Iverson and Morris worked through a few drafts and then set the suite-Iverson performs onstage with a stellar cast of musicians. “I only work with live music-so this collaboration is just…more of itself.” “Ethan was my music director for many years,” Morris said. Iverson’s working relationship with Morris allowed for some back-and-forth in the creation of Pepperland.

Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” “With a Little Help From My Friends,” “A Day in the Life,” “When I’m Sixty-Four,” “Within You Without You,” and “Penny Lane,” plus six original pieces inspired by the sounds of the Sgt. That’s really the ethos of Pepperland-it’s Mark Morris Dance Group that you’re seeing onstage.” “You’re going to get more Wooster Group than Shakespeare, but that’s because Shakespeare has already been canonized. “It’s like seeing the Wooster Group do Shakespeare,” Iverson continued. “There was room for me to play and adjust because everyone knows them already.”Īfter working with Morris to select six Beatles tracks, Iverson (formerly Morris’ live music director, then founding member of jazz trio The Bad Plus) adapted them for the stage. “The Beatles are like human folklore,” Iverson said. Everyone already knows the sounds, the colors, the feelings-so Morris and collaborator Ethan Iverson take advantage, departing from the classic melodies in favor of play. Commissioned for Liverpool’s 50 th anniversary celebration of the iconic quartet in 2017, Pepperland uses the universal catalogue of Beatles discography to its advantage.

The Horror Club by Mark Morris