FIVE BOROUGHS/ONE CITY

commissioned by Working Theater
Producing Artistic Director, Mark Plesent

Five Boroughs/One City Artistic Director: Tamilla Woodard

Initially funded by grants from the 21st Century ILGWU Heritage Fund, One World Fund and the Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation, the Five Boroughs/One City Initiative is currently supported by:

the 21st Century ILGWU Heritage Fund
the Howard Gilman Foundation
the One World Fund
the Shubert Foundation
the Time Warner Foundation

The Five Boroughs/One City Inititive launched in the fall of 2014 with the commissions of five teams of writers, directors, and installation artists, supported by designers, dramaturgs, and community liasons. Each team’s goal was to create a piece of theater rooted in a neighborhood in each of the five boroughs of New York City by engaging a specific community as both source and resource in the creative process. The work being created is for, inspired by, and in response to each community.

During our 2014-2015 30th Anniversary Season, we presented works-in-progress showings of each piece in the originating borough and then again at an off-Broadway venue for a week long festival of new works.

Over the next several seasons, Working Theater, in partnership with a community venue in each borough, will develop and present all five projects in rolling premieres within the community of their origin and then in a tour to each partner venue in each borough.

In 2018, funded by a new grant from the Time Warner Foundation, Working Theater will collaborate with 2 new playwright/director teams and community members in 2 new NYC neighborhoods to commission 2 new plays rooted in the cultural identities of those communities.

CLICK TO READ MORE ABOUT EACH PHASE OF THE INITIATIVE:

PHASE ONE – COMMISSIONING AND DEVELOPMENTAL READINGS

PHASE TWO – CONTINUED OUTREACH, ENGAGEMENT, AND DEVELOPMENT

PHASE THREE – FULL PRODUCTIONS WITH COMMUNITY ACCESS AND CONVERSATION:

THE BLOCK 2016

BAMBOO IN BUSHWICK 2017

ALTERNATING CURRENTS 2018

Project Descriptions

Staten Island

Breaking Bread

Written by Chisa Hutchinson
Directed by Kristin Horton

You are invited to the Gibilisco Family Reunion dinner! Join us for this immersive event which explores community, family ties and racial tension. Come hungry – baked ziti is on the menu!
Created with dramaturgical support from
Theresa M. Davis.

Brooklyn

Bamboo in Bushwick

Written by Ed Cardona, Jr.
Directed by Ana Margineanu

Join us as we explore Bushwick, recently mentioned in Vogue magazine as one of the 15 hippest neighborhoods in the world. While for the long-term residents it has never been hip, it has definitely always been home. Cardona’s play weaves a traditional narrative with a surreal exploration of gentrification inspired by the psychedelic murals that cover the walls of this suddenly trendy neighborhood.

Queens

Alternating Currents

Written by Adam Kraar
Directed by Kareem Fahmy
Developed with Gaye Taylor Upchurch

When two newly married electricians, Luke and Elena, move to Electchester everything seems perfect: spacious apartment, low rent, friendly neighbors and an incredibly close-knit community. But as they settle in, they discover how much they may need to give up in order to really belong.

the Bronx

The Block

Written by Dan Hoyle
Directed by Tamilla Woodard
Developed with Maureen Towey

Experience a day in the life of the South Bronx, where Rick the executive driver is buggin out ’cause his clients make out in the back seat for longer than the Power 105 Commercial Free Hour, Moe’s hat shop doesn’t do business like when the gangsters ran the city in the ’90s, Charlie’s tryin’ to get the kids to calm down after last night’s shooting, and Eddy, well he won’t give the block a moment’s quiet and is riling everybody up. Inspired by the organizing work of CASA and conversations with its members and other residents of the South Bronx.

Manhattan

Sanctuary Songs

Created by Caridad Svich, Michael Premo, Rachel Falcone

Believers and nonbelievers from all walks of life and faith traditions are welcome at St. John the Divine. And in the community of this magnificent cathedral, many people have found home and sanctuary. But in a world of chaos and injustice, what does that mean? This unique project weaves interviews, text, and lyrics with original music by Broken Chord.

MEET THE TEAMS

HowlRound Livestream

On Sunday, May 10th, 2015 Working Theater hosted & presented a conversation about community engagement and theatremaking in community as part of the Five Boroughs/One City Project and our mission of creating theatre for and about working people by taking the process of making theater directly to communities where working people live. Moderated by TCG’s Executive Director, Teresa Eyring.

– See more at: http://howlround.com/livestreaming-conversation-about-community-engagement-and-theatremaking-in-community-for-working#sthash.moE3b4Q9.dpuf