Created to celebrate Chicago Dance Crash’s 15th anniversary season, “Bricklayers” goes back to Crash’s roots of “big pop culture” with an original prequel to L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz. With breakdancing and hip-hop for all ages, Crash tells the origin story of the yellow brick road with a full-length production recognized by Dance Magazine as “The Most Inventive New Work of 2017.” It’s an action-packed, lighthearted street tale of the lesser known laborers that toil within The Land of Oz with original lyrics by Chicago rapper Al Tamper. Crash’s hip-hop fusion style full of flips and spins helps tell the story of the Wicked Witch of the East and her power-hungry plan to coax others into building her magical road. Led by artistic director Jessica Deahr, Crash emphasizes a unique mission of both athleticism and accessibility.
Free 30-minute special lecture precedes the performance at 6:30 p.m. in Babka Theatre. Chicago Dance Crash is made possible, in part, by the William P. Woodward Visiting Artist-in-Residence Endowment.