Sundance Institute’s renowned Theatre Program has developed Broadway and Off Broadway hits by the bushel, and its annual lab at MASS MoCA gathers top-tier dramatic artists for writing workshops and a work-in-progress performance. The quality of the work, combined with the feeling of ink still wet, make for a riveting night of theater-in-the-making.

The Lab returns to North Adams with a presentation of Club Diamond, one of four projects it supports with its two-week artistic residency. Club Diamond, created and written by Saori Tsukada and Nikki Appino, paints the story of a young woman traveling alone from Tokyo to New York City in search of fame. Drawing from Tsukada’s background in Japanese storytelling and Appino’s experience with American film, Club Diamond unfolds with a cross-cultural blend of mediums and storytelling techniques, rendering a single narrative through the use of silent film, illustration, and live animation. The production is paired to Tim Fain’s delicate violin composition.

What to expect
This event will be “up in the club” with cabaret-style seating. Our café will deliver your dinner, and the bar is always well-stocked with Bright Ideas Brewing and Berkshire Mountain Distillery spirits. Be ready to make new friends — our tables seat five, and, if your party is smaller, you might find others at your table. Cheers to live events and fall nights up in the club!

photo by Amy Luke