Buds Digest 005 / edible moments with…
Chris Giarmo
Photographed by M. COOPER
Effortless and electric dancer and musician, American Utopia’s CHRIS GIARMO, takes us way backstage for a peek behind the curtain on this expertly choreographed edition of Edible Moments. The rising New York talent and their one-of-a-kind realness maneuvers with ease, working toe to toe with some of Bud’s most fiery questions.
Trip out with GIARMO’s latest single here.
“I am eternally grateful to be able to represent queerness in an unabashed and, frankly, virtuosic way.”
Favorite weed strain?
Cornbread for indica, Jack Herer for sativa. Sampled the former at Green Choice Farms outside Portland, OR when I was on the road in 2018.
What is your favorite dance/number in another show?
Anything Elizabeth DeMent does. She's the Associate Choreographer of AU and longtime collaborator and friend of mine. She is one of the most compelling performers I've ever seen and truly one of the best people on this planet. She has a special skill called the "wet rag" in which she deftly collapses to the ground in an almost liquid, but sudden way—just like throwing a wet rag on the floor.
How has it been being a queer member of the cast of American Utopia?
I am eternally grateful to be able to represent queerness in an unabashed and, frankly, virtuosic way. One of the first Broadway shows I saw as a kid was Starlight Express. I have a distinct memory of being asked who my favorite character was, and even though it was hands-down Dinah the Dining Car, I remember knowing that that was fundamentally "wrong" for me to say. I was a boy. I couldn't like the hyper-femme, 50's-diner-waitress character. So I said Electra the Electric Train was my favorite. I think about the kids that have been out there at our shows in those theaters, those arenas, and the countless people who will see my sweat and silver eye makeup on film for all eternity. I hope more people feel comfortable identifying with me—who, unlike Dinah, is not a character—and in turn feel more comfortable being their truest, most fabulous selves.
Best or worst trip?
My favorite place in the world for edibles or psychedelics is Zandvoort aan Zee, a beach town on the North Sea outside of Amsterdam. I've had some formative experiences there. Last time I visited, I found the gay nude beach. I had a lovely time and yes, wore plenty of SPF 100!
Just what do you think you’re doing, Dave?
Sometimes I would say this to David Byrne during our pre-show banter in AU. In that show we all have wireless mics and in-ear monitors so we're all very literally "in each other's heads." I can do a pretty good HAL 9000 voice so it always made him laugh.
What is a dream future project of yours?