Richard Foreman and John Zorn to Host DVD Release Party on April 1

Richard Foreman and John Zorn will host a DVD Release Party at Pangea (2nd Avenue between 11th and 12th Streets) on April 1 at 6:30 pm to celebrate the release of Richard Foreman: Ontological-Hysteric Theater, Vol. 1 — Sophia:The Cliffs/35+ Year Retrospective Compilation, from Zorn’s label, Tzadik.

This is the first time Foreman’s work has been available on DVD. The disc contains the full 2 plus hour film documentation of Sophia: The Cliffs, a 1970s work shot in black and white, 16mm by the filmmaker Ernie Gehr. The cast includes Jim Hoberman, Bob Fleischner, and Kate Manheim.

The DVD also includes over 80 minutes of excerpted clips from the entire history of Foreman’s oeuvre. Compiled by Jay Sanders, it includes notable performances by Kate Manheim, David Patrick Kelly, Henry Stram, Ron Vawter, Elena Lowensohn, Kate Valk, Bob Fleischner, Juliana Francis, James Urbaniak, Tony Torn, among many others. The DVD also features commentary by Richard Foreman, John Zorn, J. Hoberman and Ken Jordan.

Foreman and Zorn’s collaboration Astronome: A Night at the Opera is currently playing at the Ontological Theater through April 5. As previously announced, the Ontological-Hysteric Theater is offering an online auction of handmade, Foremanized props and objects used in productions from the past decade. Bidding has started on the company’s website, and ends ends online March 29. Winners will be invited to the closing night of Astronome for a champagne toast, and to take away their winnings.

For more information, visit www.ontological.com or www.tzadik.com.