( CHICAGO, IL — The Auditorium Theatre announces the commission of American Traffic, a new work for Trinity Irish Dance Company ( TIDC ) created by acclaimed tap dancer, choreographer, and MacArthur "Genius Grant" recipient Michelle Dorrance and celebrated collaborator Melinda Sullivan. American Traffic has its world premiere at the Auditorium on Saturday, February 29, 2020, when TIDC returns for two performances following its lauded 2019 return to Chicago. Individual tickets go on sale Friday, October 18 at 9AM.
"We are thrilled to support this innovative new work by two of the most creative choreographers of today and look forward to seeing Trinity Irish Dance Company premiere American Traffic on our landmark stage as part of our 130th anniversary celebration," says Rich Regan, Auditorium Theatre CEO.
American Traffic is a hybrid of Irish step and American tap that celebrates the nuanced differences and historical connections between the percussive dance forms. Dorrance, who has choreographed for companies including American Ballet Theatre and Martha Graham Dance Company, has admired TIDC's work for years. She is considered the "most prominent and ubiquitous tap dancer today" ( The New York Times ) and has appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Sullivan is an accomplished performer and choreographer who has appeared on So You Think You Can Dance? and assisted as a choreographer for The Late Late Show with James Corden, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and more.
"Trinity Irish Dance Company is the cutting edge of Irish dance," says Dorrance. "They achieve a powerful combination of cultural depth, innovation, and artistry with exceptional technical range."
Celebrating his 40th year as a choreographer, TIDC Founding Artistic Director Mark Howard offers additional premieres that epitomize his pioneering vision to push the boundaries of Irish dance while maintaining a strong reverence for tradition, including Home, choreographed by Howard and Associate Artistic Director Chelsea Hoy, and Listen, choreographed by Colin Dunne, the "Baryshnikov of Irish dance." TIDC classics, including Howard's critically-acclaimed Push and Soles, alongside the Chicago premiere of Sean Curran's Goddess, a hypnotic fusion of Irish and Indian movement, round out the program.
American Traffic, choreographed by Michelle Dorrance and Melinda Sullivan,
is co-commissioned by the Auditorium Theatre
with sponsorship support from Pamela Crutchfield.
About Trinity Irish Dance Company
Trinity Irish Dance Company is the high watermark of the art form; a uniquely Irish-American dance legacy that is rooted in tradition, yet forward-looking and ever-evolving. The result is a fresh, engaging, and integrity-filled vision that goes beyond the source without losing touch with its essence. Founded in 1990 by Founding Artistic Director Mark Howard, TIDC is the birthplace of progressive Irish dance, an innovative movement genre which opened new avenues of artistic freedom that led directly to commercial productions such as Riverdance. TIDC has significantly changed the direction and scope of Irish dance, re-introducing the art form as the phenomenon it is today. With a unique blend of uncompromising power and grace, TIDC sends a clear message of female empowerment. For more information, visit TrinityIrishDanceCompany.com .
Performance Information
Trinity Irish Dance Company
Saturday, February 29 | 2PM
Saturday, February 29 | 7:30PM
Individual tickets go on sale Friday, October 18 at 9AM and will be available online at tickets.auditoriumtheatre.org/production/2485/19-20-trinity-irish-dance/ , by phone at 312.341.2300, or in person at the Auditorium Theatre Box Office ( 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive ). Tickets are available now as part of the Auditorium Theatre's "Create Your Own" Subscription Series, which offers a 20% discount on four or more shows or a 15% discount on three or more shows. Discounts for groups of 10 or more people are available now.
Upcoming Events at the Auditorium Theatre
October 16-27: The Joffrey Ballet — Jane Eyre
October 31+November 1: Disney in Concert: The Nightmare Before Christmas
November 7-9: 93XRT Presents The String Cheese Incident
November 10: Magic Reality Group Presents Sleeping Beauty Dreams
November 16: Chicago Celebrates Sondheim!
November 21: An Evening with David Sedaris
November 30-December 29: The Joffrey Ballet — The Nutcracker
January 18+19: Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah
January 26: National Geographic Live — On the Trail of Big Cats
February 12-23: The Joffrey Ballet — The Times Are Racing
About the Auditorium Theatre
The Auditorium Theatre, located at 50 E Ida B Wells Dr at Roosevelt University in Chicago, is an Illinois, not-for-profit organization committed to presenting the finest in international, cultural, community, and educational programming to all of Chicago and beyond as The Theatre for the People. The organization also is committed to the continued restoration and preservation of the National Historic Landmark, and was recognized by the League of Historic American Theatres as the Outstanding Historic Theatre for 2019 for its programming, restoration, and community engagement.
The Auditorium Theatre 2019-20 Season is made possible in part with support from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council, and the Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel. Chicago Magazine is the official magazine sponsor. For more information about programming, volunteer, and donor opportunities or theatre tours, please call 312.341.2310 or visit AuditoriumTheatre.org . For a complete listing of events at the Auditorium Theatre, please click tickets.auditoriumtheatre.org/ .
—From a press release
