Why performance (now?): audience, dialogue and Wave 1.12.22

This short essay will underscore a dialogic emphasis when thinking about audience in performance, defining and foregrounding an audience dialogic response orientation and a format for post-performance engagement. The essay begins with a very brief reflection on the role of audience and general talk-back models in performance. Next, grounded in Rowe's Wave 1.12.22 performance at DePaul, the essay will discuss a dialogue response format, tracing its development and design. Finally, the essay will discuss the strengths and benefits of the format, working to remedy concerns and renewed energies in the lingering question of “why performance?”