Entertainment Central Pittsburgh: ‘GRAPPLING’ Comes to Town at New Hazlett

by Mike Vargo

GRAPPLING—when spelled in all caps—is not a form of wrestling, nor does it refer to the many uses of grappling hooks. As Erin Kouwe explains, GRAPPLING is an acronym for Germinated Recall in Assessment of Personal Productivity and/or Lassitude in Null Gravity. And there’s no need to take a screenshot of that, because it won’t be on the test. The test is whether you’re up for a dance/theater piece that combines astronauts with ‘80s throwback music. There is also a giant-sized rolling ladder, as it seems Kouwe really likes rolling ladders, the bigger the better. Now that she has created GRAPPLING and staged it elsewhere, Kouwe brings the show to Pittsburgh along with a cast of aerospatial performers. Currently on the faculty at Slippery Rock University, Kouwe is known for her work as a dance artist in places from Nashville to New England. All are invited to see GRAPPLING in action at the New Hazlett Theater, where it’s part of the CSA (Community Supported Art) series. 7:30 p.m. tonight with additional performances tomorrow. 6 Allegheny Square East, North Side. (M.V.)