CAMBRIDGE, MA: “Funny Uncle Cabaret” Brings Queer Storytelling, Dance and Holiday Spirit to the Dance Complex
Company:
Peter DiMuro | Public Displays of Motion (PDM)
Funny Uncle Cabaret returns next month with its unique blend of holiday storytelling, dance and cabaret that spotlights LGBTQ+ lives, chosen families, and reimagined traditions. The show, created by Peter DiMuro (left) for his company Public Displays of Motion (PDM), takes place Saturday, December 14 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, December 15 at 7 p.m. in Studio 7 at The Dance Complex in Cambridge.
Funny Uncle Cabaret’s first act is a reimagining of “The Nutcracker” through the lens of LGBTQ+ families, including DiMuro’s stories of his own multi-sided avuncularity: his college-years casting in so-called “funny uncle” theater roles when he came out as gay; a memorable turn as Herr Drosselmeier in a Boston-area production of “The Nutcracker”; and his true experience becoming an uncle to an adopted niece. Through dance and spoken word accompanied by the ubiquitous Tchaikovsky score, DiMuro’s stories tell a collectively heartfelt tale.
The performance features members of Boston’s queer communities including drag performers Mizery and Linda Marie Possa, and singer Robert McFletcher Jones as well as long-time PDM collaborators Irene Lutts, Ann Fonte, Kristin Wagner & Tony Guglietti, and others. Vermont-based dancer Christal Brown joins as a special guest.
Act two of Funny Uncle Cabaret brings an intimate audience experience. Holiday sing-alongs are led with musical direction from pianists Andy Lantz (on Dec. 14) and Brian Patton (Dec. 15), with pop-up performances from members of Boston’s cabaret and dance communities. DiMuro says the holiday songs take on a queer twist, inviting all to join in the fun.
For the first time, Funny Uncle Cabaret will incorporate a segment inspired by “Our Queer Family Storybook,” a new PDM project helping LGBTQ+ families turn their stories into multi-media performances. A free-to-the-public related workshop, Our Queer Family: A Story Making and Telling Workshop, takes place December 1, from 2-5 pm at The Dance Complex.
Funny Uncle Cabaret is part of The Dance Complex’s “The DC Presents” series, and is supported in part by Cambridge Arts. The performance space, Studio 7 at the Dance Complex, is located at street-level and is ADA-compliant with accessible facilities.
About Peter DiMuro / Public Displays of Motion
Boston-based Peter DiMuro/Public Displays of Motion (PDM) creates dance and dance/theatre works that transform everyday lives into studies of the human condition, bringing together people across ages, races, LGBTQ+, and disabilities communities to tell diverse stories. With a collaborative, inquiry-driven process, PDM invites company and guest artists—ranging from seniors and youth to immigrants and civic groups—to contribute personal histories that shape each performance. PDM performances range from grand site-specific spectacles to intimate tabletop dances, as well as video works and traditional stage shows. The company has held residencies at renowned institutions including The Yard, Vermont Performance Lab, and The Dance Complex, where DiMuro serves as Executive Artistic Director. PDM work has appeared at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Gibney Dance, and Boston’s Hatch Shell.
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