Environmental Encroachment - Death and Transformation

Death and Transformation

In June 1996, Christensen was diagnosed with lymphoma. Within 8 months, he succumbed to the disease. He was 28 years old at the time of his death. David died in Richmond, VA. His work was on display days after his death in the Shockoe Bottom section of Richmond, VA. His friends and family attended two services for David, one in Richmond, VA and the other in Chicago, IL. He is currently buried in the Graceland Cemetery in Chicago.

After Christensen's death and Cavalletti's eventual departure from EE, the theatrics of the group were altered by the introduction of new energies. Percussionist Peter Mueller, a graduate of Northwestern University with a degree in Performance Studies, helped to engineer scripted puppetry. Designer and projectionist David Ruiz, along with fellow designers T.J. Darwin and David Marine, created elaborate sets, costumes and puppets. This set EE up to eventually be invited to perform at Pittsburgh, PA's annual Black Sheep Puppet Festival, appearing each year from 1999 to 2002. Thanks to David Marine's efforts as coordinator and set builder, they were also invited to participate in Chicago's Puppetropolis, a one-off puppetry festival held in 2001 at various locations in the city. As a puppetry troupe, EE staged various shows: "The Ancient Astronauts of Ohm-Bah", "The Legend of the Piasa Bird", and an aquatic-themed puppet play called "Tofishy". It was at this point that the group hit an all-time professional peak, participating in a number of city-sanctioned special events and even being asked to appear at a NASCAR event at the Chicagoland Speedway.