Basil Twist
Artist-in-Residence
April 7-13 and June 9-15, 2022

A native of San Francisco, Basil Twist is a third-generation puppeteer. He is the sole American to graduate from the École Supérieure Nationale des Arts de la Marionnette in Charleville-Mezieres, France. Basil’s showmanship was spotlighted in New York by The Jim Henson International Festival of Puppetry with his award winning “The Araneidae Show.” This recognition coupled with the ground-breaking and multiple award-winning “Symphonie Fantastique,” Twist was revealed as a singular artist of unlimited imagination.

Highlights of subsequent work have included “Petrushka” (commissioned by Lincoln Center) and “Dogugaeshi” (The Japan Society), “Behind the Lid” (Silver Whale Gallery) with the late Lee Nagrin and “Arias with a Twist,” co-created with nightlife icon Joey Arias. “Symphonie” and these productions have now toured throughout the world. In 2012 a cohort of Washington D.C. presenters hosted a retrospective of his work, featuring four productions and an exhibition. His site-specific commission “Seafoam Sleepwalk” for the WOW Festival at the La Jolla Playhouse was a festival favorite. “Rite of Spring” was commissioned by Carolina Performing Arts & made its world premiere at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2013, appearing also at Lincoln Center’s White Light Festival. “Sisters Follies” was created for Abrons Arts Center’s 100th Anniversary in 2015

Deeply musical in nature, Mr.Twist thrives in the world of Opera. He just created a new Titon et l’Aurore with Les Arts Florissants at the Opera Comique in Paris. He recently collaborated with Phelim McDermott on “Aida” at English National Opera, Geneva Opera House and Houston Grand Opera, with Dick Bird on “Otello” premiering at Vienna’s WIENER STAATSOPER. A new production of Ottorini Respighi’s “La Bella Dormente Nel Bosco” was created with the Gotham Chamber Opera for Lincoln Center Festival and Spoleto USA Festivals, Humperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretel” for the Houston, Atlanta and Michigan Operas. De Falla’s “Master Peters Puppet Show” was commissioned by Eos Orchestra and performed with The Los Angeles Philharmonic.