Nick and Juanita

Livin’ in my dreams dances with the effects of love on Juanita, a woman who is trying to reconcile her fugitive brain and her adorably naïve heart, and Nick, a man seemingly lacking in both. Nick is a smooth, slimy talk show host whose use of a microphone brings new meaning to the words phallic symbol. In true Friedenberg style, his absurd, grandiose gestures capture a physical compensation for his lack of emotions. On the other hand, Juanita wears her heart on her sleeve by continuously abandoning her brain for the next guy who will show her affection. A classic comic tragedy, we don’t know whether we should laugh or cry at these two hapless personalities.  A highly comic piece, Nick & Juanita will leave audiences grinning from ear to ear, and perhaps a little reminiscent of their own forays as human beings searching for love, affection, and understanding.

Created and performed by Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg
Directed by Sophie Yendole
Original Music: Marc Stewart
Lighting Design: James Proudfoot

“Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg’s two-act solo brings theatre and dance together in an incandescently hilarious performance.”
— Colin Thomas, Georgia Straight

PERFORMANCES/TOURING:

  • Feats Dance Festival, Alberta Dance Alliance, July 3 - 4, 2009

  • CanDance tour Fall 2008: Firehall Arts Centre, Vancouver; Now Showing Live Arts, Lethbridge; Live Art Dance Productions, Halifax; Peterborough New Dance, Peterborough; Dance Victoria, Victoria; Dancers’ Studio West, Calgary

  • Heritage Playhouse, Gibsons B.C., March 21 and 22, 2008

  • Dance in Vancouver, The Dance Centre, Nov. 17 and 18, 2007

  • Fluid Festival, Calgary, AB Oct. 17 and 18, 2007

  • Dancing on The Edge Festival, Vancouver, B.C. July 8 and 9, 2007 (People’s Choice Award)

  • The Banff Centre, Banff, AB, June 1, 2007

  • Dance Allsorts, Vancouver B.C., April 29, 2006

  • (15 min. excerpt) The Dance Centre, Vancouver, B.C., Dec. 7 - 9, 2006