A Note From Vallejo Gantner

Dear *|FNAME|*,

Greetings from Buenos Aires.

I am writing from a fairly packed agenda over the last couple of weeks which included another development for the curators' piece, then researching venues in London for a new PS122 Global tour, seeing a superb new work from Back to Back Theatre in Melbourne, and now Buenos Aires for the FIBA Festival and an arts market / conference - speed dating with 20 or so companies all day and then seeing a few shows each night. I'm also finalising arrangements with Mariano Pensotti (who will be in NYC this coming January).

It's a sensational theatre culture here so many shows, and everything so far seems full...Typically each show plays in a venue one night a week, every week indefinitely. The really popular ones might play two nights a week. A totally different way of thinking about a 'run' - giving mountains of time for word of mouth etc. Tough on the actors, though - they might typically be appearing in 3 or more different pieces each week.

With both PS122's season launch party and Michel Groisman behind us, I am delighted with what's coming up in the next few months. I have been trying to present the Spanish choregrapher Cuqui Jerez for many years, and am very proud to say that she opens in NYC one week from tonight, and COIL 2012 will be the best yet.

I also need to share a new development in our giving calendar this year. As you are probably aware, for the last several seasons we've done a massive campaign in June to help us balance our budget before the next fiscal year begins on July 1. This schedule was awful for all of us for several reasons --

It’s for all of these reasons that the team here has decided to shift our giving calendar and move our major campaign to November / December. We understand if you donated this past June, you may well be less inclined or able to do so again so soon. However, if we hit our target in November / December we can (& I solemnly swear we will) leave you alone in the Spring - an outcome we all can enjoy.

This shift means that when you donate at the end of the calendar year, you enjoy tickets to our COIL festival in January, and are invited to celebrate being a Friend at the Red & White Party (also in January this year). It also means that you have the option to donate to our campaign by purchasing a Gift Passport for a performance-loving friend to use.

As always, if you have any questions about the benefits of being a Friend, please contact Lori - our Individual & Special Events Manager (lori@ps122.org / 212-477-5829 x. 302).

As I mentioned, next up in our 11-12 Season is The Rehearsal by Cuqui Jerez (pronounced "Cookie") who we're presenting in partnership with the French Institute Alliance Française's Crossing the Line festival and The Performing Garage Wednesday, October 12 - Saturday, October 15 at The Performing Garage (home of legendary Wooster Group).

Cuqui uses a meme of rehearsal to consistently invert reality - creating a scenario where the audience will doubt their own sanity...With 90 seats available per night and only 4 performances, I can definitely recommend that you reserve a ticket for this anticipated US Premiere.

I have to run to see an outdoor show in a main square now. Gracias por su apoyo, y bienvenidos al asado que es PS122.

Cheers,