Optical Popsicle Infinity: A look at how far the annual visual variety show has come
by Seth Johnson for NUVO
When writing the script for their annual Optical Popsicle variety show, Indianapolis artist collective Know No Stranger isn't afraid to throw the zaniest of twists into a plot — even if it might seem impossible to manifest live in a large theater setting.
"Last year, we probably backed ourselves into the most demanding corner that we had up to that point by writing a moment in the finale where we launched the entire theater through a black hole into another universe," says writer and performer Ryan Felton. "That ended up being a really special moment that immersed the whole audience and brought everybody together."
Crowds should expect much of this same wackiness at the show's seventh installment, which Know No Stranger is calling Optical Popsicle Infinity. Taking place at the Indianapolis Museum of Art's Toby Theater for the second straight year, the show will consist of puppetry, video, live music, dance and more, with several surprise guests also making appearances. Due to the large amount of people that were turned away from last year's sold out extravaganza, the 2015 Op Pop will have three show times rather than one.
"I like to view Know No Stranger as a bunch of kids with superpowers," says Emily Gable, puppeteer and illustrator for Know No Stranger. "It's like Captain Planet ... We're showing people that Indianapolis is something very special and eclectic and almost homemade, and it makes you feel like you're in your grandma's house and you're playing with all your old toys again."
It was Oct. 23, 2009 when Know No Stranger originally unveiled their very first Optical Popsicle at Indy's now-defunct Earth House, with no real intentions of creating an Op Pop 2, 3 or Infinity. At this point, the group honestly admits they had no idea how the Indianapolis arts community would receive their eye-popping ideas.
Illustrator and performer Brandon Schaaf recalls, "I remember standing with Michael [a former member] and we were like, 'What if people don't like this? We think what we're doing is funny. We think what we're doing is poignant. But, we don't know if anybody will see it. And if anybody sees it, will they like it?'"
At this time, the group ultimately had something that they were trying to prove.
As one opportunity led to the next, the group was asked to be the IMA's first-ever performing artist in residence for 2015 and 2016 as part of the museum's multi-faceted ARTx series.
Scott Stulen, curator of audience experiences and performance at the IMA, first witnessed Know No Stranger at their sold out Optical Popsicle 7 performance last year at the Toby Theater.
"There's this genuine, playful, kind of joyful spirit at the core of all of it that resonates well with me, and I think it's also something that is fairly rare to be honest," says Stulen. He sees their collaborative nature as being something that truly makes them an Indianapolis gem. "I think it's so unique to have a group of artists that are working as a collective and doing work like this. They're also relatively young, but have been able to accomplish so much in a short period of time."
In addition to this year and next year's Optical Popsicles, the group's residency will also include a puppet making workshop in January 2016, the debut of Know No Stranger's first musical in April 2016, and much more. Through this residency, Stulen is hopeful that the collective will gain exposure from those outside Indianapolis.
"My goal at the end of this is that we can get them to be able to tour regionally if not nationally with some of these projects," says Stulen.
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Know No Stranger prepares for 7th ‘Optical Popsicle’
by Alison Graham for the Indianapolis Star | photos by Matt Kryger
From outside, Indy Alliance looks like a typical, old church building. But when visitors walk down the stairs, to the left and in through the double doors, they’ll discover something unexpected.
The room looks like a child’s heaven. There are different size, handmade puppets hanging from the walls and ceiling. Cardboard lobsters lounge next to a paper mache campfire. Three-foot cloth and foam pizza slices dangle from a wall.
To the unknowing eye, it looks like junk. But to members of Know No Stranger, the room is a workplace and a museum.
The pizza slices are from the Fountain Square Arts Festival, where Know No Stranger — the wackiest group of performers, comedians, writers and artists working in Indianapolis — performed as a band called “Slice.” Some top hits included “Hot and Ready for Your Love” and “Deliver Me.”
On another wall hangs a gravestone with the name “Jim” written across the front. That was from “Optical Popsicle” performance No. 3. To the right, there is a cardboard water cooler. That was from “Optical Popsicle” No. 7.
Now, Know No Stranger is preparing for their seventh annual “Optical Popsicle,” a variety show they have performed since 2009. On Thursday and Saturday at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, audiences will see a mixture of video, theater, art, comedy, puppetry, film and dance.
What started as a small, niche group of friends has grown into an organization with footing in Indianapolis. Know No Stranger is shaking up the arts scene together with their unique performances and ideas.
Know No Stranger members describe the show as a Muppets-style performance. Members play themselves and go back and forth between acting out skits and acting as themselves to put on a show for the audience.
This year’s “Optical Popsicle” will have videos, live sketches, puppeteering and shadow puppet skits.
In most “Optical Popsicles,” the group incorporates special guests from bands, dance groups or other puppeteers. This year, they invited Indy Air Bears, a jump-roping team.
The first “Optical Popsicle” was simple and only thirty minutes long. Since then, the group has expanded the performance to a longer length,
“We’ve gotten a lot better,” Brandon Schaaf, one of Know No Stranger’s founders, said. “We dream bigger.”
Emily Gable, another of the group’s founders, said that the first “Optical Popsicle” was comprised of skits that were just tiny ideas, not fully developed. The group was still starting, trying to figure out how they wanted to perform together.
After seven years, they’re trying to improve with every show.
“We’ve told stories in so many different ways,” Gable said. “It’s always nice to challenge ourselves to do something bigger and better.”
Getting bigger and better doesn’t mean Know No Stranger is losing its roots as a small, intimate organization. The group still makes their own sets, props and costumes — usually out of materials like cardboard, glue and paint.
“We never want to get away from being accessible, open and down to earth,” Know No Stranger member Rachel Leigh said. “We’ll never stray too far from our cardboard. “
As the first-ever performing artist in residence at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Know No Stranger will perform and create a variety of shows and performances for audiences in the IMA throughout 2015 and 2016.
After “Optical Popsicle,” Know No Stranger will begin work on an original musical to debut in the spring or summer.
“Being an artist, you’re used to being alone,” Gable said. “When I started working with other people, it felt like I was part of something bigger. That’s an addicting feeling and the reason I’m still here. It just keeps growing into a bigger monster of cardboard and chaos.”
Alison Graham is a 2015 Arts Journalism Fellow. The fellowship, funded partially by a National Endowment for the Arts grant, is a partnership between the Arts Council of Indianapolis and The Star.
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