Kink Haus
About the show
Philadelphia performance artist Gunnar Montana and his band of misfits will examine the impulses that make us vulnerable, ultimately allowing us to celebrate the expressions that make us powerful. Set in an underground nightclub, the young multi-faceted performance artist and his cast examine the impulses that excite us when fantasy, fetish, and carnal desire are at play.
“A crowd-pleasing bang...totally rad and dizzying performance art and dance spectacle...This performance is just the kind of ebullient combination of high brow ballet principles and techniques mixed with low brow hedonism all played through a kaleidoscope of the futuristic punk trash aesthetic...that is sure to leave audiences spellbound and screaming for more...’KINK HAÜS’ finds its wings through masterfully exploiting the shared experiences of lust and desire.” Full Review
“An insane and rollicking underground club...Just the outlandish costumes alone would make for a hoot of a show, but Montana doesn’t stop there. The real gist of the rollercoaster performances is dancing...Astonishingly athletic choreography, powerful, yet graceful...The dancing is out of control. But one cannot ignore Montana’s flavoring of the production with a number of themes. One, the influence of alcohol and drugs...Two, the FU attitude that nothing is out of our reach.” Full Review
"Billed as fringe, but I came away thinking it was more mainstream than it realizes...It's an attention-grabbing, joyful gender-romp that is athletically choreographed and a visual smorgasbord...If you're not so concerned about what the show's message is, 'Kink Haüs' is impossible not to enjoy — the dancing is impeccable and unexpected, and there is a bacchanalian atmosphere so intense it's hard to believe the whole spectacle is over in under an hour." Full Review
“An hour of debauchery straight from the gritty gay bars of Berlin...Largely a dance piece, with vigorously athletic and erotic choreography performed by seven skilled performers who are in remarkably good shape and often mostly undraped. Their movement veers between balletic, playful, graphic, and dangerous-looking...Designed to feel outrageous...For all the consciously edgy effects and sensual assault, Montana also seems to want us to take home something of a moral message.” Full Review
“A quickly paced romp through queer culture and identity...A culmination of what audiences have come to love in LGBTQ-affirming theater...Montana’s take is more downtown in its vibe but just as accessible...Perhaps ‘Kink Haus’ needs to road trip to Bushwick to tether itself to an audience willing to unravel. I’m sure this isn’t the last we’ll hear of Gunmar Montana. I’m fascinated to see what kind of haüs he builds next.” Full Review
"A gay fantasia that celebrates with outlandish dance and visual spectacle...from the apparently autobiographical experience of its creator Gunnar Montana...He's transformed La Mama into an underground disco, with the dance floor as performance space...Montana’s fantasia enfolds in a series of about a dozen vignettes of boldly athletic dances choreographed to a 1980s/90s soundtrack...'Kink Haus' never ceases being theatrical." Full Review
“Despite its delirious pleasures, 'Kink Haüs' feels occasionally too aware of its own edginess...Montana’s intentions are noble, but the piece...lacks genuine edge despite its provocative title...Though the show has the guts to push an audience’s boundaries, it lacks the teeth to truly leave a mark...There’s work yet to be done before ‘Kink Haüs’ lives up to its full potential, but in the meantime there’s no downside to watching this talented group of kinksters do their thing." Full Review
for a previous production "The unabashed multi-disciplinary artist recreates the decadent ambience and dissipated happenings in his company’s own immersive installation and performance...An ensemble of six daring dancers performs a masterful series of provocative segments that combine eroticism and risqué humor with an array of well-integrated genres...You won’t even need a safe word, just an open mind, and an appreciation for fierce dance and audacious design." Full Review
for a previous production "An hour of racy, beautiful movement and routines from six performers with industrial-strength bodies...If you think that means an iffy production, forget it — everything about 'Kink Haüs' is classy...'Kink Haüs' seems to be reaching for a new level of androgyny. In the end, none of that is key; the dancing itself is what’s so exciting...It’s a Fringe-defining show." Full Review
for a previous production "Dance numbers, including a fusion of nearly contortionistic prop and balletic dancing, are performed by an uber talented cast. A sweeping variety of outrageously creative and naughty haute costumes, a surreally detailed set...and preciously preposterous props, combine with phenomenal staging for a locomotive evening of entertainment you’ll never forget. Daring feats of dance, feisty fitness skits and fur, effervescent sound, spacey changelings...anything goes at 'Kink Haus.'" Full Review
for a previous production "The surprise is how charged with playful energy the show is...Montana notes the choreographic collaboration with the cast, and liberated dance was just as much on the front burner in 'Kink Haus' as Montana’s more freighted sexual themes in previous shows...The song mix and soundscape by Montana is trance-inducing and club transporting and tribe-trance-inducing." Full Review
for a previous production "Montana’s 'Kink Haus' serves the queer fantasy of your dreams...It’s loud music, dildos, heels, and lubed-up dance floors from there forward. We all know what we’re here for: hot dancing with heaping portions of sex. Montana’s production delivers, if only in a tease. Structurally, it just starts to get good, and then it’s over. And for a title like 'Kink Haus' I expected to be shocked; instead, the erotica here is actually pretty tame." Full Review
for a previous production "A relentless visual rollercoaster from start to finish...The show’s loose narrative succeeds in exploring the playfulness and joy and freedom of kink, while also providing commentary on identity issues. But the show’s numerous themes begin to pile up, and as a result the show starts to buckle under its own weight. The ending felt uncharacteristically abrupt, but 'Kink Haus' generates more than enough energy to compensate for its diffuseness." Full Review
See it if you're interested in a performance art dance piece that looks like candy but with provocative themes offers something more substantial.
