'Critical Mass'

JOHNSON CITY – Eclectic chamber ensemble Dada Cabaret opens its spring season Saturday, Jan. 27, when it presents a program titled “Critical Mass” at 7:30 p.m. at Samadhi Healing Arts Center.

This program tells, through music and word, a story of a woman dealing with the fallout of decisions made by powerful men beyond her control.  In the story, penned by Dada writer and narrator Andy Ford, the female scientist subsists in a tiny fallout shelter after a nuclear detonation.

In addition to Ford, members of Dada Cabaret include East Tennessee State University Department of Music faculty members Dr. Heather Killmeyer, oboe; Dr. Stephanie Frye, tuba; and Dr. Alan Stevens, tenor.  They will be joined by guest artists Opal Clark, alto and guest narrator; Dr. Rande Sanderbeck, ETSU professor of percussion; and tenor Dr. Matthew Potterton, chair of the ETSU Department of Music.

Dada Cabaret is inspired by literary nonsense; transgressive cinema, which uses shock value and humor; the early 20^th century artistic movement of Dadaism, which illustrated absurdity through paintings of purposeless machines and collages of discarded materials; and the avant-garde movement, which featured experimental, innovative art that went beyond what was accepted as the norm.  This experimental ensemble seeks to push the boundaries of classical music and transcend the divide between audience and performer.

Admission is $5 for adults and free for college students with ID.  Samadhi Healing Arts Center is located at 423 W. Walnut St.