Artrageous is making its way to the Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) in Rahway on Sunday, February 23, 2025 at 2 PM! This is one of the most engaging, interactive spectacles that I have yet to come across. Their troupe's bio promises a one-of-a-kind experience.
“Imagine an artist creating a masterpiece before your eyes in mere moments. With a palette that also mixes captivating vocals, intricate choreography and exciting audience interaction - Artrageous takes you on a unique visual journey packed with wild inspiration, creativity and fun!
The Artrageous troupe of artists, musicians, singers and dancers, hailing from the high desert of New Mexico, pay tribute to a variety of art forms, icons and musical genres culminating in a gallery of fabulous finished paintings. The result? A one of a kind crossover experience!”
I wanted to dig a little deeper into what audiences might expect from the folks touting themselves as outrageous artists. They are anything but inconspicuous; one quick look at their costumes and you know that this will be a colorful show - in more ways than one. I reached out to speak with their emcee, Lauri McKelvey-Francis to get the dirt, or should I say paint splatter? But first, let’s get to know a bit about Lauri.
In a troupe of nine, each performer has their role to fulfill. Actually, this talented team has multiple roles to fulfill. Lauri is not only the master of ceremonies but the costume designer, choreographer, painter and media representative. She has worn multiple hats within the Artrageous world since the program’s inception in 2014 but she has been touring with the artistic troupe for over twenty years. This very busy woman made sure to tell me how grateful she is that she gets to work and play with her family.
While this family prefers to move as a whole, as one entity, I cannot let this article go by without naming each of the talented performers who contribute to what is a masterpiece in motion. The Artrageous family is made up of John de Wolf, Remy Tellone, Marco (Kuky) Ortega, Jarvis Moorehead, Lauri McKelvey-Francis, MyKynna Van Wey, Spencer Evans, Cheryl Slader, and Zach McKinney. But what is it that we can expect from these talented folks?
“More than a show, this is an experience. There is tons of art happening on stage and in the house, with something for everyone,” Francis says. She assures me that for folks who love music, Artrageous offers great original music as well as music that people know and love. There will be paintings crafted live and in real time, one of which will go home with a lucky audience member thanks to a special raffle, and for those who love to dance, they are welcomed to do so. All that, and we are just barely breaking the surface.
“There are no rules! You don’t have to stay in your seat. If you feel the need to move, it is totally artrageous to do so. The experience is so uplifting, inspiring, and joyful because we include people in it. It is their show. Without the audience, Artrageous wouldn’t exist.”
For folks like me who may cower at the thought of audience participation, fear not! This is, as Francis asserts, a “choose your own adventure. You can immerse yourself as little or as much as you’d like. If you simply want to clap, clap. If you want to hop up on stage, that’s an option too!”
I asked Lauri to name her favorite memory of performing with Artrageous and for a troupe known for performing for the likes of Harrison Ford, Lebron James, Steve Forbes and Sir Richard Branson, I was expecting a much different response. For Lauri, “it’s really just these moments on stage where someone will say ‘you’ve inspired me so much to get back into playing saxophone’ or a little girl will be on stage and shout ‘I’ve never been this famous before! This is such a big deal!’ It’s the moments where you see the impact that you’ve made on someone. Most recently, a little kid said that he’d never felt this much joy before and my gosh, how amazing it is to see a ten year old articulate that thanks to your work.”
If you’ve seen their photos and watched their videos, you may be wondering how a show that seems so overwhelming in premise may qualify as a sensory friendly show. Well, thanks to the folks at UCPAC who organize the sensory friendly series, there are ways in which the troupe is instructed to adjust their format. These shows are specially adapted for children and adults with autism and other sensory sensitivities. What does this mean for you and your family?
* Performances will run 60 minutes with no intermission.
* Seating is general admission but a limited number of tickets will be sold to maintain a comfortably sized audience.
* House lights remain on throughout the entire performance.
* Audio volumes will be lowered and remain constant to prevent abrupt, jarring sounds.
* Performers will refrain from using any flashing or strobe lights on stage.
The Sensory Friendly Theatre Series at UCPAC is designed to be a safe and enjoyable space for families of all ages. You can learn more about the series and its amenities here.
Tickets for Artrageous are $8 and available for purchase online. Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) is located at 1601 Irving Street in Rahway, New Jersey.
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