CARABOOM comes to Miami Dade College’s Wolfson Campus

CARABOOM Universe promotional image, courtesy Natasha Tsakos.

Who knew getting your car washed could be so much fun?

Join Live Arts Miami in their presentation of CARABOOM The Greatest Carwashow on Earth.

Open from March 31 to April 10, the non-verbal car wash inspired event will highlight the antics of the Caraboom family.

The immersive presentation, which will take place at the Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus’ parking Lot 1, is a blend of physical poetry and impromptu performances that will tickle your funny bone without actually getting your car washed.

Natasha Tsakos. Photography by JorgeParra / www.JorgeParra.com. Courtesy the artist.

Natasha Tsakos, CARABOOM’s executive artistic director, described the characters as idiotic, brilliant, and loopy. Participants should expect the unexpected.

“The show is made completely for the audience,” Tsakos said. “We are taking them on an amazing roller coaster ride.”

Caraboom layout, courtesy of Natasha Tsakos.

Attendees can choose to engage in the Boom Zone, which offers a global view of the performances, a Splash Zone for the more adventurous, or a VIP experience where individual performances are tailored to each car.

Kathryn Garcia, Live Arts Miami executive director, said that CARABOOM is a great way for people to unwind, especially since everyone has been feeling the impact of the pandemic.

“This is the kind of medicine we all need right now,” she said.

Tsakos’ collaborators for the show include choreographers Octavio Campos and Luis Alberto Cuevas, as well as comedy and character crafter John Gilkey.

The original idea for the show stems from a winning proposal submitted by Tsakos to the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation’s 2020 Knight New Work program.

Knight New Work was launched as a way to offer financial support for the Miami performing arts community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

When Live Arts Miami eventually heard about CARABOOM, they jumped at the chance to participate.

“We’re really interested in taking performances to unexpected places and that’s become even more heightened during the pandemic,” said Garcia.

“We’ve been on a marathon with site specific works… so Caraboom is really upping the ante. This is bigger than anything we’ve ever tried before.”

Garcia said that Tsakos, an experienced show maker who founded NTiD, a multimedia theatrical production company, and has previously performed at the Super Bowl with Cirque du Soleil, is the perfect person to create this type of event. Tsakos specializes in blending cinematic techniques, non-linear storytelling and using technology to deliver live performances.

Her dynamic approach in creating CARABOOM was also refreshing.

“We really admire Natasha for taking this up with so much gusto,” said Garcia. “Her energy is infectious. Her desire to do something to liberate people from the weight that we have all been experiencing over the past couple of years is a mission that we had to sign up for.”

But the logistics of securing a site for the such a large show was a bit tricky. “When she first approached us, we said, ‘Where are you going to do this? You’re going to need a parking lot,” Garcia said.

But everything eventually worked out in the end.

“The parking lot that first came to mind is the parking lot that we’re in,” said Garcia. “Sometimes you’re surprised at what the universe provides but we moved at lightning speed to make it all happen.”

Caraboom Map, courtesy the artist.

Tsakos said the cars are just one component of the show and urges everyone to stop by and take a look. There’s no telling what you’re in for.

“Come and have the best fun ever.”

To buy tickets and register for the show, visit liveartsmiami.org.

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