Gelsey Bell

Gelsey Bell is an American singer, songwriter, and actress, best known for her experimental music and her portrayal of Mary in the 2016 Broadway musical Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812.[1]

Gelsey Bell
Born
Sebastopol, California
NationalityAmerican
Alma materLehigh University, New York University
OccupationSinger, songwriter, actress

Early life and education

Bell was raised in northern California.[2] Her father is a philosopher and her mother is a musician.[3] Bell's sister, Biba Bell, is a choreographer and dancer,[4] and the sisters created a collaborative performance for the first time in 2016.[5]

Bell attended Lehigh University and received a BA with a double major in music and theatre and a minor in philosophy in 2004. She went on to New York University, graduating with a PhD in Performance Studies in 2015.[6] Bell has several published performance studies pieces.

Career

Music

Bell creates experimental music, and often breaks the fourth wall during live performances.[7] She has written solo albums as well as operas, song cycles, and improvisational pieces.[8]

In 2007, Bell joined thingNY, a New York collective of experimental composer-performers. The group has created three concert-length operas: This Takes Place Close By,[9] ADDDDDDDDD,[10] and Time: A Complete Explanation in Three Parts.[11] Bell was particularly praised for her performance in This Takes Place Close By;[12] one critic called her "pure, translucent chorister’s soprano" the "icing on the sonic cake.".[13] In 2011, Bell co-founded the collective Varispeed, best known for durational performances of works by Robert Ashley and John Cage.[14]

In 2012, Bell wrote and premiered Scaling, a song cycle, as a part of the Vital Vox Festival. The piece involved many forms of unconventional piano-playing, such as Bell lying on top of the piano and singing while playing.[15][16] Bell wanted to express a connection between physicality, lyrics, and the way the songs were presented. Great Weather for Media called Bell's work "fresh" and "on the edge of what's happening."[17]

Earlier in her career, Bell released a number of albums as a singer-songwriter, including Under a Piano (2005), February (2008), and In Place of Arms (2010).[18] Most recently, she released Ciphony in collaboration with composer John King, which documented their work with Compagnie CNDC-Angers and Robert Swinston in restaging Merce Cunningham's EVENT.[19] On Ciphony, Bell made use of not only her voice but vocoder and metallophone.

Theatre and Opera

Bell was a part of the original cast and co-arranger of Ghost Quartet (performing vocals as well as metallophone, Celtic harp, accordion, and percussion), and stayed with the show while it performed at various venues all over the US.[20][21][22][23] Bell was praised by critics for her "astonishing vocal versatility,"[24] and was referred to as the "standout vocal performance."[25] A new run of Ghost Quartet will re-open Next Door at NYTW, a black box theatre component of New York Theatre Workshop, in October 2017.[26]

In 2012, Bell first became involved with Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812, an electro-pop opera based on War and Peace.[27] She never auditioned for her role, and was instead asked by composer Dave Malloy to come in for its initial workshops, as he had written a part with her in mind.[28] Bell's vocal skills inspired the opera-within-an-opera section of the musical.[29] She refers to the project as her first real acting job, since in most of her other theatrical and musical experiences she was free to portray herself.[30] Bell portrayed Mary Bolkonsky in the musical's initial performances at Ars Nova Theater, and continued with Great Comet through its Kazino run[31] and its 2016 opening on Broadway.[32][33][34] The performance marked Bell's Broadway debut.[35] Bell was praised for bringing a "compelling light" to Princess Mary,[36] and for her "impressive intense vocal control".[37]

In 2014, Bell was a performer in Crash, which was the last work of composer Robert Ashley.[38][39] Crash is unique among Ashley's operas as it is performed completely a capella, with four voices audible at any given moment. The composer wrote the parts with Bell and her Varispeed colleagues in mind. Bell compared Ashley's work to "discovering a garden where different plants blossom on each visit.".[40]

In 2015, Bell collaborated with Erik Ruin to create the show Prisoner's Song, an exploration into life in prison. Bell and Ruin utilized music, images, and recorded testimonials from former convicts in the piece.[41] The pair additionally collaborated to create an art installation shown in Eastern State Penitentiary.[42]

Bell was a featured performer and vocalist in the 2014 operatic film River of Fundament by filmmaker Matthew Barney, with composition by Jonathan Bepler.[43] She has also collaborated on operas with composers Kate Soper (composer)[44] and John King,[45] and has worked with choreographers Kimberly Bartosik[46] and Yasako Yokoshi.[47]

