LAURA BENANTI
Concerts by Laura Benanti and Rachel Rose, an outdoor sing-along film concert featuring Disney’s “Encanto,” a North American premiere by the dance troupe A.I.M. by Kyle Abraham and a screening of the Philippe Petit documentary “Man on Wire” (followed by a question-and-answer session with the high-wire artist himself) will all be part of the 2024-25 season of Peak Performances at Montclair State University.
Wiley Hausam, who is the director of arts and cultural programming at Montclair State, says the season “features a number of artists — and characters in narrative works — who are compelled to move fearlessly to the edge and risk failure, or even death. … My hope is that audiences will be inspired by their bravery.”
The season will begin in September and run through May.
Here is the schedule. All events will take place at Montclair State’s Alexander Kasser Theater, unless otherwise noted. For tickets and information, visit peakperfs.org/events.
A poster for the film “Man on Wire.”
Sept. 12: The North American premiere of A.I.M by Kyle Abraham’s “Cassette Vol. 1,” described as “a work of camp and critique referencing the birth of music videos in the ’80s.”
Sept. 19: Concert by singer-songwriter Rachel Rose.
Sept. 26: Screening of “Man on Wire” documentary followed by a question-and-answer session with Philippe Petit. This event will take place at Presentation Hall at Montclair State’s School of Communication and Media.
The 2008 film, based on Petit’s 2002 book “To Reach the Clouds,” won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Petit’s high-wire walk between the twin towers of the World Trade Center. (see trailer below)
Oct. 12: “Encanto” sing-along film concert (with onscreen lyrics) featuring a live orchestra at Montclair State Amphitheater. This follows a similar screening of “Coco” last year.
Audience members are encouraged to dress as their favorite characters; face-painting will be offered, and food trucks will be on site.
Nov. 16: Concert by five-time Tony nominee (and 2008 Best Featured Actress in a Musical winner, for “Gypsy”) Laura Benanti.
Feb. 20-23: “Musical-in-Concert” production of “Queen of the Mist,” featuring words and music by Michael John LaChiusa and orchestrations by Michael Starobin, with Kirsten Sanderson directing.
Mary Testa will play the main character: Annie Edson Taylor, a real person who became the first person to ride over Niagara Falls in a barrel, in 1901.
May 3: “Frankenstein,” performed by the Chicago-based collective Manual Cinema. This is a multi-media production combining puppetry, live music, film and theater, and it is recommended for ages 12 and older.
The season will also include a closed-to-the-public developmental workshop of a new musical, Daniel Henri Emond’s “Kill the Whale,” which is described as a “radical reimagining” of Herman Melville’s epic novel “Moby Dick.”
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