Preconceived notions determine the success of rituals, such as a wedding, a TV show or a performance, as if their purpose is to fulfill themselves. Is an experience more valuable if witnessed in the moment as opposed to a reproduction of the moment? Is a convincing illusion more real than an obvious fake?

liveReal is a multimedia performance for live television directed by Alysse Stepanian. It was broadcast live on Manhattan Neighborhood Network Television & on dctvny.org and was performed for live studio audience at DCTV Cyberstudio for the Arts in New York City. (September 24, 2001)

Footage from a wedding inspired this work. Later the married couple collaborated in this project and participated in the performance.

The studio audience was greeted by a ballroom dancer dressed in blue. The same woman appeared in a video that opened the performance, making greeting gestures outside the Twin Towers in NYC. This footage was filmed just a few weeks before the 9/11 tragedy. The woman then made an appearance in the Cyberstudio control room, making the same greeting gestures, and finally she closed the show with a dance to improvised solo saxophone music.

© 2001 Alysse Stepanian & Philip Mantione
color, stereo, 45:37
Alysse Stepanian: director, producer, camera/audio/video editing, animation design and additional sound
Philip Mantione: producer, music, audio engineer, animation and design
concept: Alysse Stepanian, Philip Mantione, Lisa Carpenter
text: Lisa Carpenter, Theis Bergstrom, Philip Mantione, Alysse Stepanian, Friedrich Nietzsche, Lao Tzu, Ralph Waldo Emerson
performers: Theis Bergstrom, Lisa Carpenter, Carmen Mantione, Alysse Stepanian
improvisations on saxophone: James Marentic
voices: Salvatore Mantione, Florence Mantione
this program was taped live at DCTV Cyberstudio for the Arts