October 27, 2001 – "POEtry" opens on November 27, 2001 at BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) as part of the Next Wave Festival.

"POEtry" is the latest production by rock legend, Lou Reed and theater director and lighting designer, Robert Wilson. This is Wilson's second collaboration with Lou Reed. In 1996, Wilson, Reed and writer Darryl Pinckney presented a hard-rock time and space odyssey entitled "Time Rocker."

"POEtry" is a journey into the mysterious shadow world of the 19th century American author, Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849). It combines texts including "The Fall of the House of Usher," "The Raven," "The Pit and the Pendulum," as well as other stories and poetry. "Poetry," said Edgar Allan Poe, "is the rhythmic creation of beauty."

Eleven texts by Poe provide the starting point of Wilson's and Reed's approach to the life and death of a writer who made the pursuit of the living by the dead (and the dead for the living) his theme.

Lou Reed wrote thirteen songs, an overture and libretto that weave a mixture of biographical detail through Poe's most famous tales of psychological terror and abusive insightful self-knowledge. Reed also offers a variety of ambient and textural music using many different instruments (including cello, acoustic guitar, hurdy-gurdy, flute, didgeridoo and piano). Reed draws special inspiration from the penetrating gaze into the human soul and the dark irony in Poe's oeuvre.

In "POEtry," Wilson creates surrealistic settings, distorts perspectives and creates lightning backdrops that constantly change hue and color to keep the moods changing. Wilson draws on Poe/Reed's psyche to create tableaux of nightmarish suggestive power and fascination.

"POEtry" is Robert Wilson's fourth production for the German Thalia Theater. Lou Reed's music is performed by the Time Rocker band.

Lou Reed is currently working on a record of the music from the play with producer Hal Willner for release later in the year.

"POEtry" will be presented during BAM's Next Wave Festival at the Howard Gilman Opera House. Performances will take place on Nov 27, 29 & 30, Dec 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 at 7:30pm, Dec 1 & 8 at 2pm; Dec 2 at 3pm