efficiency (CORE) and Chris Lane, ACES CEO, will wrap up the evening by sharing community actions and goals.This event is made possible through our generous partner organizations:

Wheeler Presents: Flying Karamazov Brothers
2026-04-23 18:00
The Flying Karamazov Brothers have been defying gravity and expectations for over fifty years with their signature blend of juggling, theater, and irreverent humor. Founded in 1973 by Howard Patterson and Paul Magid—college roommates at UC Santa Cruz—the troupe quickly grew to include Randy Nelson, Timothy Furst, and a rotating cast of wildly talented performers.Named after Dostoyevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov, the group adopted stage personas from the novel and launched a legacy that spans Broadway, television, and international acclaim. Their groundbreaking production of The Comedy of Errors and the Obie-winning Juggling and Cheap Theatrics helped cement their reputation as masters of physical comedy and theatrical innovation.Today, the Karamazovs continue to evolve, with current members including Mark Ettinger, Rod Kimball, Stephen Bent, and Nick Flint. Their performances are a joyful collision of skill, wit, and absurdity—where objects fly, jokes land, and audiences leave grinning.

The Art of Fingerstyle with Luca Stricagnoli: Pushing the Boundaries of Acoustic Guitar
2026-04-24 17:00
Join internationally acclaimed guitarist Luca Stricagnoli for an engaging, hands-on workshop exploring innovative approaches to acoustic guitar. Blending performance, technique, and creative exploration, Luca will guide participants through key elements of his signature style—from open tunings and percussive fingerstyle techniques to inventive arrangements and custom instrument concepts that have captivated millions worldwide.Designed for intermediate to advanced players, this interactive session is both inspiring and accessible, encouraging creativity, inventiveness, and a deeper connection to your instrument. Participants will gain practical tools to apply to their own playing, while exploring new techniques, approaches, and ways to develop a personal musical voice.With music videos surpassing 100 million views and performances across more than 20 countries, Luca is widely recognized as one of the most innovative acoustic guitarists performing today. Known for his use of multiple guitars, modified capos, and his custom-built triple neck guitar, his work continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible on the instrument. Intermediate to Advanced PlayersParticipants are encouraged to bring a guitar to fully participate, but it is not required.

Wheeler Presents: Luca Stricagnoli with special guest Meg Pfeiffer
2026-04-24 19:00
With his music videos exceeding 100 million and bookings in every corner of the globe, Luca Stricagnoli is considered one of the most interesting acoustic guitarists in the world.Using up to five guitars in the same piece, modified capos, and self-conceived stratagems, Luca leaves audiences in awe. His latest invention, a custom Triple Neck Guitar, obtained once again viral success with over 40 million views online. His performances with this instrument have been featured in magazines everywhere and even grabbed the attention of famous bands such as “Red Hot Chili Peppers”. Luca has played in more than 20 countries around the world in front of audiences up to 12,000 people.In this show, Luca brings a succession of incredible guitar performances, each different than the others. One guitar, two guitars at the same time, a guitar with three necks, guitars played with feet, with a kitchen knife or laying horizontally: people won’t believe their eyes and ears and will instinctively want to start filming with their cellphones. From rock to pop, from soundtracks to hip hop, from arrangements to originals. Surprising and full of twists, never repetitive or boring, the show will surely impress and be remembered. Besides from the astonishing guitar playing, Luca shares jokes and stories that explain what’s happening on stage. Expect to see and hear crazy things, and learn the reason behind every gimmick.

Cultural Vibrancy Fellowship Celebration
2026-05-14 18:00

Wheeler Presents: Roaring Fork Rising - Aggie Flores & The Wildflowers
2026-05-15 19:00
Singer‑songwriter Aggie Flores headlines an evening featuring original work rooted in her background across Buenos Aires, Aspen, and Charleston. Her music blends South American rhythm with indie and folk elements, shaped by her experience as both a vocalist and interdisciplinary artist. Her performances draw on themes of belonging, transformation, and personal narrative.

