From Cecile Oreste of danceDC
Helanius J. Wilkins. (Tim Coburn)
According to Studio Theatre, POP! is “a musical murder-mystery extravaganza that peeks inside the tumultuous artistic revelry of Andy Warhol’s infamous Factory.” Currently playing at the 14th Street NW theater until August 14, this Helen Hayes Awards Recommended production is directed by Keith Alan Baker, Hunter Styles and Jennifer Harris with choreography from Helanius J. Wilkins.
We caught up with Wilkins, Founder and Artistic Director of EDGEWORKS Dance Theater, to learn more about his role in POP!
Borderstan: How did you get involved with POP!?
Wilkins: This production marks my sophomore effort in musical theatre. I was invited to be the choreographer for POP! following my wildly successful and critically-acclaimed choreography for the Studio Theatre’s 2010 summer musical, Passing Strange.
Borderstan: Why did you want to be part of this production?
Helanius J. Wilkins is the founder of EDGEWORKS Dance Theater. (Courtesy danceDC and Wilkins)
Editor’s note: The following story is from danceDC, which is written by Cecile Oreste. In addition, Oreste writes about the arts for Borderstan.com; you can follow her on Twitter @dance_DC. This story is crossposted with the permission of Oreste and the author.
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From Helanius J. Wilkins, Founder & Artistic Director
When I founded EDGEWORKS Dance Theater, I had only a dream and a gut feeling telling me that this was what I needed to do. I planted my feet firmly onto the ground and began the work — the work that would lead to, and is, the journey of EDGEWORKS. Back then I wasn’t so concerned with the future. I was more focused on creating the moments that would give way to building a foundation and shedding light on the possibilities of a future. It is now 10 years later.
