10 // COASTWEEKEND.COM
PHOTO
BY JINGZI
PHOTOGRAPHY
‘Little Miss
Tough It’
Portland dance company BodyVox performs Halloween-themed ‘BloodyVox’ at Liberty Theatre
By HEATHER DOUGLAS
FOR COAST WEEKEND
O
n Friday the 13th of October,
BodyVox, a Portland-based dance
company, will bring their fright-
fully fun performance “BloodyVox” to
Astoria’s historic Liberty Theatre.
A story told in body movement,
“BloodyVox” nods to Halloween as well as
local ghost legends. The “Cirque du Soleil-
”-esque performance features old standbys
— like ghosts, goblins and vampires — and
pop culture staples: “The Shining,” Alfred
Hitchcock, even Abbott and Costello.
The show is “rather cinemagraphic with
setting, character and story,” said Jamey
Hampton, who co-founded BodyVox with
his wife and dance partner, Ashley Roland.
“Each dance we present is its own little
movie.”
Unlike many traditional shows,
“BloodyVox” pairs classical horror like
Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” with satire
like Mel Brook’s “Young Frankenstein.”
“The work is very approachable and not
confusing or alienating,” Hampton said.
“Even the sad pieces are lovely.”
Hampton and Roland, who conceptual-
ized and choreographed the show in honor
of their favorite holiday, tried to avoid the
obvious Halloween trappings.
“There is a real variety of emotions, but
most of it is purely fun,” Hampton said.
“We intentionally stay away from horror
and gore; it’s been overdone with haunted
houses.”
“BloodyVox” is creepy, yes, but also
festive. The Liberty lobby will be decorat-
ed, and guests are encouraged to come in
costume.
“We’re known for being haunted here
(at the Liberty). ‘BloodyVox’ will be pay-
ing homage to our Astoria ghosts,” Jennifer
Crockett, the theater’s executive director,
IF YOU GO
What: “BloodyVox” by
BodyVox
When: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13;
doors open for wine/beer
reception at 6 p.m.
Where: The Liberty
Theatre (1203 Commercial
St., Astoria)
Reserve seating: $20 to $35
Minors $5 in Section C only.
Groups of 10 or more save
10 percent in Section A