The Black Rose Xperience by Church of Starry Wisdom
December 05, 2024 - December 08, 2024
7:30pm Thu/Fri/Sat/Sun, Gordon Square Theatre
Due to unforeseen circumstances, today's performance (12/8/24) of The Black Rose Xperience has been cancelled. We apologize for any inconvenience. If you have tickets to the 7:30 pm performance, you may exchange your tickets for Tease the Season: A Burlesque Holiday Spectacular (Part Deux) or The Light of Kinara: A Kwanzaa Celebration by Djapo Cultural Arts Institute. Please contact the box office at 216.631.2727, ext 501.
A multi-media theatrical rock event that combines the music of Church of Starry Wisdom with an immersive cinematic narrative. Set in a dystopian America, this event explores themes of rebellion and revelation in a fallen civilization. Don't miss this unique exploration of revolution and redemption.
https://www.cptonline.org/performances/seasons/2024-2025/the-light-of-kinara-a-kwanzaa-celebration-by-djapo-cultural-arts-institute/
The Gordon Square Theatre is ADA-compliant featuring a ramped entrance and an all-gender, wheelchair accessible restroom.
Listen to the album, The Black Rose
Get a glimpse of The Black Rose Xperience Concept Art
New single, “In America,” featured in the show
Behind-The-Scenes Rehearsal Footage
a holiday playlist from cosw to you
We asked the members of Church of Starry Wisdom to curate a playlist that connects to their show, and they came through with some left-field Christmas classics. Enjoy this selection of songs that share themes with The Black Rose Xperience, from unfulfilled hopes (“Happy Xmas [War Is Over]” and “Someday at Christmas”) to rebellion (“Father Christmas”) and desperation to wake from a nightmare reality (“Under Ice”).
cosw interview in Cleveland Scene
In this Cleveland Scene feature, Church of Starry Wisdom reveal The Black Rose Xperience is like “the movie we never got to make.” Jeff Niesel’s whole article is a fun glimpse at the narrative, themes, and influences in this cinematic, theatrical concert experience, full of nuggets like this:
“One thing that this concert represents is that no matter how dark it is, we’re still a community. No matter how unclear the future is, we can come together and celebrate and create.”
ABOUT CHURCH OF STARRY WISDOM
“…Imagine a mutant lab experiment combining the DNA of Prince and David Bowie singing lead vocals for the Sisters of Mercy. This is some of the best goth-rock I’ve heard live in at least 10 years.”
–Vertigo Xi’an Xavier
A retro-futuristic goth-classic rock band based in Akron, Ohio, formed in 2016.
CoSW is an ensemble of musical griots whose songcraft emphasizes storytelling in modern parables. Their bandmembers’ diverse backgrounds shape their eclectic music, conducting experiments in pop & soul through a rock-operatic lens. They sing songs of life, death, sex, murder, love, hate, and the Chaos that crawls between. Through its analog-digital hybrid sound vibrations, the band takes the listener on a cosmic trip through time and space using elements of noise, punk, jazz, rock, R&B, and musical theater. When it can, CoSW integrates video projection with their live performances; this curated imagery interacts with their songs’ stories and the visceral experiences of those moods. Over the years, CoSW has enthusiastically collaborated with other performing and visual artists of their community (e.g. live painting, fire-spinning, dancing, etc.) to build unforgettable live experiences for audiences. They are inspired by the fire of co-conspired improvisation. A show with Church of Starry Wisdom is never just a band playing music; they always deliver a theatrical ceremony.