Six years ago, Karen O started working on an album, but she came to realize the material “was much broader than putting it out as a rock record.” The final manifestation of this introspective exercise is a psycho-opera of sorts, and the unique performance entitled, Stop the Virgens, debuts tomorrow in DUMBO in conjunction with St. Ann’s Warehouse.She teamed up with co-creator and production designer K.K. Barrett (who has worked on films like Where the Wild Things Are and Lost in Translation) to conceive what Karen describes as “an assault on the tragic joys of youth, fever dreams drenched in visual seduction, a cathartic spell spun through a cycle of nine songs.”They weren’t quite sure how to categorize the genre-blending performance, because its narrative doesn’t flow quite like that of a musical. The effect is a lot more emotional and dramatic, closer to an opera… but then again, it’s no Carmen or La Boheme, and Karen’s bewitching cries are not those of your average sopranos. Director Adam Rapp says it’s an “autobiographical journey for her, she’s putting it all out there in that way.”The psycho-opera, produced by The Studio, is an extremely multidisclipinary and chaotic visual treat as it combines theater with rock music, enhanced with video projections and technology. And yes, Karen’s outlandish style will be spotlighted, as her personal costume designer Christian Joy is outfitting the entire cast.It seems to be an experience better seen than described, as fellow Yeah Yeah Yeah’s bandmate Nick Zinner says: “It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen or heard. It’s going to blow people’s minds.”Because we’re so keen on Stop the Virgens, we’re also announcing a special one-time only ticket giveaway to say thank you to all of our most loyal Creators Project fans. Visit our Facebook page to enter.Watch the trailer of the performance above, and stay tuned for a complete documentation of Stop the Virgens‘s creative process after the show’s run.Stop the Virgens opens October 12th and runs through October 22nd. For ticket information visit St. Ann’s Warehouse.
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