Programming has been revealed for the inaugural Democracy Cycle Festival, which will be held January 15–23, 2027 at Perelman Performing Arts Center.
An extension of The Democracy Cycle—a multi-year commissioning program to assist in the development of works across theatre, opera, dance, and music exploring themes relating to democracy—the festival will present two world-premiere productions of Democracy Cycle-commissioned works, as well as free and open-to-the-public events that include a keynote speaker event, work-in-progress readings of Democracy Cycle commissions currently in development, panels, gatherings, musical performances, and networking opportunities.
The two works receiving main stage world premieres are Angélica Negrón’s The Puerto Rico Experiment and Baye & Asa’s At the Altar. Both productions are bring presented in partnership with Under the Radar.
The Puerto Rico Experiment, written by Puerto Rican-born composer Negrón with her Brooklyn-based indie electronic band Balún teaming up with Grammy-winning vocal innovators Roomful of Teeth, will run January 16-21. The tropical song cycle explores what it means for a territory without full political representation to be repeatedly treated as a laboratory. Created in collaboration with four Puerto Rican poets (Roque Raquel Salas Rivera, Nicole Delgado, Mara Pastor, and Ashley Pérez García), each sonic vignette traces a specific incident in the island’s history as a site of experimentation, from mass sterilization campaigns and imposing English in public schools to the U.S. Navy occupation of Vieques and UFO sightings in Lajas.
Choreography team Baye & Asa’s dance piece At the Altar will run January 19-23. The work explores worship through propulsive movement and evocative scenic design, reckoning with the pitfalls of extreme idolatry and questions the cost of pedestalizing any one person or idea.
The festival will also host an opening assembly on January 15, uniting artists, cultural leaders, and changemakers, as well as a keynote speaker January 22, and “Performing Public Meetings” on January 16—a participatory workshop led by Aaron Landsman and Perfect City that transforms the rituals of local government into a space for performance, reflection, and possibility. Several panels will be offered throughout the festival as well, plus lobby stage performances, and a closing reception January 23.
Several work-in-progress readings of Democracy Cycle-commissioned works that are still in development will also be presented, with Holly Bass’s Civilities, Or How to Secede Without Really Trying January 17; Vickie Ramirez, Ty Defoe, and Jeanette Harrison‘s Six Nations: One Fire January 17; Nathan Yungerberg‘s Barry, the 1970s Black Sitcom That Never Happened January 19; and Daniel Leeman Smith and Blossom Johnson’s Proclamation to the Great White Father and All His People January 23.
“We believe artists have a unique ability to open up new ways of seeing and can deepen our understanding of what democracy can be,” said artistic director Bill Rauch in a statement. “We received more than 2,000 artistic submissions for The Democracy Cycle commissioning project, from artists around the world and across every performance genre. That enthusiasm inspired us to launch this Festival, to bring artists and audiences together to connect, share ideas, and explore democratic values through the power of artistic expression.”
For more information, visit PACNYC.org.