Theater of the Resist

MetLiveArts in collaboration with media and culture writer Kali Holloway presents an eight-week summer series of edgy, timely, and pointedly political performances and films on the Fifth Floor of The Met Breuer. Theater of the Resist takes its name from art making—a technique where the artist uses opposing material to "resist" the medium and thus generating negative space in which to create. This series is presented in conjunction with the exhibition The Body Politic: Video from The Met Collection, on view at The Met Breuer, June 20–September 3, 2017. It will highlight dance, spoken word, music and film from communities that are outside the hegemony. Hosts include: political journalist and musician Kali Holloway, WQXR host Terrance McKnight, and musician and NYPR host/podcaster Helga Davis.

All times: 6–8 pm at The Met Breuer, Floor 5

Performances are free with Museum admission

Advanced registration recommended

Friday, June 23

"The Joke is Mightier than the Sword"

Bassem Youssef

Political comedian, writer, producer, physician,

media critic, and television host

Saturday, June 24

Gerry Eastman

Composer, guitarist

Cullen+Them

Movement + Dialogue + Empathy + Activism

Friday, June 30

Emtithal Mahmoud

International spoken word artist

Shilpa Ray

Wailing, fire breathing Cyclops

Kim David Smith

Cabaret artist

Saturday, July 1

Mazz Swift, improvisational violinist, and musician Therese Workman

Mega Bog

Experimental melodic jazz-pop

Kyp Malone

Multi-instrumentalist and member of the band TV on the Radio

Friday, July 7

The Mighty Third Rail

Hip-Hop poetry trio

Davalois Fearon Dance

Dance company

Zebra Katz, aka Ojay Morgan

Saturday, July 8

Davalois Fearon Dance

Dance company

Tongues in Trees

Indie dream pop and Indian rhythms

Friday, July 14

Ieva Misevičiūtė

Artist and performer

Vinie Burrows

Actor/storyteller/activist

Saturday, July 15

Whose Streets? (2017)

Sabaah Folayan: writer/director, and producer

Film screening and Q&A

Friday, July 21

PUBLIQuartet with Helga Davis

String quartet

American Contemporary Music Ensemble (ACME)

Saturday, July 22

100 Days: A Lens on Resistance (2017)

Field of Vision shorts followed by Q&A moderated by Laura Poitras and Charlotte Cook

Friday, July 28

Davóne Tines, opera singer

Vocal explorations of truths. Prayer

Sidra Bell Dance New York

Prolific movement illustrators

Heems, rapper

Saturday, July 29

For Living Lovers with Brandon Ross, and Stomu Takeishi, musicians, and poet Sadiq Bey

Sidra Bell Dance New York

Prolific movement illustrators

Mykki Blanco

American rapper, performance artist, poet, and activist

Friday, August 4

Nicole Fleetwood, Associate Professor Department of American Studies, Rutgers University moderates discussion between Lifers Group members Maxwell Melvins, president, and rapper Picard "Original" Galette

Saturday, August 5

Stew, aka Mark Stewart

Singer-songwriter, playwright

Gina Yashere

British comedian

Friday, August 11

Film: Strong Island (2017)

Followed by Q&A with filmmaker Yance Ford

Saturday, August 12

Maria Usbeck

Ecuadorian musician, traveler and diarist

Aparna Nancherla

Introspective and outrospective standup comedian

DJ Mojo: Music is Life, directed by Lawrence Kim

(2017 documentary short, 5 mins.)

Live set by DJ Mojo