Wheeler Presents: Roaring Fork Rising - Rai Omri with Abigail Benning
2026-05-16 19:00
Western Colorado songwriter Rai Omri leads an evening of folk storytelling and subtle, layered soundscapes, joined by special guest Abigail Benning. A finalist in Kerrville Folk Festival’s Grassy Hill New Folk Competition and the NewSong Music Songwriting Competition, Omri shapes songs with field recordings, open tunings, and lyrics that animate the natural and spiritual worlds. Benning, a third-generation Roaring Fork Valley singer-songwriter, brings intimate folk and Americana with a modern indie edge, drawing on river seasons, small-town memory, and the quiet work of becoming yourself for a night of reflective, place-rooted original music, shared in the Wheeler’s historic acoustic warmth.

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet School Recital 2026
2026-05-21 18:30
Aspen Santa Fe Ballet School students are looking forward to returning to the stage for the 2026 Spring Recital. For more than three decades, the ASFB School has nurtured young dancers across Colorado and Northern New Mexico, fostering both technical excellence and a lifelong love of dance. This annual performance highlights the progress and dedication of rising artists of all ages as they share their talents in a vibrant 90-minute program.

Wheeler Presents: Roaring Fork Rising - Emery Major with Hannah Koivu
2026-05-22 19:00
Emery Major is a Colorado‑born singer‑songwriter whose work blends 1970s folk influences with modern pop elements. His sound reflects his background between the Colorado Rockies, Brooklyn, and Nashville, shaped by performances at venues including Carnegie Hall, The Bluebird Café, Mercury Lounge, Birdland Jazz Club, and The Wheeler Opera House. Opening the evening is Hannah Koivu, an independent pop and indie‑pop artist known for emotionally direct songwriting and a blend of pop, R&B, and rap elements. Her work centers on personal narrative, self‑reflection, and modern pop structure.

Wheeler Presents: Roaring Fork Rising - Alya Howe, WRIT LARGE presents Women's Voices
2026-05-23 19:00
Alya Howe is a movement‑based and storytelling‑focused artist whose work examines personal histories, interior landscapes, and the social and environmental pressures shaping individuals and communities. Her background includes work with the José Limón Dance Company, Kei Takei, Danceteller, Zakir Hussain, and teaching roles at the State Ballet School in Athens, the Laban Institute, and the Lincoln Center Institute. In the Roaring Fork Valley, she founded Under Alya’s Umbrella, creating platforms centered on performance and community narrative. Writ Large extends this practice, presenting stories that highlight lived experience, community memory, and the role of narrative in cohesion and resilience.

Wheeler Presents: Roaring Fork Rising - Local Comedy Showcase
2026-05-28 19:00
The Local Comedy Showcase features five comics from the Roaring Fork Valley and beyond. David Uhlfelder, raised in Aspen, has performed at major clubs including The Comedy Store, The Laugh Factory, and The Improv, and has opened for Taylor Tomlinson and Trevor Wallace. Julie Gillespie brings big‑personality, story‑driven comedy shaped by her southern roots. Brian Tauber rounds out the lineup with material influenced by his life in Detroit, San Diego, and Aspen. Additional performers include Beth Brandon, a Second City–educated comic and Aspen Daily News columnist, and Miller Ford, founder of Consensual Improv and Patio Night Live and recent Cultural Vibrancy Grant recipient supporting local comedy growth.

Wheeler Presents: Roaring Fork Rising - The Sopris Sisters with Mark Nussmeier
2026-05-29 19:00
The Sopris Sisters—singer‑songwriters Harper Powell and Emma Kieran—bring a contemporary folk sound shaped by the music they grew up on, including Nanci Griffith, Shawn Colvin, Aoife O’Donovan, and Sarah Jarosz. Their harmony‑focused duo debuted in 2025 and has since performed at Steve’s Guitars, on KDNK, in the in The Vault at the Wheeler through the Roaring Fork Rising Series and opened for Big Richard at the Basalt Summer Concert Series. Harper and Emma first met a decade ago through Etown’s Handmade Songs competition and later co‑founded the virtual Tabletop Concerts series. The evening also features Aspen‑based multi‑instrumentalist Mark Nussmeier.