Awards

In 2017, Bell was one of the select group of artists recognized by The Foundation for Contemporary Arts and awarded a sound/music grant.[48] Bell has also received residencies and commissions from the Jerome Foundation.[49] Bell's Bathroom Songs was included in the 2015 iterations of MoMA PS1's Greater New York exhibition.[50]

Performance credits
Year(s) Production Role Location Category
2010 Quarterly Arts Soirée Performer Webster Hall New York
2011 Scaling Performer & Composer Roulette in Brooklyn Vital Vox: A Vocal Festival
2012 Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Princess Mary Bolkonskaya Ars Nova Off-Broadway
2013 Kazino Meatpacking District Off-Broadway
Banana Bag & Bodice's Beowulf: A Thousand Years of Baggage Warrior 1 Abrons Arts Center New York
2014 Crash Performer Whitney Biennial New York
2015 Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Princess Mary Bolkonskaya American Repertory Theater Regional
Crash Performer Roulette in Brooklyn Off-Broadway
Prisoner's Song Co-writer, performer
This Takes Place Close By Performer Knockdown Center in Queens New York
Ghost Quartet Pearl White, Sheherazade, Soldier, Lady Usher, Camera Shop Owner American Repertory Theater Regional
Curran Theatre
2016 Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Princess Mary Bolkonskaya Imperial Theatre Broadway
2017 Ghost Quartet Pearl White (the victim), Sheherazade, Soldier, Lady Usher, Camera Shop Owner New York Theatre Workshop Off-Broadway
2019 Improvement (Don Leaves Linda) Linda The Kitchen New York

Discography

as Gelsey Bell

  • This is Not a Land of Kings (Gold Bolus Recordings, 2018)
  • SCALING live at roulette (2012)
  • In Place of Arms (2010)
  • love is just a crack in the space of you (2009)
  • February (2008)
  • Under a Piano (2005)
  • Live at the Wildflower (2004)

With The Chutneys

  • HOME (Gold Bolus Recordings, 2019)

With Joseph White

  • Toyland (Gold Bolus Recordings, 2017)

With John King

  • Ciphony (Gold Bolus Recordings, 2017)

With thingNY

  • minis/Trajectories (Gold Bolus Recordings, 2016)

With Varispeed

  • Empty Words (Gold Bolus Recordings, 2019)

