In July 2018, Bridgman/Packer Dance was presented at Goodwill Theatre Inc.’s Schorr Family Firehouse Stage in Johnson, City NY, funded by NYS DanceForce. The venue includes and is surrounded by shuttered industrial spaces, architecture that stands in witness to generations who worked at the Endicott Johnson shoe company.
The environment and context inspired Bridgman and Packer to develop a new work – Ghost Factory, based on the imagery and narrative of these post-industrial spaces. In an unexpected benefit and an unanticipated one — the Goodwill Theatre supported the new work by providing the artists with access to work/office space during the year they spent collecting imagery and interviewing residents. This was an extra added benefit for the artists. The American Dance Asylum provided $2,000 in commissioning support to jumpstart the fundraising. Despite the disruption of the pandemic, Ghost Factory was presented June 25, 26 2021 at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts and Sept 23, 25 2021 at Sheldon Theater, Red Wing, MN.