Martha@BAM—The 1963 Interview

More than a theatrical work or dance performance, Martha@BAM—The 1963 Interview is an act of artistic resurrection. At the heart of the performance is Martha Graham, the visionary choreographer who changed the course of modern dance during the first half of the 20th century. Making their BAM debut, Richard Move embodies Graham in all her complexity and elegance, faithfully recreating an interview held on stage at the 92nd Street Y on March 31, 1963, in which she discussed the meaning and method behind her most iconic roles. Appearing opposite Move is Tony Award-winning actress and playwright Lisa Kron, portraying dance critic and interviewer Walter Terry.

A highly regarded choreographer and performer in their own right, Move was already known for their uncanny performances as Graham when the 92nd Street Y’s Harkness Dance Center presented them with a recording of the 1963 interview. Joined by Kron and two former Graham company dancers, Catherine Cabeen and PeiJu Chien-Pott, demonstrating Graham’s dance vocabulary, Move lovingly re-enacts the historic event, bringing to life the passionate presence of an iconic American artist.