References
  1. Isherwood, Charles (2016-11-14). "Review: 'Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812,' on the Heels of 'Hamilton'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-11-15.
  2. Ferris, Alaina (25 September 2015). "SINCERITY IS THE NEW AVANT-GARDE". Culturebot. Culturebot Arts and Media. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  3. McGovern, Chris (1 December 2011). "Gelsey Bell". The Glass Blog. WordPress. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  4. Burke, Siobhan (22 June 2017). "Dance in NYC This Week". The New York Times. The New York Times. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  5. Roulette. "Collaborative Duets: Gelsey Bell and Biba Bell // Gelsey Bell and John King – Roulette". Roulette. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  6. NYU Tisch. "Alumni Update: Gelsey Bell". NYU: Tisch. New York University. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  7. Sheridan, Molly. "Gelsey Bell: Get a Little Closer". New Music Box. New Music USA. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  8. Bell, Gelsey. "Music". gelseybell.com. Gelsey Bell. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  9. Dunn, Arlene & Larry (17 September 2015). "5 Questions to thingNY (composer/performer collective)". I CARE IF YOU LISTEN. Sustainist Media.
  10. Sheridan, Molly. "Sounds Heard: thingNY—ADDDDDDDDD". New Music Box. New Music USA. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  11. BWW News Desk (April 19, 2011). "The Brick Presents Time: A Complete Explanation in Three Parts 5/4-14". BroadwayWorld.com. Wisdom Digital Media. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  12. Stock, Jennifer (20 October 2015). "thingNY's This Takes Place Close By at The Knockdown Center". I Care If You Listen. Sustainist Media. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  13. Delarue (25 September 2015). "ThingNY Debuts a Blackly Amusing, Sonically Rich Reflection on Hurricane Sandy". New York Music Daily. New York Music Daily. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  14. Smith, Steve. "A Fresh Stamp on a Veteran Composer's Work". The New York Times. The New York Times. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  15. Kushner, Daniel J. (4 November 2011). "Vital Vox: "A & Q" With Gelsey Bell". Huffington Post. Oath Inc. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  16. McGovern, Christ (November 8, 2011). "Sequenza21/ » Vital Vox 2011: A Review". Sequenza21: The Contemporary Classical Music Community. Sequenza21. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  17. Lyon, Brant (27 March 2012). "Composer's Voice is fresh!". Great Weather for Media. Great Weather for Media. Archived from the original on 8 January 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  18. "Gelsey Bell". All Music Guide.
  19. Mulder, Dolf (12 July 2017). "1090". Vital Weekly. Frans de Waard.
  20. Clement, Olivia. "Dave Malloy's Ghost Quartet to Play Outdoors in Brooklyn | Playbill". Playbill. Playbill. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  21. Byrne, Terry (September 10, 2015). "At Oberon, a spirited 'Ghost Quartet' from Malloy and company - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Boston Globe. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  22. Crompton, Sarah (August 8, 2016). "Edinburgh review: Ghost Quartet (Summerhall)". WhatsOnStage.com. WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  23. Vincentelli, Elisabeth (13 October 2014). "'Ghost Quartet' brims with life". New York Post. New York Post.
  24. Hurwitt, Robert (October 24, 2015). "See this 'Ghost' at the Curran". SFGate. Hearst Communications. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  25. Moyser, Tom (August 17, 2016). "Ghost Quartet". Broadway Baby. Web Editors Ltd. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  26. "Dave Malloy's Ghost Quartet Will Re-Open New York Theatre Workshop's Black Box Space | Playbill". Playbill. Retrieved 2017-10-23.
  27. Remis, Allison (9 February 2017). ""The Great Comet" soars high". The Snapper: Millersville University. Millersville University. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  28. Parissa (10 January 2017). "Pop-Culturalist Chats with Gelsey Bell". Pop-Culturalist. Pop-Culturalist. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  29. Weinert-Kendt, Rob (21 March 2017). "The Real Malloy". AMERICAN THEATRE. Theatre Communications Group. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  30. Myers, Victoria (23 March 2017). "Women of "The Great Comet of 1812"". THE INTERVAL. THE INTERVAL. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  31. Isherwood, Charles (16 May 2013). "'Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812' at Kazino". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  32. Teeman, Tim (15 November 2016). "'War and Peace' Comes to Broadway in 'Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812'". The Daily Beast. The Daily Beast Company LLC. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  33. Sullivan, Lindsey (April 14, 2017). "Denee Benton & Josh Groban's Voices Will Soar Over Your Speakers! Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Cast Album Set to Land". Broadway.com. Broadway.com. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  34. Editorial Staff (February 7, 2017). "Broadway's Great Comet Asks Fans to Take Part in Cast Recording Session". TheaterMania.com. Theater Mania. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  35. Rickwald, Bethany (November 11, 2016). "First Look at Broadway's Great Comet, Starring Josh Groban and Denée Benton". TheaterMania.com. Theater Mania. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  36. Sileo, Guest Blogger: Alyssa (February 27, 2017). "BWW Blog: Alyssa Sileo - Madly In Love: The Blazing, Immersive Genius of THE GREAT COMET". BroadwayWorld.com. BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  37. Clarke, David (May 19, 2017). "BWW CD Review: NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 (Original Broadway Cast Recording) is Multifaceted and Riveting". BroadwayWorld.com. Wisdom Digital Media. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  38. Smith, Steve (14 April 2014). "Robert Ashley's Work Lives On at the Whitney Biennial". The New York Times. New York Times. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  39. Schweitzer, Vivien (16 April 2015). "Review: Robert Ashley's 'Crash' Opens at Roulette". The New York Times. The New York Times. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  40. Dunn, Arlene & Larry (9 April 2015). "5 Questions to Tom Hamilton, Gelsey Bell, Dave Ruder (Crash)". I CARE IF YOU LISTEN. Sustainist Media. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  41. Fonseca-wollheim, Corinna Da (15 October 2015). "Review: 'Prisoner's Song' Delves Into Creativity of Confinement". The New York Times. The New York Times. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  42. Newhall, Edith (June 1, 2017). "New art about incarceration at Eastern State and a Whitney Biennial sculptor at ICA". Philly.com, The Inquirer. Philadelphia Media Network (Digital), LLC. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  43. IMDB. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6287532/ Retrieved 22 Aug 2017.
  44. Tommasini, Anthony. "Wingless, but They've Found Their Soul Mates". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  45. Woolfe, Zachary. "Review: A Trio of Micro-Operas in the East Village". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  46. Burke, Siobhan. "Finding Poetry in Pairs". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  47. Macaulay, Alastair. "'Giselle' Meets Kabuki in a Tale of Love, Madness and Toxic Breath". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  48. "Gelsey Bell". December 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  49. "Gelsey Bell "Our Defensive Measurements"". Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  50. "The Voice in Three Acts and Bathroom Songs With Robert Ashley; Pharmakon; Gelsey Bell and M. Lamar". December 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
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