One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Early Morning Opera's 'Abacus' Opens at REDCAT
A scene from 'Abacus,' which opens at REDCAT tonight. (Photo: Courtesy of the artist)
- by Ellen Reid/Special to LAist
Fresh from the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, where it was only one of two live performances selected to participate, Early Morning Opera’s Abacus opens tonight at REDCAT and runs through Saturday.
Abacus uses TED-style presentation techniques alongside visuals reminiscent of a Sunday in a megachurch to create an uber-persuasive experience. Abacus stars Paul Abacus, “multi-media visionary,” who uses the stage as his soapbox to expound his theories of global visual culture.
Throughout the show, director Lars Jan helps Abacus address the constant struggle between quality of content and propaganda in our culture. Audiences can expect to be absorbed by visualizations of a variety of flavors that magnify and illustrate Abacus’ theories. The immersive visuals are made to directly confront the audience in an overly persuasive way.
Jan, the founder of Early Morning Opera and a 2011 TED fellow, is a director, designer, writer and media artist. Last summer, his satirical A Suicide Bombing By Invitation Only rocked the Hi-Lite Gallery (LA) as well as the Whitney Museum (NYC). In 2009 a former version of Abacus was shown at REDCAT as part of the NOW Festival.
Abacus is at 8:30 pm tonight through Saturday. Tickets: $16-$25.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