Don't see it if you are offended by nudity, LGBTQ content, queer art, drug use, or sexual content. This show embraces the beauty of shared lust & hedonism.
See it if you appreciate the amazing abilities of the human body and how it can express emotions through dance, drag, acting, and movement.
Don't see it if nakedness and intimacy, both emotional and physical, is not something you want to see up close; you hold narrow views of beauty and strength
See it if You are open to a kinky, fun and fabulous experience. The energy is electric and the talent is exquisite.
Don't see it if You don’t like the idea of a freeform dance show that is sexy and edgy.
See it if You embrace creative, wild, pungent, and envelope-pushing performance art/dance/theate/erotica. An amazing hour of art and freedom!
Don't see it if You are uncomfortable with nudity, sexuality, Queer issues, or intimate theatrical experiences.
Also So glad I saw this impressive, challenging and evocative piece!
See it if You’re a fan of Broadway Bares. If you like erotica with a bit of a message this is the show for you. Fun! Hot! Sexy! Edgy! Cool! Emotional!
Don't see it if You want a plot or depth of meaning. There’s is a lot more going on here than skin but if you have a problem with sex you’ll never see it.
See it if wanting an experience filled with neon colors and modern dance choreography - brilliantly executed by a talented (& HOT!!!) young cast
Don't see it if adverse to loud club music, nudity or themes of domestic abuse or that are LGBTQ inclusive
See it if Amazingly skillful and supple dancers in a spectacle of gay affirmation & eroticism. The gorgeous, sculpted acrobats are all over the floor.
Don't see it if Highlights - Gunnar & Avi in dance of gay-bashing turned erotic. Dance in & on a bathtub. Gunnar lipsynching God Bless America into a dildo
See it if You enjoy high energy modern dance choreography with kinky erotic tones.
Don't see it if You are prudish and can't have fun.
See it if Underground gender-fluid dance odyssey in a sex dungeon through the lens of a club kid. LaMama brings the experimental mild kink downtown.
Don't see it if Apart from gay slurs, nudity, a power tool, drug use, and sex toys, the lines of kink aren't heavily drawn. By NYC theatre standards, anyway
Also At under an hour, you'll crave even more.
See it if You want a barrage of color, music & sex. A highly stylized piece that excites with aggressive choreo, inventive costumes & great songs.
Don't see it if You are uncomfortable with anything outside the box. This show felt so polished until it abruptly came to an end. Left me feeling had.
See it if you would like to see a sequence of colorful, mildly kinky dance numbers performed by agile young men & women in fairly amazing costumes.
Don't see it if you are expecting to see anything startlingly new.
Also All of the numbers in this set of kind of kinky dances please the eye.... Read more Read less
See it if You like strong sexy dancing and dancers. You aren’t offended by nudity.
Don't see it if You might be triggered by serious depiction of cocaine use - one number features a pile of cocaine and repeated “snorting” of it - NOT COOL
Also Given the title I thought there would be more actual “kink” involved b... Read more Read less
See it if you want to go to a strip club without going to a strip club with eally good dancing, albeit problematically gendered and stereotypical!
Don't see it if you want inventive, thoughtful complex dance-based work about queerness and sexuality; you aren't comfortable with nudity & lots of dildos
See it if You like provocative performances and you are open minded, kinky, sexy and looking for interdisciplinar works.
Don't see it if you just want to see what you always see
See it if you are looking for a highly-stylized, energizing, surprising production with excellent choreography, and brilliant lighting and set design.
Don't see it if you want to take your parents or children to the theatre, or if you're offended by nsfw content--otherwise, you should check it out!
Also I was worried that this production would be too reliant on raunch and ... Read more Read less
See it if you want to see incredible dancing, hear an amazing story, and be completely wrapped up in a one-of-a-kind experience.
Don't see it if vanilla is your favorite flavor.
See it if You LOVE incredible athletic euphoric dancing ! You LOVE outrageous creativity ! You want to be moved by immensely talented performers !
Don't see it if You like beige colored sets
Cast & Creatives (9)
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