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The Civilians
FormationJanuary 4‚ 2002
TypeTheatre group
PurposeDocumentary theater
Location
Artistic director(s)
Steve Cosson
WebsiteThe Civilians

The Civiliansis an investigativetheatre companyinNew York Cityfounded in 2002 by Artistic Director,Steve Cosson.The Civilians artists pursue their inquiries using interviews, community residencies, research, and other methods.[1]Working with a combination of journalism and art, the Civilians creates theatrical events that seek to promote inquisitions of current issues.[2]According toVariety Magazine,The Civilians "travels far and wide researching a piece around a given subject, conducting interviews and comparing notes along the way, sometimes for years."[3]

Company history[edit]

Artistic Director Steve Cosson founded the company in 2002, with a multi-disciplinary group of artists including some fellowUniversity of California-San Diegograduates, as “a breeding ground for new styles of collaboration”[4]Inspiration was taken from the BritishJoint Stock Theatre Company,Cosson having studied under director and Joint Stock memberLes Watersat UCSD.[5]Cosson has said “I wanted to create a theatre that would engage with larger social, cultural, and political realities through the eyes of real, ordinary people, or 'civilians.'”[6]In keeping with this goal, the name of the company was derived from avaudevilleterm for those not within the vaudeville community.[7]

Since its founding in 2002, The Civilians’ projects have been produced at venues throughoutNew York City,includingThe Public Theater,Joe's Pub,St. Ann's Warehouse,59E59 Theaters,and theVineyard Theatre,and at theaters nationally, including TheCenter Theatre Group(at theMark Taper Forum),Studio Theatre,A.R.T.,La Jolla Playhouse,HBO'sU.S. Comedy Arts Festival,andActors Theatre of Louisville.Works by the company have also toured nationally and internationally to universities, arts presenters and festivals.

The Civilians made its UK debut withGone Missingin 2004 at theGate Theatre,and(I Am) Nobody’s Lunchwas aFringe First Awardwinner at the 2006Edinburgh Fringe Festival,leading to a London production at theSoho Theatre.The Civilians’ commercial run ofGone Missingat theBarrow Street Theatreran for seven months and was included in several Top 10 of 2007 lists in the New York press, including critic Charles Isherwood's list inThe New York Times.[8]

In addition to its productions, The Civilians’ work has been published in a number of formats.Gone Missingwas published byDramatists Play Servicein 2009, following its inclusion in the publication of(I Am) Nobody’s LunchbyOberon Booksin 2007. In 2009, Playscripts, Inc. published an anthology of all of the Civilians' works to date, excludingThis Beautiful City,which was still running at The Vineyard Theater. Additionally, an original cast recording ofGone Missingwas released byGhostlight Recordsin 2008.

Founding Associate ArtistMichael Friedman(1975–2017) was the composer and lyricist forCanard, Canard, Goose?,Gone Missing,[I Am] Nobody's Lunch,This Beautiful City,The Great Immensity,In the Footprint,Pretty Filthy,[9]Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play,Rimbaud in New York,The Abominables,and co-author ofParis Commune.[10]

Structure[edit]

According to The Civilians' website:

The artistic foundation of The Civilians is a group of Associate Artists including directors, writers, actors, designers, choreographers, and composers. Each year, the company invites several artists to join as new Associate Artists. The company realizes its projects through a network of collaborative partnerships. Many projects are developed with the support of partners including universities, institutional theaters and artist residency programs. Projects often tour to both performing arts presenters and regional theaters.[11]

Works[edit]

Canard, Canard, Goose?(2002)[edit]

Canard, Canard, Goose?was the company's first production, premiering in 2002 atHERE Arts Centerin New York City. The play was devised and created by the company, directed by Steve Cosson, with music and lyrics byMichael Friedman.[12]The play deals with "rumors of maltreated geese during the making ofFly Away Home,the sentimental 1996 Disney motion picture that featuredAnna Paquinleading geese south in an ultra-light plane. "[13]According toTime Out: New York,"The middle part of the show includes funny but affectionate impersonations of the eccentric and lonely folks who live in that remote hamlet. After two days of interviews, however, the group discovers thatFly Away Homewas actually filmed in Ontario. Songs and silly dances are interspersed among the members' increasingly desperate updates on their deteriorating investigation. "[13]

The Ladies(2004)[edit]

