The fourth annual Solo Flights Festival, a week-long showcase of solo plays, will feature a new work by James Whiteside, titled Dead Center. The festival will be held from September 7 to 14, 2023, at Theatre Aspen’s Hurst Theatre. The play will be performed by Whiteside himself and will reveal the pages of his Center Center book.
Tony Award-nominated American Ballet Theatre principal dancer James Whiteside has published a memoir in essays titled Center Stage: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Dancing Toward the Light in 2021. In the book, Whiteside candidly tells the story of his behind-the-scenes life, including coming out as gay in his teens, developing his drag persona Ühu Betch, becoming a principal dancer, losing childhood pets, and going through a complicated relationship with his late mother. The artist’s writing remains ironic and humorous, even though he faced quite painful personal challenges during his life.
Directed by Lorin Latarro, “Dead Center” is inspired by Whiteside’s own experiences and will pull back the curtain on the artist’s life. Despite the tragic story, the play has been described as “the most fun funeral you’ll ever attend.”
Dead Center will be performed on September 12 and 14, 2023. Tickets are now on sale on the official Theatre Aspen website.
