Afro-Disco-Space-Punk Extravaganza Blends Circus and Dance at The Flea
The Illustrious Blacks' 'Beyond the Stardust' is a seventy-minute immersive show mixing disco beats, aerial acts, and pole dancing, billed as an 'Afro-disco-space-punk extravaganza.' The production encourages audience participation, with standing room and a dance floor, and features a seven-member cast of singers, dancers, and acrobats. It runs at The Flea through October 18.
The production's creative team includes director and choreographer Niegel Smith, with scenic design by Oscar Escobedo, lighting by Kate McGee, and costumes by Delta Major. The seven-member cast features DeShawn Marshall, a US National Pole champion, alongside aerialists, vocalists, and dancers. Audience members receive warnings about strobe lighting and haze effects before entering the space.
The show's structure departs from traditional theater—only a handful of chairs line the periphery, and a pre-show DJ set runs for thirty minutes before the main performance. The twelve songs center on themes of love and liberation, reinforced by slogans in the wall artwork. Costume changes serve as the closest thing to narrative progression, while the MC leads a conga line through the dance floor.
This immersive production could appeal to audiences seeking participatory entertainment rather than passive viewing, potentially broadening theater's demographic reach. The blend of disco, circus arts, and queer performance culture may normalize diverse artistic expressions in mainstream venues. However, its standing-room format and sensory effects could limit accessibility for some patrons, possibly prompting conversations about inclusive staging practices in contemporary theater.