Ascension Death March is a dance-theater-clown ritual of ecstatic futility and sacred failure.

Ascension in stilettos. Strip-clown-theology. A mop becomes a cross, a chair becomes a tomb, and low art gets crucified. Lu Anima conjures a deadpan rebellion against the myth of endless ascent—a tribute to the beautiful wreck of dying into destiny.

At once absurd and sincere, this solo work asks what happens when ambition turns martyrdom, and performance becomes prayer. Through virtuosic movement, failed spectacle, and spiritual misfire, Lu embodies the grind of becoming: the ache to rise above, to be seen, to be sanctified—and the ways we destroy ourselves trying.

Drawing from a lineage of fools, strippers, mystics, and martyrs, Ascension Death March blends high drag with low ritual, sacred imagery with slapstick collapse. There are no easy answers—only big shoes, bigger questions, and a holy mess of striving and breaking.

This piece was made for anyone who’s ever burned out chasing transcendence. For anyone who’s tried to be good enough, high enough, healed enough, impressive enough. And for those beginning to wonder if the fall might be the sacred part after all.

About the Artists:

Lu Anima has been making dance-theater ritual work under the name Rogue Theology for roughly a decade—on and off. They've taken frequent breaks, fueled by disillusionment with the way the arts are shaped by capitalist systems that strip them of their sacred function. And yet... here Lu is. Again. Making work. For some reason.

Rogue Theology performances blend the holy and the humiliating, drawing from a lineage of fools, strippers, martyrs, and mystics. With a deadpan sense of humor and a devotion to embodied truth, Lu builds performances that ask: What does it mean to strive, to break, to transform? And more urgently: How do we support all people in their self-actualization? What happens to art when it's forced to serve profit over purpose?

Rogue Theology straddles the mischievous and the mystical, creating space for both irreverent play and genuine spiritual inquiry. The work often looks like a ritual unraveling, a prayer misfiring, or a resurrection in drag.

Tickets:

For Fringe Festival events, Studio 34 is allotted a limited number of advance tickets If we are "sold out" here, please check Studio 34's page on the Philly Fringe website. All online sales end 2 hours before showtime. More tickets may be available at the door.

About Studio 34:

Studio 34 is West Philly’s Fringe Hub and a mixed-use yoga/healing/arts spot all year round! Named for the trolley that stops out front, we host art, comedy, dance, drag, music, poetry, puppetry and theatre in our gallery, lounge, and studio spaces, as well as holistic services, 30+ weekly classes, and a wide array of community happenings. Our 2025 Fringe roster features dozens of our favorite artists from all over Philly and around the country, ready to transcend the bounds of DIY performance. Come see one show and stay for the next, all under one roof on vibrant Baltimore Avenue.

Accessibility:

Studio 34 is...

up a flight of stairs
mask-optional (unless otherwise noted)
a sober space