Seattle Modern Orchestra celebrates "The Guests Go In to Supper" (1986), a seminal work featuring text scores and ideas from luminaries of the late 20th-century American Avant-Garde: John Cage, Laurie Anderson, Yoko Ono, Charles Amirkhanian, and Robert Ashley. The two-night interactive and multi-media program takes place at the newly-renovated Whim W’Him Contemporary Dance Center. Each composer included in the original collection is featured through score exploration, video, or performance, and the focal work of this anniversary celebration is Cage’s "Mushrooms et variationes".

On night one, the ensemble presents the long-form poem (featuring curator Sarah Kolat) with new dance by James Kirby Rogers alongside Cage’s "Music For ____". This fusion leans into indeterminacy, choice, and chance, while honoring the historical importance of Cage and Cunningham’s partnership and Seattle’s role in bringing the two visionary artists together.

Come back for night two on May 2nd: a gala dinner with guest performers, special films, and an invitation to celebrate SMO’s “sweet sixteen” with an Avant-Garde art prom in the irreverent spirit of this groundbreaking text.