Kathy Acker (1947–1997) was an American experimental novelist, poet, playwright, and performance artist known for her transgressive writing that explored childhood trauma, sexuality, language, identity, and rebellion. Raised in a privileged but oppressive Upper East Side Jewish family, she turned her back on that world early, seeking a life of romantic and intellectual adventure that took her through many of the most significant avant-garde and countercultural moments in America. Influenced by William S. Burroughs and Charles Olson, she composed genre-crossing work in which she frequently appropriated and reshaped other texts to explore the intersections of sex, power, and language. Her notable works include Blood and Guts in High School, Empire of the Senseless, and Pussy, King of the Pirates. She died of untreated cancer at an alternative clinic in Tijuana at age fifty.

The Mekons are a British post-punk band formed in 1976 as an art collective by University of Leeds students, including Jon Langford and Tom Greenhalgh — the same scene that produced Gang of Four and Delta 5. Their debut single, "Never Been in a Riot," a sardonic response to the Clash's "White Riot," announced their down-to-earth humor and uncompromisingly radical politics. By the mid-1980s, augmented by vocalist Sally Timms and violinist Susie Honeyman, they began blending punk ethos with traditional folk and American country music, exemplified by the landmark album Fear and Whiskey (1985). One of the longest-running first-wave punk bands, they have continued recording and touring into the 21st century, with members also mounting collective art exhibitions on both sides of the Atlantic. 

Adele Bertei is an American singer, songwriter, writer, actor, and director, born in Cleveland, Ohio. An autodidact, she began pursuing music playing with Pere Ubu's legendary Peter Laughner and went on to become an original member of the Contortions, working as assistant to Brian Eno, producer of the seminal No New York LP. She later founded the Bloods, the first openly queer all-women rock band, starred in Lizzie Borden’s Born in Flames, and had a wide-ranging career writing and recording for artists including Thomas Dolby, Culture Club, and Whitney Houston. Her books include the memoir Peter and the Wolves (2020), Why Labelle Matters (2021), Twist (2023), and Universal Mother (2025), and most recently, No New York: A Memoir of No Wave and the Women Who Shaped the Scene (2026).

Anna Luisa Petrisko is a director, musician, and interdisciplinary artist specializing in experimental performance. Emerging from feminist post-punk bands in the early 2000s, her work continues to bring the raw immediacy and emotional intensity of underground culture. Her directorial work includes original experimental operas VIBRATION GROUP and All Time Stop Now, and Lu Coy’s Becoming The Moon. Her work has been presented at The Broad Museum, Lincoln Center, Hammer Museum, REDCAT, and LACMA. She has received support from the MAP Fund, National Performance Network, and Foundation for Contemporary Arts.

UCLA Nimoy Theater is located at 1262 Westwood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90024. For GPS, use 10866 Wilshire Blvd to reach the parking structure. The entrance is on Glendon Avenue — look for either entrance marked VISITOR. Parking is $4, beginning at 5 pm for evening performances and 12 pm for matinees. Arriving before these times will incur the $30 day parking fee.

The box office is open Monday–Friday, 10 am–4 pm, and opens 60 minutes before showtime on show nights. The box office is cashless and accepts all major credit cards. For day-of questions, call 310-206-8655. For general inquiries, contact info@cap.ucla.edu or call 310-825-4401.

All late seating is based on availability and at the discretion of house manager.

Accessible seating and assistive listening are available. Ask any house staff member for assistance. For additional accommodations, contact info@cap.ucla.edu.

Beer, wine, mixed beverages, water, soda, and coffee are available in the lobby. Valid ID required for alcohol. Credit cards and cash accepted. For nearby restaurant options, visit the UCLA Nimoy Theater page.

A digital house program for this performance is available to view or download before the show. Find it on the CAP UCLA Program Notes page.

If the performance is sold out, join the standby line at the box office on the night of the show. A waitlist may also be available — if tickets are released, you will be notified by email with a window to purchase.