A Bessie Award-winning performer will dissolve the boundary between literature and live performance this weekend, transforming Octavia Butler’s speculative fiction into an experience audiences can see, hear and feel.
Sabela Grimes, a USC Kaufman faculty member and 2021 Bessie Award recipient for Outstanding Performer, will present “Parable of Portals” on Saturday, adapting Butler’s work through “Funkamental MediKinetics,” a movement style combining dance, sound and visual media.
The collaboration with experimental video and movement artist Meena Murugesan creates an immersive experience examining cultural identity and future possibilities.
The performance spotlights Butler’s literary legacy—rooted in her upbringing in Pasadena—through contemporary artistic exploration of Black identity and speculative narratives.
Matthew Cook, artistic and executive director of Sierra Madre Playhouse, programmed the work as part of the venue’s commitment to innovative performances.
The production explores identity and future possibilities through boundary-pushing artistic expression that blends traditional performance with experimental visual and sound elements.
Butler, who grew up in Pasadena, became one of science fiction’s most influential voices, exploring themes of race, power and social transformation.
Her work continues resonating with contemporary artists seeking to examine Black identity through futuristic narrative frameworks, creating a natural connection between her origins in Pasadena and this local performance.
The production notes the significance of a growing trend of artists adapting literary works into immersive, multimedia experiences.
“Parable of Portals” will run on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 7:30 p.m. Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre. For more call 626-355-4318 or visit https://www.sierramadreplayhouse.org/event/dsabelagrimes2025. Tickets: $12 to $35.
