Even the muses need their muses. That’s the idea behind Pazzo Tomato, a “new and passionately underground festival” created in honor of Spoleto performers. It’s the brainchild of Willi Jones, an artist who splits her time between Charleston and New York.
“I would go to Spoleto events and I would get all inspired, and I would feel kinda bad for [the performers], because they never get to see this stuff that we all do,” Jones says.
Jones is also the founder of Marvelosa, a guerrilla performance art troupe with outposts in Paris, New York, and Charleston. The troupe will perform Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights the first two weeks of the festival (May 27-29, June 3-5). Local filmmaker Gus Smythe will direct the show.
The party kicks off at midnight at La Fourchette (423 King St.) with music from Nicole Renaud, a New York-based French soprano/accordionist. She’s been highlighted in The New York Times, The New Yorker, and W magazine.
“Artists often get the short shrift,” Jones says, “so it’s neat when people treat them specially.” The first 10 Spoleto artists will be admitted for free and receive one drink ticket. After that, all artists will receive a drink ticket. Lowly fans will have to pay $20 in advance, or $25 at the door to party with the performers.
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