Wheeler Presents: Roaring Fork Rising - Wild Flight with Hugh Phillips
2026-05-30 19:00
Wild Flight is a Colorado‑based trio featuring singer Emily Jurick, keyboardist and vocalist Eric Gross, and bassist Bill Ritchen. Formed in the Colorado mountains, the group has released multiple albums and singles and performs original, genre‑blending music described as roots‑rock with jazz and folk elements. Their live sound reflects years of collaboration and a growing audience across streaming platforms. They are joined by Colorado country songwriter Hugh Phillips, whose music blends Americana, traditional country, and Rocky Mountain influences. Known for vivid storytelling and an expanding Mountain West following, Phillips brings an acoustic, narrative‑driven approach to the evening.

Wheeler Presents: Big Head Todd and The Monsters
2026-06-03 19:30
Big Head Todd and The Monsters—Todd Park Mohr, Brian Nevin, Rob Squires, and Jeremy Lawton—have sustained a nearly four‑decade career defined by musical integrity and longevity. The platinum‑selling Colorado band first broke nationally with Sister Sweetly (1993) and has continued to earn critical acclaim while touring worldwide. Their achievements include performing “Blue Sky” live for astronauts aboard the International Space Station and headlining Red Rocks Amphitheatre 35 times. In 2023, they were inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame. Their latest album, Her Way Out, showcases the band’s signature blues‑driven rock and commitment to thoughtful, well‑crafted songwriting.

Proactive & Prepared: Wildfire in the Roaring Fork Valley
2026-06-04 18:00
Wheeler Opera House is pleased to partner with the Wildfire Collaborative Roaring Fork Valley, Aspen Public Radio and ACES on an event designed to increase awareness and preparedness as wildfire season approaches. Colorado is experiencing its warmest year in 131 years of record, and one of its driest. The Roaring Fork Valley sits at the epicenter, among the hardest-hit areas in the state for severe drought. With snowpack now peaked at historic lows, climate scientists are drawing comparisons to years that defined what catastrophic wildfire looks like in Colorado. This spring, wildfire risk across our valley is as serious as it has ever been.On Thursday, June 4, the Wheeler is partnering with the Wildfire Collaborative Roaring Fork Valley, Aspen Public Radio, and ACES to bring our community together for a direct conversation about what these conditions mean for our valley, what local fire departments and researchers are doing about it, and what each of us can do to protect our homes and our neighbors. We’ll start the presentation at 6pm sharp, with opportunities for attendees to connect to presenters and panelists in the lobby both before and after the event.If you’ve been wondering where things actually stand, this is the event to attend.Utilizing Wildfire Collaborative Roaring Fork Valley’s boots-on-the-ground expertise, Aspen Public Radio’s journalistic prowess, and ACES’ decades of environmental experience, an informative evening will review this season’s wildfire outlook, new predictive technologies and resilience increasing efforts in our region.The evening is organized around three questions: What are we facing this season? What is being done about it? What happens when fire comes? Drawing on the Wildfire Collaborative Roaring Fork Valley’s work in fire behavior modeling and fuels mitigation, Aspen Public Radio’s deep ties to this community, and ACES knowledge of historic environmental science, the program brings together the people best positioned to answer those questions — climate scientists, local fire chiefs, researchers, and emergency response leaders — in one room, for one conversation.This event is generously underwritten by FireFocus, providing expert residential mitigation services designed to keep homes and families safe in the Roaring Fork Valley.The staged event will start promptly at 6:00pm.

APRC Presents: 2026 Psychedelic Symposium Day 1
2026-06-06 10:00
Aspen Psychedelic Symposium
On Saturday, June 6 and Sunday June 7, join Aspen Psychedelic Resource Center, Healing Advocacy Fund, and Aspen Public Radio, for the 2026 Aspen Psychedelic Symposium at the historic Wheeler Opera House in the heart of Aspen, Colorado. This two-day gathering will showcase expert panels, groundbreaking research, and firsthand insights into the transformative world of psychedelic medicines. Explore tradition, science, and advocacy; connect with scientists, doctors, spiritual leaders, and luminaries; and delve into the future of psychedelics.