The Ladieswas written byAnne Washburnand directed byAnne Kauffman,both Associate Artists of the company. The play presents the characters ofEva Peron,Imelda Marcos,Elena Ceausescu,andJiang Qing,as well as the artists themselves. It premiered atDixon Placein New York City in 2004.[citation needed]

Paris Commune(2004, 2008)[edit]

Paris Communetells the story of theParisian uprising of 1871,the first socialist rebellion in Europe. The piece was developed as a part ofLa Jolla Playhouse’s Page-to-Stage program in 2004,[14]and further expanded in 2008 as a part of the Public Lab Series Workshop at the Public Theater.[15]The piece is unique among The Civilians’ early repertoire in that it was not developed through first-person interviews with those directly affected by the topic of the play,[16]but rather through extensive historical research into the actualParis Communethat had its genesis in the 1871 rebellion.[14]The play was written by Steve Cosson and all of the music was written or adapted byMichael Friedman.[17]

(I am) Nobody’s Lunch(2006)[edit]

Main article:(I Am) Nobody's Lunch

(I Am) Nobody's Lunchpremiered at59E59 Theatersin New York City in 2006 and received its London premiere at the Soho Theatre later that same year.[18]An earlier draft of the piece was first performed in 2004 asPS 122in New York City.[19]According to Charles Isherwood ofThe New York Times“How and why we come to believe what we believe is the large question being explored with a wink in this collage of material culled from interviews with an odd assortment of Americans, ranging from soldiers standing vigil atGrand Central Terminalto a fellow who believes his body is inhabited by a celestial being who has useful tips on dispelling the fog of fear that has enveloped the country since9/11.”[20]The piece received a coveted Fringe First award at the 2006 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.[21](I am) Nobody’s Lunchwas written and directed by Steve Cosson based on interviews conducted by the cast, with music and lyrics byMichael Friedman.[22]

Gone Missing(2007)[edit]

Main article:Gone Missing (play)

Gone Missingpremiered in 2007 at theBarrow Street Theatrein New York City. It is composed of extensive interviews by the company, all focused on the idea of loss, in many of its myriad forms. According toThe New York Timesreview of the production, "Underneath its wry surface lies a mournful acknowledgment of the transience of life’s pleasures, symbolized here by any number of cherished possessions that somehow fell into a black hole, leaving behind an aching void in the shape of a bit of jewelry, aPalmPilotor a stuffed animal.... Even the most mundane and functional items can be a source of strange comfort, a talisman of achievement, a thing to cling to when life gets you down, "[23]Gone Missingwas written and directed by Steve Cosson based on interviews conducted by the company, with music and lyrics written byMichael Friedman,and additional text from "Interview with Dr. Palinurus" by Peter Morris.[24]

Shadow of Himself(2008)[edit]

Shadow of Himselfwas written in 2008 by playwright Neal Bell. He wrote the play by commission from The Civilians, with the support ofThe Public Theaterand The Orchard Project, collaborating with the actors and taking inspiration from interviews done by the company.[25]The piece opened at the Access Theatre in New York City in January 2009, produced byRabbit Hole Ensemble.The play is a retelling of the Gilgamesh Epic.[26]

This Beautiful City(2008)[edit]

Main article:This Beautiful City (play)

This Beautiful Cityfirst premiered the Actors Theatre of Louisville Humana Festival of New American Plays in March 2008, followed by runs at Studio Theatre in Washington, D.C. and Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles, California, and a New York premiere at the Vineyard Theatre in winter 2009. The piece engaged with "the expansion of theEvangelicalmovement inColorado Springs"[27]as well as the growing gulf between the secular and Evangelical communities. In addition to illustrating the daily interactions between the members of the community of Colorado Springs, the play also brings to the stage the fall ofNew Life ChurchfounderTed Haggard,the scandal about whom broke while the Civilians were in Colorado Springs already actively researching for the play.[28]The piece received nominations forDrama Desk,[29]Drama League,[30]andLucille Lortel Awards.[31]This Beautiful Citywas written by Steve Cosson and Jim Lewis from interviews conducted by Associate ArtistsEmily Ackerman,Marsha Stephanie Blake,Brad Heberlee,Brandon Miller,Stephen Plunkett,andAlison Weller,with music and lyrics byMichael Friedman,and directed by Steve Cosson.[27]

Brooklyn at Eye Level(2008)[edit]

Brooklyn at Eye Levelwas the first phase of a creative investigation into the heart of neighborhood, community change, and development. The project was conceived in light of theAtlantic YardsDevelopment Project and the quickly changing landscape ofBrooklynas a unique performance of theater, dance, and music created from interviews with the real-life players in the story of Brooklyn.[32]

Brooklyn at Eye Levelwas produced by The Civilians in December 2008 at the Brooklyn Lyceum. It was directed by Steven Cosson.[33]It is the first phase of a larger exploration of urban development in Brooklyn.

