John Fleck reinvents the gothic horror genre in a horrifyingly hysterical tale of taxidermy, transformation and caged creatures.

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, USA, October 27, 2016 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Dixon Place (Ellie Covan, Founding & Artistic Director) proudly presents its new theatrical commission Blacktop Highway, written and performed by the nationally renowned and groundbreaking artist John Fleck. One of the infamous NEA-4, Fleck has been a prominent theatrical figure since 1990 when he and three other performance artists’ National Endowment for the Arts grants were withdrawn after being contested in a precedent-setting Supreme Court case. Directed by Randee Trabitz, Blacktop Highway begins performances on Friday November 4th at 7:30 PM and will play a limited run of six performances only – November 4th, 5th, 11th, 12th, 18th and 19th at 7:30 PM, at Dixon Place (161A Chrystie Street). Tickets are $18 in advance, $22 at the door, and $15 for seniors and students and can be purchased by visiting www.dixonplace.org or by calling 866-811-4111.

Inspired by classic horror cinema and Freud’s theories of mind and ego, Blacktop Highway weaves video and virtuosic theatrical staging with John Fleck’s remarkable vocal qualities, leading the audience into a darkly hilarious world of sex, greed and religion as Fleck performs more than 10 characters.


John Fleck is a performance artist and actor based in Los Angeles. In 1990, he and three other performance artists (Karen Finley, Tim Miller, and Holly Hughes), now known as the NEA-4, were denied funding by the National Endowment for the Arts culminating in a U.S. Supreme Court case involving freedom of speech and charges of obscenity (John was vetoed for performance comedy with a toilet prop). John is the recipient of four LA Critics Circle Awards, eight DramaLogue, six LA Weekly and two Backstage West Awards, all for “Outstanding Performance”. His previous show, Mad Women was nominated for a Bessie Award and won the 2012 LA Weekly Award for “Outstanding Solo Performance”. Other critically acclaimed solo shows include: Side EFFlecks May Include, Johnny’s Got a Gun, Nothin’ Beats Pussy, Dirt, Me, A Snowball’s Chance in Hell, Blessed are all the Little Fishes, Psycho Opera & I got the He-Be-She-Be’s. In addition to Dixon Place, his past performance venues include: The ICA (London); ICGA (Boston); The Warhol Museum (Pittsburgh); The New Museum, The Public Theater, The Guggenheim Museum, PS-122, Second Stage, La Mama, Joe’s Pub (NYC), The Broad Stage, The Getty Museum, Cal Plaza, MOCA, Taper 2 and Bootleg (LA). TV/Film (a sampling): “Criminal Minds,” “Anger Management,” “Bones,” “The Middle,” “True Blood,” “Weeds,” “The Closer,” “Nip Tuck,” “Carnivale,” “Seinfeld,” “Murder One” and “Tales of the City.” John is one of only three actors who have performed as many roles in all the Star Trek TV series (“The Next Generation,” “Deep Space 9,” “Voyager” and “Enterprise.”). Film credits include: Falling Down, Waterworld, etc., that enable him financial fluidity to create his, not necessarily for profit, performance art.

The creative team includes costumes by Christina Wright, Video design by Heather Fipps, Puppet design by Christine Papalexis and original lighting design by Anne Militello.

This Dixon Place commission is made possible with public funds from NY State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the NY State Legislature and NYC Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

The Dixon Place Lounge is open before and after the show. Proceeds from the bar directly support Dixon Place’s artists and mission.

Dixon Place is located at 161A Chrystie Street (between Rivington and Delancey), in Manhattan’s Lower East Side (By subway: B/D to Grand, F to 2nd Ave, J/Z to Bowery, 6 to Spring St, M to Essex St).

About Dixon Place:

An artistic incubator since 1986, Dixon Place is a Bessie and Obie Award-winning non-profit institution committed to supporting the creative process by presenting original works of theater, dance, music, puppetry, circus arts, literature and visual art at all stages of development. Presenting over 1000 creators a year, this local haven inspires and encourages diverse artists of all stripes and callings to take risks, generate new ideas and consummate new practices. Many artists, such as Blue Man Group, John Leguizamo, Lisa Kron, David Cale, David Drake, Deb Margolin and Reno, began their careers at DP. In addition to emerging artists, Dixon Place has been privileged to present established artists such as Mac Wellman, Holly Hughes, Justin Bond, Karen Finley, Kate Clinton and Martha Wainwright. After spawning a salon in her Paris apartment in 1985, founding Artistic Director Ellie Covan pioneered the institution in her NYC living room for 23 years. Covan was a recipient of a Bessie, a New York Dance and Performance Award and a Bax10 Award for her service to the community. Dixon Place received two Obie Awards, and an Edwin Booth Award for Excellence in Theater. Dixon Place has organically developed and expanded into a leading professional, state-of-the-art facility for artistic expression.

Anita Lee
Anita Lee Publicity Etc
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