APRC Presents: 2026 Psychedelic Symposium Day 2
2026-06-07 10:00

Wheeler Presents: Pete Holmes
2026-06-10 19:30
Kicking off the summer season, comedian and writer Pete Holmes returns to the Wheeler with a stand‑up career defined by years of touring, major stage appearances, and a signature blend of thoughtful humor and playful self‑awareness. Holmes has built a devoted following through live performance, balancing big ideas with the immediacy and intimacy that have made him a familiar presence on stages and screens alike.Beyond the stage, Holmes is the creator and star of HBO’s Crashing, produced by Judd Apatow, and the host of The Pete Holmes Show on TBS, executive produced by Conan O’Brien. His work spans television, podcasting, and animation, including CBS’ How We Roll, voicing the e*trade baby, and appearances as a writer and guest performer on The Simpsons. He also hosts the long‑running You Made It Weird podcast and is the author of Comedy Sex God. Holmes has released multiple stand‑up comedy specials across HBO, Netflix, and YouTube, most recently in 2024.

Aspen Fringe Festival Day 1
2026-06-12 19:30
Aspen Fringe Festival presents the 18th annual JuneFestFeaturing Award winning Theatre, Dance, and FilmJune 12 – 13, 2026, at 7:30 pm at the Wheeler Opera House JUNE 12 — DANCE & FILM: SILVER LININGS: Only in Darkness can you see the StarsA celebration of the human spirit through live dance and film.UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTERS — SOULSKIN Dance. Following its NYC Premiere at Alvin Ailey Dance Center. A transformative ballet about how we collide, diverge, and reconnect.“A Ravishing Lust for Life…” – Dance EnthusiastDISAPPEARED — Alya Howe. Balancing disappearing values with hope’s renewal.GAS LIGHTENING — Lilly Bright. Freedom is not for the Faint of Heart. — AFF FilmFest Award filmsDREAMADRE — Film by Elisabetta Carnevale. Inspired by Terpsichore, the muse of Dance — for Mothers & Mother Earth.THE KEY — Film by Jaco Strydom. Past & future blur in a desert landscape on a memory trail of loss & desire.

Aspen Fringe Festival Day 2
2026-06-13 19:30
ASPEN FRINGE FESTIVAL presents the 18th annual JuneFest. Featuring award-winning Theatre, Dance, and Film June 12–13, 2026 at 7:30 pm, Wheeler Opera HouseJUNE 13 — THEATRE: STILL, by Lia Romero A funny, thought-provoking play about lost love & second chances. “Best New American Play” — NY Outer Critics Circle Nominee. Nearly 30 years after their relationship ended, Helen and Mark meet over drinks… and find themselves charmed and attracted all over again. When past choices and new secrets surface, everything they believe about the future is called into question. Humorous and revealing, Still explores the delicate dance between what connects us and what divides us. Starring David Ledingham and Libby Rife, directed by Maurice Lamee.“Juicy. Smart” — NY Times “Romantic and timely” — TheaterMania

Wheeler Presents: An Evening with Tommy Emmanuel, CGP
2026-06-20 20:00
Australian guitar virtuoso Tommy Emmanuel, CGP brings his singular artistry to the Wheeler stage, celebrated worldwide for a style that fuses pop, jazz, classical, and roots influences into a sound entirely his own. His latest album, Living in the Light, reflects that expansive musicianship, recorded in just four days and shaped by the warmth and precision that have defined his remarkable career.Emmanuel has performed everywhere from the Sydney Opera House to Carnegie Hall and has collaborated with icons including Chet Atkins, Les Paul, and Eric Clapton. As Atkins once said, “He’s one of the best guitar players I’ve ever seen.” Barry Gibb echoed the sentiment: “There’s the top guitarists in the world, and then there’s Tommy.”Tommy Emmanuel: Presented in association with Jazz Aspen Snowmasshttps://please.coproductstommy-emmanuel-aspen-co-upgradehgtfbjbpt-yTommy Emmanuel CGP Meet & Greet Upgrade – Pre-show Meet & Greet with Tommy Emmanuel CGP– Autographed 8×10 photo– Early venue entry– Early access to merch table*Upgrade does not include a ticket to the show. You must purchase a concert ticket in order to participate in the VIP experience.

