Derangement of the Senses is a multimedia literary reading featuring some of New York’s most exciting writers, storytellers, musicians, and burlesque performers. The result is an atmosphere where new artforms flourish and incredible acts of literary and artistic dynamo amaze and astound. Inspired by the French proto-punk poet Arthur Rimbaud, Derangement focuses on the innovative new genres that are born when transgressive, transdisciplinary collaborations happen. Burlesque performers dance as their favorite literary characters while psychedelic visuals swirl and acoustic and electronic music cacophonously collide. You haven’t seen this kind of literary reading before.

Derangement is hosted by Kevin Carter and Miracle Jones, and it takes its name from a letter written by Arthur Rimbaud, who believed that “a poet makes himself a seer by an immense, long, deliberate derangement of the senses.” Its focus is on the necessity of cross-pollination between artists that work in different genres and the explosive interactions that take place when this occurs. Shows in the past have boasted everything from laser harps and electroencephalographs to cakes and LED butterfly wings. The show began in January of 2010 and previously took place at Happy Ending Lounge in the Lower East Side. Some of New York City’s most talented young writers and performers have performed pieces that recall the NYC theatrical and artistic performance art renaissance of the 80s and 90s while also managing to make that spirit their own in an entertaining, contemporary atmosphere.

Past readers/storytellers have included Rae Bryant, Peter Aguero, Bill Cheng, Elizabeth Crane, Miracle Jones, Ed Champion, Leigh Stein, Steve Zimmer, Arianne Benford, Jeanne Thornton, Meghann Plunkett, Lisa Marie Basile, Sasha Fletcher, and Chavisa Woods. The show has also hosted burlesque performances by Nasty Canasta, Iris Explosion, Anja Keister, Lucille ti Amore, Boots LaMae, and Masae. You can find more at www.derangementofthesenses.com.

Cecilia Corrigan is a writer and performer working in New York and Los Angeles. Her first book, Titanic (Lake Forest College Press, 2014), was awarded the Madeleine P. Plonsker Prize. In addition to writing for television, film, and theater, she has published fiction in n+1 and elsewhere, and performs stand-up comedy. Her new show called “The Coldest Princess Wave,” which was commissioned by the New York Performance Art Collective, recently debuted at the Duplex Theater. Check out her Twitter here.

Ryan Britt’s writing has appeared in The New York Times, VICE, The Awl, Story, Electric Literature, Nerve, Omni, Clarkesworld, The MindHut, The Barnes and Noble Book Blog, Tor.com, and elsewhere. Ryan has told stories on stage with The Moth, The Liar Show, RISK! and is the co-curator of two live reading series; Lust for Genre and The Hi-Fi Reading Series. He has taught for The Gotham Writers’ Workshop, The Sackett Street Writers’ Workshop, and teaches privately. Ryan’s first book, the essay collection Luke Skywalker Can’t Read and Other Geeky Truths, will be published by Plume (an imprint of Penguin Random House) on November 24th, 2015. You can find more at ryanbrittwriter.com.

Sarah Bridgins is a writer and performer living in Brooklyn. Her poems have appeared in Sink Review, MonkeyBicycle, InDigest, and Two Serious Ladies among other journals. Her book reviews and interviews have been featured in Bookslut, The Rumpus, and the New York Daily News. You can find more of her writing at sbridgins.tumblr.com.

Ivory Fox, known as ‘The Pinup on the Pole’, is a professional pole performer who specializes in burlesque pole. She is known for her clever and athletic routines that deliver humor with a heap of sexy.
 

Ivory Fox official site.

Todd Anderson creates poetic experiences using a projector, code, sound design and a wireless USB keyboard he wears around his neck. He calls this Hotwriting. He is a co-owner of Babycastles, host of the monthly WordHack language+technology series, and has a futuristic ebook forthcoming from Instar Books. See more at toddpoet.com.

Jason Scott Laney is a piano/keyboard player and songwriter living in Brooklyn, New York. In addition to his solo work, Jason performs with the bands Victor V. Gurbo & Co., Mad Meg, and House of Fiction. His website is www.jasonscottlaney.com..

Miracle Jones is from Texas. He is a Sagittarius. He is a very private person. You can read more of his work at miraclejones.com.

Kevin Carter is a writer, technologist, and musician whose work has been featured in Luna Luna Magazine, MAKE, The Fiction Circus, 2600 Magazine, Kerouac’s Dog Magazine, and Divine Dirt Quarterly. His first collection of short stories, Lives of the Saints, was published by The Fiction Circus in 2012. He lives in Manhattan. Read more at shotintoeternity.com.