CLUB ALIVE! Keene Edition!

What makes Keene unique? More importantly, who are the folks that make Keene, Keene? Find out the answers to those questions at CLUB ALIVE! Keene Edition! on Thursday, Dec. 11 at Showroom. CLUB ALIVE! is the brainchild of Kye Alive who hosts this lively, roving performance party on tour from Portland, Ore., that for one night only will showcase the people and personalities of Keene. Started in April 2024, 16 shows have been produced to date. "This is the first time I'm producing CLUB ALIVE! outside of Portland. My goal with this show is to create surprising intersections and experimental collaborations between different artists here and hopefully forge new artistic connections. Performers range in age from 15 to 85 and include a published author, to a newly minted singer-songwriter, to a former Radio City Rockette. I think magic will happen when we get all these people together in one room," says Kye Alive (aka Kye Grant) in a recent phone call with The Keene Sentinel. According to publicity materials, this event is inspired by late-night talk shows, televised dance programs, nightlife culture and the zany energy of early Nickelodeon. CLUB ALIVE! blends the magic of the dance floor with multidisciplinary performance, intimate artist interviews, audience interaction and opportunities for real connection. In the Keene edition of CLUB ALIVE!, the party brings together a wide-ranging mix of what Keene has to offer: with poets, dancers, musical acts, actors, a DJ and even the local barbershop chorus, "The Cheshiremen," for a thrilling, unpredictable celebration of crowd power. "I auditioned 15 people last week and was honored that so many people were called to show up and bring their vulnerability and bravery and share their passion with me," says Grant. "I think of CLUB ALIVE! as an artist laboratory where I can put my love of variety into one cohesive place. I love curating and producing events and connecting with other artists. The show always opens and closes with a rave-inspired dance party which on Dec. 11 will be deejayed by Keene local Owen Z.," Grant adds. Grant says the show will include music, art, dance, theater and possibly a psychic medium. "A unique component of the party is that I interview artists live onstage after their performances. I like to create a lot of transparency throughout the show as we share in the experience; like, what just happened? How do they do what they do? It generates intimacy and dialogue between the performers and the audience," Grant says. Grant is the current 2025 Social Practice Artist in Residence for SPAR(K), a program that brings accomplished social practice artists to Keene, to create engaging, participatory experiences with and for the community. They are the fifth SPAR(K) artist in Keene and explain that SPAR(K) stands for Social Practice Artist Residency (Keene). Founded by Keene-based painter and Vermont College of Fine Arts Professor Craig Stockwell, it's designed to bring social practice artists to Keene to work within the community. "Craig likes to say it's meant to hold up a mirror to the community of Keene and help people see who they are and where they are, with the facilitation of an artist who is used to working in social ways," Grant says. Grant, 41, is a performer and socially engaged artist originally from Boston, Mass., now based in Portland, Ore. They moved to Portland to complete an M.F.A. degree at Portland State University in art and social practice, one of the first graduate programs in the world to offer this field of study. "Hosting is how I fuse social practice art into my performance work, because hosting is a very social, interactive, people-oriented role." Grant explains that "social practice art is also called socially engaged art. It's any kind of art that prioritizes relationships, collaboration and participation; so artists making work out in the world, in public, in the community." When asked about how Keene has treated them, Grant replies, "It's so lively, and everyone has been incredibly warm and welcoming and eager to connect me with other members of the community." "Keith Marks of the Colonial Theatre met me on day one of my residency and invited me to guest on the new Showroom Instagram account. It's been fun as I've been video blogging my Keene explorations and adventures; sharing a behind the scenes look into the process of producing this show" Grant says. "I've met over 100 wonderful people in town since I arrived. I really hope that the show feels like a culmination of all of this social research and community connection," Grant says. IF YOU GO WHAT: CLUB ALIVE! Keene Edition! - A Performance Party and Interview Show WHERE: Showroom, 20 Commercial St., Keene WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. (doors at 6:30 p.m.) MORE INFO: Free and open to all ages. Please secure your free tickets at: thecolonial.org/event/club-alive-keene-edition/ Follow this project on Instagrams: @kyealive @spark.residency @showroomkeene.nh