Jazz Aspen Snowmass Presents: Jimmie Vaughan and the Tilt-A-Whirl Band
2026-06-26 17:30
Jimmie Vaughan & the Tilt-A-Whirl Band will perform at the Wheeler Opera House as part of the Jazz Aspen Snowmass June Experience.

Jazz Aspen Snowmass Presents: The Robert Cray Band
2026-06-27 17:30
The Robert Cray Band will perform at the Wheeler Opera House as part of the Jazz Aspen Snowmass June Experience.

Wheeler Presents: Changemaker - Deanne Fitzmaurice
2026-07-02 19:00
Part of the Wheeler’s ongoing Changemaker Speaker Series, A250 Portrait of a Nation features Pulitzer Prize–winning photographer Deanne Fitzmaurice in an illustrated talk marking America’s 250th anniversary and Colorado’s 150th. Offered free to the public with advance RSVP required, the program reflects a shared commitment to access, civic dialogue, and storytelling that sparks reflection and connection. Drawing from nearly forty years as a photojournalist—including her tenure at the San Francisco Chronicle and assignments for National Geographic, Sports Illustrated, and ESPN—Fitzmaurice revisits defining chapters of recent American history. Her work spans the AIDS crisis, the Loma Prieta earthquake, marriage‑equality rulings, climate events, and cultural touchstones from professional sports to Route 66. Central to the presentation is her Pulitzer Prize–winning photographic essay chronicling the recovery of a wounded Iraqi boy, anchoring a broader meditation on resilience, humanity, and the role of visual journalism in shaping national memory. As part of the Changemaker Speaker Series, A250 Portrait of a Nation highlights the power of storytelling to deepen understanding during moments of historic significance. This is a free, but ticketed, community event; advance RSVP is encouraged to secure reservations.

Wheeler & AAM Presents: Commedia dell'arte by Camille Henrot
2026-07-30 18:30
Camille Henrot brings her interdisciplinary practice to the stage for the first time with the world premiere of Commedia dell’arte. Co-commissioned by Performa, Aspen Art Museum Wheeler Opera House, and LYRA Art Foundation, Henrot’s performance incorporates the stock characters and comic ploys of the Italian Renaissance theatrical tradition within a modern-day New York City apartment building. The delivery of a package triggers a cascade of uncanny events among tenants, as the tragi-comedic play attempts to make sense out of the senseless, ultimately collapsing into it.The work draws on Henrot’s distinct visual language, shaped by her background as a cartoonist, as well as the slapstick and gestural comedy of Buster Keaton, Jim Carrey, and Tex Avery. Henrot engages and reconfigures the formal languages of film and television, media whose own structures are shaped by the conventions and performative structures of early theater. In a zany collision of mundanity and excess, Henrot constructs a portrait of contemporary life in which hustle and reflection, wealth and precarity, share a wall—bodies always in motion, in the constant performance of being.The performance was developed in collaboration with set designers Charlap Hyman & Herrero, costume designer Sandra Berrebi, writer Estelle Hoy, playwright Justine Gelfman, choreographer Sigrid Lauren, and lighting designer Dan Stearns with original music and live sound by Aaron David Ross and Mauro Hertig.Please visit https://airaspen.org/ for more informationIMAGE CREDIT:Camille Henrot, Study for Pantalone, the Landlord, 2025. © ADAGP Camille Henrot. Courtesy of the artist, Mennour and Hauser & Wirth Commedia dell’arte by Camille Henrot Co-commissioned by Performa, Aspen Art Museum Wheeler Opera House, and LYRA Art Foundation The commissioning of Commedia dell’arte was initiated in 2023 by RoseLee Goldberg, founding Director and Chief Curator of Performa. Commedia dell’arte is curated by RoseLee Goldberg, founding Director and Chief Curator of Performa and Eliza Ryan, Curator at Large, Aspen Art Museum. World Premiere at the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen as part of the Aspen Art Museum’s 2026 AIR Festival with the Performa presentation to follow in New York, September 2026.
