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The Troy Arts Council may be stepping out of its zone comfort by bringing an Artrageous performance to the Claudia Crosby Theater at 3 p.m. on Sunday, January 12.

Artrageous is an 11-member traveling artistic troupe based in New Mexico. But Artrageous is not the usual sit-and-watch kind of group. Artrageous coordinates the energy and gets the audience involved.

“Artrageous is unlike anything the Troy Arts Council has brought to town,” said Bill Hopper, president of the sponsoring Troy Arts Council. “Artageous is for all ages, including senior adults and children. Artrageous will perform interactive vignettes including singing, dancing, live music, puppetry and painting.

Even before the show starts, the audience will know that Artrageous is going to be a unique theater experience, Hopper said.

“The troupe will greet people in the theater lobby and chit-chat as a way to get everyone involved right from the top. It’s going to a fun interactive journey of art, song, dance, and storytelling. It’s unlike any other experience.”

When it’s time to take the stage, the troupe will perform visual, highly interactive vignettes featuring several different art forms incorporating singing, dancing, painting, live music and puppetry.

The audience will almost always be involved, said Lauri Francis, performer, choreographer and costume designer. Some audience members will be involved on stage or simply by standing up and dancing from their seats. 

“Some of us may be singing while an artist is painting a portrait, even upside down,” Francis said. “We may use black light while recreating a 6-foot by 9-foot version of Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night.’ Or, you’ll see the ‘Mona Lisa’ coming together in six to eight minutes. You’ll feel part of the creation process as you see the blank canvas come to life with the inspiration of music, dancing, singing and audience interaction.”   

At the end of the show, audience members will be invited on stage to walk through the Live Art Gallery to view the paintings created during the show, talk with troupe performers and take photos. 

The audience members may bring a blank tee shirt, hat or backpack to the splatter station and leave with an original, wearable artwork, which is the Artrageous signature way of painting.

Advanced tickets for “Artrageous” are $10 for adults and $5 for children/students. To buy tickets, visit https://troyartscouncil.com/events.