You Better Sit Down: Tales from my Parents' Divorce(2009)[edit]

Crafted from interviews between the cast and their own parents,You Better Sit Downis an account of the parents' marriages and their subsequent divorces. It was directed and co-written by Anne Kauffman, with additional writing credit for Janice Paran and David Barlow as well as the actor/writers Matthew Maher, Caitlin Miller, Jennifer R. Morris, and Robbie Collier Sublett.

The show was first performed atGalapagos Art Spacein December 2009.[34]The performances were filmed by Park Pictures, and the footage has been released in short clips with interactive content through The Civilians' partnership withWNYC.[35]

In The Footprint(2010)[edit]

In The Footprint,a play with music, is the culmination of the investigative work begun forBrooklyn at Eye Level.It was directed by Steve Cosson, with a book by Cosson and Jocelyn Clarke and music & lyrics by Michael Friedman. It premiered at theIrondale Centerin Fort Greene, Brooklyn, in November 2010, to critical acclaim.[36]It had its Boston premiere in January 2011 atEmerson College's Paramount Center.[37]

Civilians artists gathered material about the controversialAtlantic Yardsdevelopment project for several years, interviewing new and oldresidents,community activists,developers,politicians,and others.[38]By using the actual words of the players involved,In The Footprintaims to show all sides of this multifaceted issue and tries to examine how the conflicts erupted, where the process went wrong, what is at the heart of Brooklyn communities, and what can be learned from all parties in these debates.

In The Footprintappeared on several best of 2010 lists,[36]including those ofThe New Yorker[39]andCharles Isherwoodof theNew York Times.[40]

Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play(2012)[edit]

Main article:Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play

"An exploration of how the pop culture of one era might evolve into the mythology of another;" a post-apocalyptic world comforted byThe Simpsons."Written byAnne Washburn,music by Michael Friedman, and directed by Steve Cosson.[41]

The Great Immensity(2014)[edit]

The Great Immensityis a play with music that addresses the topic of the environment and the future of our planet. The play explores the themes ofclimate change,deforestation,andextinctionin two distinct locations:Barro Colorado Islandlocated in thePanama Canaland the city ofChurchill, Manitobainarctic Canada.Drawing on interviews with botanists,paleontologists,climatologists,indigenouscommunity leaders,wilderness guides,andtrappers,The Great Immensitygives voice to people whose stories make the reality of present crisis tangible and viscerally felt.

The Great Immensityhad two work-in-progress showings at the Berlind Theatre as part of The Civilians' cross-departmental residency atPrinceton Universitywith thePrinceton Environmental Instituteand the Princeton Atelier at the University'sLewis Center for the Artson April 17, 2010.[42]ThePublic Theater's New Work Now! Festival included a reading ofThe Great Immensityon May 12, 2010.[43]

The Great Immensitypremiered at theKansas City Repertory Theatrein 2012, and had its New York premiere in April 2014 atThe Public Theater.It was reviewed byCharles Isherwoodfor theNew York Times.[44]

Pretty Filthy(2015)[edit]

Amusicalaboutpornography.Associate artists inLas Vegasand theSan Fernando Valleytalked to directors, performers, and producers about thepornographic movieindustry. The "docu-musical"[45]investigates how people got into the industry, how stars rose to fame, and how technological advancements have affected the sustainability and commercial viability of the genre.

Pretty Filthywas developed through a commission from theCenter Theatre GroupinLos Angeles.Bess Wohlwrote the book,Michael Friedmanwrote the music and lyrics, and Steven Cosson directed. Some of the interview material was performed in cabarets atJoe's Pubin New York[46][47]and theKirk Douglas Theatrein Los Angeles.[48]

Another Word for Beauty(2016)[edit]

A musical about a beauty pageant, but it comes, via the inmates, from inside the women's prison El Buen Pastor inBogota, Colombia.[49]The show premiered at theGoodman Theatre,with music and lyrics byHéctor Buitrago,book byJosé Rivera,and the show was directed by Cosson.[50][49]

Rimbaud in New York(2016)[edit]

