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Just Do It

Mascher Space Co-op Funstival


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Published: May 14, 2008

Fri., May 16, 10 p.m., $10, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 215-739-9684, mascherdance.com

Ken Hinchey

(CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER VERSION)

In today's economy, it seems everyone's living paycheck to paycheck, month to month. So where does that leave independent artists, romantically called "starving" even in the most robust of times? For the Mascher Space Co-op, it means throwing a fundraising bash to celebrate the independent dance space's second anniversary and hopefully ensure it can afford to reach its third.

But far from striking a morose, hat-in-hand pose, the Mascher artists will instead enjoy a few laughs — humor being a strong component of much of their work. As the name implies, the Funstival is a little less about the exploration of movement that typically happens there and a bit more about celebrating the space's existence. Several of the Co-op's members will take the stage at Johnny Brenda's for what artist/member Emily Sweeney calls "a cabaret-style version of what goes on at Mascher. It's really going to pull from the wild and theatrical end of things that go on there."

That includes Megan Bridge rocking out to the likes of AC/DC and Led Zep for a site-specific piece created for JB's; Melisa Putz's PIMA Group emulating a cheerleading troupe; Devynn Emory and Christina Zani paying homage and/or attacking Bushes Kate and G.W.; and Rebecca Patek and Allison Lorenzon (pictured) performing "The Vagicorn and the Princess," a "surreal and really wacky" piece (according to Sweeney) that focuses on — and allows me to type — the glorious phrase "a unicorn with a vagina."