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2025 · Dance – stage work

ArtPärdē Slumber Party

Archive folder: Arte Parde

Bethany Mitchell and Meghna Purkayastha (producers, ArtPärdē Inc.)

ArtPärdē is a San Francisco art party that presents about ten short acts of dance, music, poetry, improv comedy and a fashion show in one evening, followed by a DJ set. At the May 17, 2025 pajama-themed 'Slumber Party' edition at The Faight Collective (show 7:30-9:30pm), Ben performed a set of original songs and a musical duet with co-producer Bethany Mitchell.

Recollections

“Arte Parde is such a cool scene. The world needs more events like this. Bethany killed it!”

Ben
Premiere
2025-05-17
Venue
The Faight Collective, 473A Haight St
Where
San Francisco, CA
Performances
One night only. ArtPärdē is a recurring performance-party series (earlier editions since Apr 2022; later 'Sweater Weather' ArtPärdē at iMPACt Center for Art & Dance, Oct 11, 2025, and 'ArtPärdē Spectacle' at the Verdi Club, May 22, 2026). Ben appears on the lineup only for May 17, 2025.
Credits
Producers: Bethany Mitchell and Meghna Purkayastha (ArtPärdē Inc.). Ben Juodvalkis: original songs; and a musical duet with Bethany Mitchell. Other acts: Bethany Mitchell and Meghna Purkayastha (opening skit), Fares Maimani and CJ Watson (oud and guitar), Stephanie Sherman (poetry), Ian Buchanan (dance duet), Ài Yīn Adelski (performative dance), Vanessa VerLee (poetry), Bethany Mitchell (dance), Women and Children First (improv team), Tess Lane (lingerie fashion show), DJ Streak/Manny Llanes (DJ set). Craft corner: David Knight. Snacks: Kelly McVicker. Photography: Maximillian Tortoriello (@maxtphoto).

Photographs

Ben Juodvalkis playing keyboard beside Bethany Mitchell singing, close together on stage.

Maximillian Tortoriello

Bethany Mitchell and Ben Juodvalkis smiling at each other on stage, she at a microphone in satin pajamas, he at a keyboard, under The Faight sign, with the audience in the foreground.

Maximillian Tortoriello

Wide view of the room: the audience lounges on the floor in pajamas while Ben Juodvalkis plays keyboard at the edge of a checkered stage, a disco ball overhead.

Maximillian Tortoriello

Ephemera

Red-and-navy checkered pajama pants and a grey robe laid out on a rug.

The pajamas and robe I thrifted for the show.

Bethany Mitchell in satin pajamas and Ben Juodvalkis at the keyboard grinning at each other across the stage, each at a microphone.

Bethany and me mid-song. She called it our album cover.

Maximillian Tortoriello

ArtPärdē Slumber Party poster: 'Slumber Party 5/17/2025, The Faight Collective, 475 Haight Street, San Francisco', pre-sale $28, $32 at the door, show 7:00–9:30 PM, DJ dance party 9:30–11:00 PM, above a photo of a bearded guitarist singing into a microphone, with 'Buy tix @ artparde.com'.

Maximillian Tortoriello

A poet with red hair and glasses, in a patterned short-sleeved shirt, reads at a microphone, with blurred orange and violet lights in the foreground.

Stephanie Sherman's poetry, earlier in Act 1.

Maximillian Tortoriello

A performer in a bright patterned dress laughs at a microphone, holding a small cymbal and a drumstick.

Vanessa VerLee's spoken word, in Act 2.

Maximillian Tortoriello

A fashion-show model in a short burgundy slip and high-top sneakers poses, hand behind her head, in purple light.

Tess Lane’s lingerie fashion show.

Maximillian Tortoriello

Two women mugging for the camera in the after-show crowd, one in a sheer red slip with an arm raised, the other blowing a kiss.

The dance party after the show.

Maximillian Tortoriello

Too Much, with Bethany, filmed by my friend Zoe
My Friend Jimmy, filmed by Zoe
City Lights, our last song, filmed by Zoe

  • Too Much demo I sent Bethany to sing over

Bethany's invitation to play the show.

Bethany: Hey Ben! How are you? I have a proposal for you … have I ever told you about my art salon that I host called ArtPärdē? It's a variety show where I curate 10 artists from all genres to do short acts. Our next one is 5/17 from 7:30-9:30 at The Faight in the Lower Haight, and I was wondering if you might wanna play us some tunes???

Bethany: The theme for this show is “Slumber Party” haha. I'm going to encourage everyone to wear pajamas

Texts with Bethany rewriting Too Much for the pajama theme.

Ben: Can we make the last line of Too Much to be pajama-theme instead of 'knit another sweater'?

Bethany: YES

Bethany: What about: I can't just sing the blues, and hope that PJ's make it better

Ben: Well they say it's cool cause nothing lasts forever And on the evening news the world is getting wetter I gotta tell the truth, you don't see it with news cameras I can't just sing the blues and knit some more pajamas

Bethany: Hahhaa oh yeah that's great

Bethany: Cameras and pajamas is a solid rhyme

Ben: Yeah! I'll fiddle with the exact news camera line but we can commit to 'knit some more pajamas

Bethany: Perfect

Ben: You can mime snapping some pics while I sing that line

Bethany: Hahaa yesss I'm down

Bethany's texts the week of the show.

Bethany: I just ran City Lights and I'm officially off book 🙌🏼

Bethany: I always slightly judge people when they perform with a phone in their hand

Bethany, after our rehearsals at my studio.

Bethany: I think my favorite part of our experience together was getting to discover your rad, hidden hole-in-the-wall recording studio. Totally magical in the best San Francisco kind of way

My original lyrics for Too Much, texted to Bethany.

Ben: The ocean calls to me It's high tide in my dreams Salt water memories In every word I speak I watch the oil spill Outside my window sill It's silent and surreal When I am feeling too much … Well they say it's cool cause nothing lasts forever And on the evening news The world is getting wetter I gotta tell the truth Cause nobody's gonna help ya I can't just sing the blues And knit another sweater

Press

“Ben Juodvalkis | original songs”

Elsewhere

Ben Juodvalkis © 2026