Mark Morris Dance Group: Pepperland

Under normal circumstances, the phrase "a dance performance inspired by Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" is a good reason to run screaming. Pepperland, however, which was commissioned by the city of Liverpool to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the most famous Beatles album, is not a normal circumstance. A creation of the legendary choreographer (and Seattle émigré) Mark Morris and his frequent musical collaborator Ethan Iverson of the Bad Plus, the show is more innovation than commemoration. It sets fascinating movement in stunning costumes to new arrangements of the Beatles’ deathless songs that incorporate trace elements of the pre-rock music that informs Sgt. Pepper's—blues, jazz, music hall, and raga to name a few. Please don’t make me say “a splendid time is guaranteed for all.”