History / Description
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Bartok’s Monster: Penn LiveArts

Photo Credit: Wide-Eyed Studios

History / Description

During the pandemic, Mundheim began conversations with author, Jay Kirk, about his book Avoid the Day: A New Nonfiction in Two Movements, published by Harper Collins (2020). The book grew out of an article Kirk had written for Harper’s magazine in 2013, on Bela Bartok’s Third String Quartet.

Mundheim read the book, and loved the language, the imagery, and the layering of Jay’s life with Bela Bartok. From there she and Jay began to imagine the potential for performance. Jay was also in conversation with Dan Rothenberg from Pig Iron Theatre Company, and Tom Kraines from the Daedalus Quartet. The four decided to collaborate.

Bartok’s Monster performed to sold-out audiences at PennLive Arts in 2024.

Read Brandon Baker, from Penn Today (January 17,2024) describe the project: Bartok’s Monster Challenges the Conventions of Theater.