Whoop Dee Doo, Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, 2008
WHOOP DEE DOO AT WINDMULLER PARK
A Variety Show Featuring Woodside’s Best Talent
Saturday August 31, 6:30 pm at Windmuller Park
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Woodside, NY, August 1, 2019 – On August 31, 2019 at 6:30 pm PARADE, a Queens-based public art program, will present a live variety show directed by the artist collective Whoop Dee Doo, in collaboration with local teen artists and community arts and cultural groups. The event will be free and open to the public. Using Windmuller Park as venue and inspiration, the project celebrates this heavily-used public space and the diverse cultures of its visitors. Whoop Dee Doo founders Jaime Warren and Matt Roche host the show in contrasting roles—Warren as a high energy can of soda and Roche as a tired werewolf—introducing Woodside-based arts and culture groups who perform on a set built out by Whoop Dee Doo artists and local teens two weeks before the event. Queens high school students and Whoop Dee Doo artists work to develop the shows theme and structure, build sets, costumes, and props, and rehearse with the participating performing groups at Sunnyside Reformed Church from August 19th to 30th. .The current list of partners include: Tibetan Community Center of NY & NJ, Woodside Dance Troupe, Bula Arts & Culture, Queens Music Academy, D.A. Sokol Gymnastics, and Los Herederos. (Groups are subject to change.)
Big and colorful sets, pop culture references and a near endless supply of whimsy define Whoop Dee Doo performances. Past performances have included a Mount Rushmore staring contest, a spider orchestra, and a rapping dracula. Whoop Dee Doo will bring more of this same creative ingenuity to Woodside!
PARADE Co-Founders, Nancy Kleaver and Paddy Johnson, who live on opposite sides of the sprawling park and playground located at 39th Road between 52nd and 54th Streets in Woodside, were inspired to launch a public art project there after years of enjoying the park and witnessing all the creative ways their neighbors also make use of the space. Says Kleaver, “Because folks use Woodside Park as their local arts center we thought inviting all kinds of local groups to perform in a Whoop Dee Doo production would be a wildly creative and unifying project for the community. We’re looking forward to celebrating the beautiful diversity that exists here in Woodside.”
This will be the first time Whoop Dee Doo, which has been commissioned to create similar variety shows at such renowned New York institutions as The Highline, MoMA, and Knockdown Center, will bring their project to a public park. The prospect was attractive to them, bringing exciting opportunities to reach more diverse audiences, but also new creative challenges. Say Jaimie Warren, “Whoop Dee Doo is ecstatic to work with the cultural groups that use the park. and cannot wait to see the magic unfold as we collaborate with eight insanely talented local teens!”
Says, Johnson, “I fully anticipate a show that puts forth the craziest version of Woodside we’ve ever seen. I don’t know what that means, exactly, but I imagine it will involve a lot of cardboard, paper mache, and laughter.”
The event is free and open to the public. Audiences are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets to sit on out front the bandshell, along with water and other aides for keeping cool.
Whoop Dee Doo at Windmuller Park is made possible by Queens Council on the Arts, Citizens Committee for NYC, NYC & Co. Foundation, individual supporters, and business sponsors: Fresh 'N Save, Atelier 4, Aubergine Cafe, Jin Bros. G Mart, and GL Business Global.
Get Involved!
The organizers are actively seeking volunteers, donations, and local business sponsors. To learn more and get involved, contact Nancy Kleaver at nancy@paradenyc.org and follow PARADE on social media:
Facebook: Parade NYC
Twitter: @paradenyc1
Instagram: @parade_nyc
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS: PARADE
PARADE collaborates with artists and the people of Queens to launch large-scale public art that sparks civic engagement and bridges gaps in the public discourse. Their first project, The Young and Mighty March, a kid-centered march on the issues they care about, took place on October 21st at Lou Lodati Park, attracting over 200 participants. Through a series of kid and teen-led speeches and performances, poster making parties, and the march itself, the project introduced young people to the arts of protest and empowered them to speak out about their concerns. Learn more at www.paradenyc.org.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS: WHOOP DEE DOO
Whoop Dee Doo is a traveling, artist-led project that creates ambitious installations and live performances internationally, generally through universities, festivals, arts organizations, and museums. Each project and accompanying programming are uniquely crafted to fit the needs of the organizations with which we partner, engaging their immediate communities. We work closely with underserved youth groups to research, conceive and create our projects. Our process emphasizes collaboration, encourages respect for diversity and seeks to initiate a cross-generational and cross-cultural dialogue. Learn more about Whoop Dee Doo at www.whoopdeedoo.org
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This program is made possible in part by the Queens Council on the Arts with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, NYC & Co. Foundation, and Citizen’s Committee for New York City
