The High Line and artist Xin Liu are seeking three New York–based performers for NOAA: A Fall from Home, a live performance presented on the High Line in New York City. Performances will take place on June 23, 24, and 25, 2026, with a rain date of June 26.

Selected performers will participate in rehearsals beginning the week of June 15, 2026, with a virtual onboarding session during the week of June 1.

 

ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE

NOAA: A Fall from Home is a spatial performance that explores the operational histories and technological afterlives of three retired Earth-observing satellites—NOAA-15, NOAA-18, and NOAA-19.

In the work, three performers embody the satellites as they move in orbital paths around the audience. Combining movement, spoken text, and spatialized sound, the performance reflects on systems of observation, duration, care, and technological memory, as well as the quiet persistence of machines that continue to orbit long after their original purpose has faded.

The performance unfolds through subtle movement, shifting vocal textures, and relational listening between performers, creating a slowly evolving choreography that mirrors the rhythms of orbit, signal transmission, and gradual decay.

 

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are looking for performers with strong movement awareness and an interest in interdisciplinary performance practices that combine movement and voice. Performers may come from backgrounds such as contemporary dance, physical theatre, experimental theatre, performance art, or other embodied practices. Experience working with spoken text, vocal experimentation, or sound-based performance is highly encouraged.

Because the performers embody distinct satellite characters, we are particularly interested in performers who can sustain a focused physical and vocal presence while working with subtlety, repetition, and slow temporal structures. Improvisational sensitivity and the ability to respond to spatial sound and other performers in real time are important to the project.

 

ROLES

The three roles are:

NOAA-15 — The Quiet Elder

A performer comfortable working with stillness, patience, and subtle vocal textures. The character’s voice often appears as echo, delay, or degraded signal.

 

NOAA-18 — The Devoted Idealist

A performer with a clear and articulate vocal presence that gradually shifts toward erosion. This character carries a strong sense of responsibility and purpose.

 

NOAA-19 — The Loving Custodian

A performer comfortable working with whispering, relational presence, and attentive listening. This character often responds to or completes the thoughts of the others.

 

We welcome applications from performers of diverse backgrounds and experiences. The rehearsal process will focus on developing a shared movement and vocal language while allowing each performer’s individual sensibility to remain present within the work.

 

COMPENSATION

$1,000 USD flat fee per performer

 

COMMITMENT

Performers must be available for all rehearsals and performances.

Virtual onboarding session: Week of June 1, 2026 (2 hours; exact date and time TBD)

Rehearsals: Monday, June 15; Tuesday, June 16; Wednesday, June 17; Thursday, June 18; and Monday, June 22, 2026 

Performances: Tuesday, June 23; Wednesday, June 24; and Thursday, June 25, 2026

Rain Date: Friday, June 26, 2026

LOCATION

Rehearsals: Indoor location (TBD) and the High Line (820 Washington St., New York, NY 10014)

Performances: On the High Line (820 Washington St., New York, NY 10014)

 

HOW TO APPLY

Materials needed to apply:

Short introduction video stating who you are, why you are applying, and why you would be a good fit for the project

Headshot

CV / résumé

Portfolio or documentation of previous work (optional)

Submit via Google Form by Sunday, April 5, 2026 at 11pm EST. 

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so early submission is encouraged.

For questions or assistance with submissions, email: art@thehighline.org with the subject line: Xin Liu 2026 High Line Art Performance.