Three Acts, Two Dancers, One Radio Host: Ira Glass, Monica Bill Barnes, Anna Bass

Ira Glass and choreographer Monica Bill Barnes thought their work shared a sensibility, even though hers includes no talking and his involves no physical movement whatsoever. Some are performed together onstage by Glass, Barnes and dancer Anna Bass. In May 2012 they collaborated on three short dances that were part of a This American Life variety show that was beamed into movie theatres across the USA. It was such a success that they decided to do a full show that combines stories and dance.

Glass is the creator and host of WBEZ Chicago’s public radio show ‘This American Life’, which is distributed by Public Radio International and heard on over 500 public radio stations with a regular audience of 2.2 million listeners; its podcast most weeks is the most popular podcast in America. Monica Bill Barnes & Company is a contemporary American dance company with the mission to celebrate individuality, humour and the innate theatricality of everyday life. The company has performed in over thirty venues in New York City including New York City Center, The Joyce Theater, Joe's Pub and Upright Citizens Brigade, and out of town venues including Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, The American Dance Festival and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.