Name: Cynthia Hedstrom

Title/Occupation: Producer

Organization/Company: The Wooster Group

URL: www.thewoostergroup.org

1. Where did you grow up and how did you end up where you are now?

I grew up in Indiana. After college, I spent some time in three cities trying to decide where to live: San Francisco, Boston and New York. New York won hands-down/hands-up, and I’ve pretty much lived here ever since.

2. Which performance, song, play, movie, painting or other work of art had the biggest influence on you and why?

In the 1970s, I used to go to every Grand Union performance. They were sort of like traveling, underground events. Each was a revelation to me about seeing, making choices, being witty, being real, about dancing and performing. The Grand Union — Steve Paxton, Trisha Brown, Yvonne Rainer, Barbara Dilley, David Gordon, Nancy Green, sometimes Douglas Dunn and others, all fantastic artists — created spontaneous performance. They would improvise with the most astute, perspicacious sensibility I’ve ever seen. I learned a lot from them. Earlier influences were John Cage, Merce Cunningham and Galina Ulanova in the Bolshoi Ballet’s “Giselle” (she was transcendent). Later influences, The Wooster Group with whom I have the thrill of working.

3. What skill, talent or attribute do you most wish you had and why?

Long legs and a beautiful voice. I think I could persuade people of anything then.

4. What do you do to make a living? Describe a normal day.

A normal day includes keeping about 50 people on the same page regarding current and future plans, managing things so the Group can perform as much as possible at home and around the world, while preserving uninterrupted time for rehearsal and making new work.

5. Have you ever had to make a choice between work and art? What did you choose, why, and what was the outcome?

I chose not to be an artist (too hard — I was a dancer), and chose instead to keep my work and life intertwined with art. I’ve since been a programmer and producer of the performing arts.

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On Friday, April 27, The Wooster Group is having its annual benefit and it is a bargain!

Party Only at 10:00pm – $50

LA DIDONE at 8:00pm and Party at 10:00pm – $100

LA DIDONE at 8:00pm (Premium Seats) and Party at 10:00pm – $150

To see an opera, get free drinks and snacks, and enjoy a dj set and dancing with Fischerspooner for $100 is incredible. Also, next weekend is your last chance to see La Didone before it hits the road. So buy your tickets now before it sells out. Reserve by calling St. Ann’s Warehouse Box Office at 718-254-8779 or visit here for more info: http://www.thewoostergroup.org/LDbenefit.html