Attack Theatre
Established1993 (1993)
FounderMichele de la Reza,
Peter Kope
TypeNonprofit
20-1909284[1]
PurposeArtful expression of life through dance.
Headquarters212 45th Street
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Coordinates40°28′18″N 79°57′33″W / 40.471680°N 79.959110°W / 40.471680; -79.959110
Budget (2021)
$1,000,000
Staff
15
Websiteattacktheatre.com

Attack Theatre is an American contemporary dance company based in Pittsburgh, PA. Established in 1994 by Michele de la Reza and Peter Kope, the company is best known for its use of non-traditional stages and audience immersion. They have produced over 200 shows and toured internationally.[2]

About

Attack Theatre was founded in 1994 by dancers Michele de la Reza and Peter Kope. The dance company would fuse contemporary dance, modern dance, and incorporate live music into their performances. Dave Eggar would become a long-term collaborator occasionally serving music director and musician for the company.[2][3] Since its founding, the group has performed over 200 shows.[4] In 2006, the US Embassy sponsored Attack Theatre's international tour. They were the first American dance company to perform in parts of Indonesia in twenty-five years.[5][6]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the dance company shifted to open air performances in public parks.[7] The troupe dedicated dancers for performances to be live-stream performers along the ensemble on stage.[8][9] This hybrid performance earned them recognition and funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.[10]

Throughout the years, Attack Theatre collaborated with Quantum Theatre, Pittsburgh Ballet, and the Pittsburgh Opera. They operated out of Pittsburgh Opera's building while they searched for their own permanent facility. In 2021 they move into their own theatre in Lawrenceville.[11]

The Dirty Ball

In 2006, the organization started the Dirty Ball gala. The dance troupe's fundraiser was located in abandoned warehouses left over Pittsburgh's Steel crisis. Immediately, critics celebrated the gritty urban decay backdrops to the over the top modern dance party.[12] By its tenth anniversary, the Dirty Ball was highly regarded as Pittsburgh's best annual party with thousands in attendance.[13][14][15]

Attack Theatre announced a hiatus from producing the Dirty Ball in 2016. Instead they hosted a series smaller fundraisers including 'One Night Stand'.[16][17] In 2019 Attack Theatre announced the return of the annual fundraiser but has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

  1. ↑ "NonprofitName Internal Revenue Service filings". ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
  2. 1 2 Sucato, Steve (25 February 2015). "Attack Theatre co-founders Michele de la Reza and Peter Kope return to the stage". Arts Air. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  3. ↑ "Cellist Dave Eggar on His 'Pandora's Box' of Creating Music". International Musician. 1 September 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2022. Eggar has worked as an occasional music director and musician for Attack Theatre for years.
  4. ↑ Cummings, Teresa (15 September 2016). "Attack Theater comes to JMU". The Breeze. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  5. ↑ "Attack Theatre on Tour in Indonesia". The Indonesian National News Agency. 10 June 2006 – via General OneFile.
  6. ↑ Vranish, Jane (25 July 2006). "Attack Theatre finds Indonesia receptive". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 15 October 2022. Attack was the first American company in 25 years to play Suribaya.
  7. ↑ Dacko, Karen (17 December 2020). "Arts in Pittsburgh: All the World Has Become a Stage". Pittsburgh Magazine. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  8. ↑ O'Driscoll, Bill (11 July 2022). "Performance troupes still face pandemic challenges". WESA (FM). NPR. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  9. ↑ McDevitt, Sinead (3 February 2022). "Unboxing Curiosity at Pittsburgh's Attack Theatre". Pittsburgh Magazine. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  10. ↑ Selvin, Claire (16 August 2018). "Bloomberg Philanthropies Selects Organizations in Washington, D.C., and Pittsburgh for Arts Innovation and Management Program". ARTnews. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  11. ↑ "Know a Theatre: Quantum Theatre of Pittsburgh, PA". American Theatre. 14 October 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  12. ↑ Hentges, Rochelle (9 March 2007). "Attack of the 'Dirty Ball'". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 15 October 2022. Attack Theatre is known for its edgy, modern-dance performances, often featuring things like steel-beam installations.
  13. ↑ Bencivenga, Natalie (13 April 2015). "10th annual Dirty Ball held on South Side". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 15 October 2022. A party that transcends time and space.
  14. ↑ Benz, Kate (12 April 2015). "South Side warehouse in Pittsburgh 'bare'ly contains Dirty Ball festivities". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  15. ↑ Baron, Jennifer (30 March 2015). "Oops! They did it again: The Dirty Ball turns 10". NEXTPittsburgh. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  16. ↑ Conner, Foo (26 February 2016). "Attack Theatre's One Night Stand". Jekko. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  17. ↑ Benz, Kate (14 February 2016). "Fanfare: Attack Theatre's One Night Stand at the Ace Hotel in East Liberty". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
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