Inside the Pillow Lab: Sonya Tayeh & Jenn Freeman

Inside the Pillow Lab is an intimate new film series that captures works in process and behind-the-scenes moments of what it’s like for artists to live, work, and rehearse together again in COVID-compliant residencies on the Pillow’s retreat-like campus. "Is It Thursday Yet?" is a stimulating hybrid of theatricality and clinical analysis, a solo dance work with live musical accompaniment exploring autistic choreographer and dancer Jenn Freeman’s neurodivergent brain in motion. Diagnosed in her adulthood at age 33, Freeman’s work seeks to foster the understanding of autism for herself and others. Directed by Tony Award® winner Sonya Tayeh, "Is It Thursday Yet?" will be scored with original live music from renowned U.S. musician Holland Andrews and utilizes recordings from Freeman’s autism diagnosis sessions, with accompanying vocals, clarinet, drums, and electronic music elements. Embracing child-like surrealism, the work in development will include vibrant, colorful, and tactile scenic design by Tony Award® winner Rachel Hauck and is inspired by Freeman’s sensory sensitivities to texture, color, light, and sound. Projected footage from her childhood along with clinical information will undergo digital re-imaging and will be woven into the story, serving as a narrative. INSIDE THE PILLOW LAB Sonya Tayeh and Jenn Freeman Is it Thursday Yet? RESIDENCY DATES: November 2-13, 2022 CO-CREATORS: Jenn Freeman and Sonya Tayeh PERFORMED BY: Jenn Freeman CO-CHOREOGRAPHED BY: Jenn Freeman and Sonya Tayeh DIRECTOR: Sonya Tayeh COMPOSER: Holland Andrews SCENIC DESIGN: Rachel Hauck MEDIA DESIGN: Joseph Digiovanna COSTUME DESIGN: Márion Talán de la Rosa MUSICIANS: Holland Andrews and Joshua Strmic CREATIVE CONSULTANTS: Alexander Hammer CREATIVE ASSOCIATES: Maddy Wright, Lily Sheppard, and Holly Thiel GENERAL MANAGEMENT: ArKtyoe – Thomas O. Kriegsmann NEL SHELBY PRODUCTIONS Nel Shelby, Producer & Videographer Christopher Duggan, Videographer Sonia Bartolomeo, Project Manager & Editor Benjamin Richards, Graphic Animation The 2022-2023 PILLOW LAB RECEIVES LEADERSHIP SUPPORT FROM: The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation © 2022 Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Inc.