commissioned by Producing Artistic Director, Mark Plesent
Artistic Director: Tamilla Woodard
Supported by 21st Century ILGWU Heritage Fund, One World Fund and the Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation
The Five Boroughs/One City Project 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.
SCROLL DOWN TO READ MORE ABOUT EACH PHASE:
PHASE ONE – COMMISSIONING AND DEVELOPMENTAL READINGS
PHASE TWO – CONTINUED OUTREACH, ENGAGEMENT, AND DEVELOPMENT
PHASE THREE – FULL PRODUCTIONS WITH COMMUNITY ACCESS AND CONVERSATION
Staten Island Project
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 Project
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 Project
Alternating Currents
Written by Adam Kraar
Directed by 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.
Bronx Project
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 Project
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.
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.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE LIVESTREAM
Phase Two
Join us for various engagement activities out in the Boroughs of New York City as we continue developing the commissioned plays with and for these communities.
We continue our community engagement in Bushwick this season, in partnership with RBSCC. If you live in the area, join us for a Community Conversation, showcase your talents in a Community Shine Event, or join us for readings and workshops in advance of our 2017 premiere production of Ed Cardona, Jr.’s Bamboo in Bushwick. Click below for further information, dates, and locations.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO
We continue our community engagement in Staten Island, in partnership with Snug Harbor Cultural Center. If you live in the area, join us in 2017 for a public developmental staged reading of Chisa Hutchinson’s Breaking Bread or our touring production of Ed Cardona, Jr.’s Bamboo in Bushwick.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO
We continue our community engagement in Staten Island, in partnership with Electrician’s Union Local #3 IBEW. If you live in the area, join us in December 2016 for a public staged reading of Adam Kraar’s Alternating Currents and in Spring 2017 for our touring production of Ed Cardona, Jr.’s Bamboo in Bushwick.
THE MANHATTAN TEAM HAS BEEN EXPLORING WHAT HOME, FAITH, AND SANCTUARY MEAN TO THE RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY WHO VISIT AND LIVE AROUND THE CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE. WE’RE EXCITED ABOUT THE ONGOING DEVELOPMENT OF THE PIECE AND THE INTERVIEWS IN PROGRESS AND LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING THE NEXT PHASE WITH YOU.
Phase Three
In the final phase, we fully produce each community-based play, and tour it back to its borough of origin, as well as the other four boroughs.
The first of our Five Boroughs/One City projects to be fully produced and toured was the Bronx project, The Block.
Next up is the Brooklyn piece, Bamboo in Bushwick, premiering off-Broadway and touring the five boroughs in Spring 2017. Join us!
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO