By Olivia Stewart and Stacy Keith
MOMIX is a dance illusionist company that is coming to Texas Tech University’s Allen Theatre on February 20th through the Presidential Lecture & Performance Series. The company is performing ALICE, a story about the character Alice from Lewis Carroll’s book Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. The production follows Alice’s experience while she’s in the rabbit hole and presents an imaginative interpretation of her journey.
The show will be a visual experience and a full production with dance and theatrics, but don’t expect the ordinary. We caught up with MOMIX founder and director, Moses Pendleton for a fun conversation about this amazing production. When asked about the inspiration for the show, Pendleton said he was inspired by the surrealism, humor, and the absurdity of the original story, as well as the original illustrations done by John Tennial for Carroll’s book.
Pendleton took iconic characters such as Alice and the Mad Hatter and combined them with his imagination to create the ALICE show which is now over six years old. When asked about preparation for the show, Pendleton replied that it took him approximately a year for the entire process of creating and producing the show. He said he likes to create a free, fun atmosphere as well as have constant rehearsals so the company can be critiqued and continue to grow. Pendleton noted that a group of rabbits is called a “trip” and shared he starts rehearsals by saying “Good morning rabbits, ready to trip?”
The score is made up of 20 pieces of music with a dynamic flow. The music will feel familiar (some pieces are from other productions of Alice in Wonderland), but there will also be some surprises along the way. Pendleton selected the music to represent the overall tone of the show while allowing the dancers to improvise. Pendleton often selects the music for his productions based upon inspiration from the dancers and their art.
Though he admits he was deeply inspired by the Disney production of Alice in Wonderland, an audience member shouldn’t expect to see that literal story with this production. He says when directing ALICE, he focuses equally on both the dance and the visual performance. His partner and Associate Director Cynthia Quinn, who began performing with MOMIX in 1983, has a keen sense of his creative process. Pendleton likes to premiere pieces in large theatres to catch audience reactions and details which may be missed in a studio space.
Pendleton himself and past MOMIX members have been successful at and after their time at the Company. We asked Moses his best advice for young artists of any type on how to achieve their goals and be successful. He really stressed the idea that when you are passionate about your project, it makes you want to work at it and make it successful. Pendleton emphasized that discipline is also key to success and that being creative is fun, but that artists must develop the ability to hold on long enough to the creation to develop it into something more.
MOMIX is not new to the Allen Theatre, performing in Lubbock previously. Pendleton says that he loves the company getting invited to return to Texas Tech University and to perform again in a city with such a thriving cultural and artistic scene.
Come see this illusionist visual performance of a lifetime at the Allen Theatre on February 20, at 7 pm and be ready to experience a humorous and witty production. MOMIX hopes you leave feeling with a weight off your shoulders. For information on the Presidential Lecture and Performance series, visit here. To learn more about Pendleton and the genius of MOMIX visit their website at MOMIX.com. For information on the MOMIX production and tickets for February 20, visit this link.