Arthur Rimbaud's poems brought to life through song, "interview," and myth. Written and directed by artistic director Steve Cosson, based on poems by Rimbaud, translated byJohn Ashbery.Music by, among others, Michael Friedman,Joseph Keckler,andGrace McLean.[51]

The Undertaking(2016)[edit]

"The documentary troupe the Civilians presents this piece exploring mortality and the concept of the land of the dead...."[52]Written and directed by Steve Cosson.[53]

The Abominables(2017)[edit]

"Minnesota's first hockey musical" that also features ayeti.The Civilians' first children's production, commissioned and developed through a partnership with theChildren's Theatre Company.[54]Written and directed by Steve Cosson. Music and lyrics by Michael Friedman (who died six days before the show premiered).[55]

Paul Swan is Dead and Gone(2019)[edit]

A tribute to gay camp iconPaul Swan,written by his great grand niece, playwright Claire Kiechel. Directed by Steve Cosson, choreography by Dan Safer, music by Avi A. Amon.[56]

Awards and recognition[edit]

The Civilians has received a number of accolades for their works. The company received TheOBIE Grantin 2004,[57]TheEdinburgh Fringe FestivalFringe First Award in 2006[21]for(I am) Nobody’s Lunch,and was nominated for Drama Desk,[29]Drama League,[30]and Lucille Lortel awards forThis Beautiful Cityin 2009.[31]

The company has been reviewed positively by such publications asTime Out: New York,[58]The Village Voice,[59]The New York Times,[28]and many others.

Publications[edit]

  • (I am) Nobody's Lunch/Gone Missing(Oberon Modern Plays, 2007)ISBN978-1-84002-693-1
  • Gone Missing: Off-Broadway Premiere Recording(Ghostlight Records, 2008)
  • The Civilians: An Anthology of Six Plays(Playscripts, Inc., 2009)ISBN978-0-9819099-0-5

List of Associate Artists[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^Grode, Eric.“Big Ideas, Small Stages,”New York Magazine(November 30, 2008).
  2. ^Eisler, Garrett.“Social Work,”Stage Directions(September 8, 2008).
  3. ^Thielman, Sam.“Civilians Take Unique Approach,”Variety(March 28, 2008).
  4. ^Estvanik, Nicole."The CiviliansWhat do You Believe? "American Theatre Magazine(December 2004).
  5. ^LaBelle, Devon."The Civilians"
  6. ^Bowen, Kirsten."The Civilians Have a Few Questions for YOU!"American Repertory Theater(April, 2006).
  7. ^Eisler, Garrett."Social Work"Stage Directions(September 2008).
  8. ^Hernandez, Ernio. "Best In Show:August,Dividing the EstateandGypsyTop 2007 "Best of" Lists, "Playbill (January 4, 2008.)
  9. ^"The Civilians / Pretty Filthy".Archived fromthe originalon 2012-11-03.Retrieved2012-11-21.
  10. ^"The Civilians / Artist: Michael Friedman".Thecivilians-artist.blogspot.com. 2009-12-29.Retrieved2012-01-06.
  11. ^"The Company," The Civilians' official website.
  12. ^Cosson, Steven. "Canard, Canard, Goose?."The Civilians.Ed. Steven Cosson. New York: Playscripts, Inc, 2008.
  13. ^abCote, David.“Reviews: Canard, Canard, Goose?”Time Out New York(February 7, 2008).
  14. ^abde Poyen, Jennifer.“Rebels with a Cause,”San Diego Union-Tribune(July 30, 2006).
  15. ^English, Sandy.“A Turn Toward History We Need:Paris Communeat the Public Theater in New York” World Socialist website (June 4, 2008).
  16. ^Fark, Bill."Playhouse Workshops New Musical on 19th Century French Commune,"North County Times(July 22, 2004).
  17. ^Cosson, Steven. "Paris Commune."The Civilians.Ed. Steven Cosson. (New York: Playscripts, Inc, 2008).
  18. ^The Civilians: An Anthology of Six Plays(Playscripts, Inc., 2009)
  19. ^Zinoman, Jason.“They Feel a Homeland Security Song Coming On,”The New York Times(January 29, 2006).
  20. ^Isherwood, Charles.“A Funny and Sad Look at Facts, Myths and Spin,”The New York Times(January 23, 2006).
  21. ^abEaton, Andrew.“Equals Among Firsts,”The Scotsman(August 11, 2006).
  22. ^Cosson, Steven.(I am) Nobody's Lunch.The Civilians.Ed. Steven Cosson. (New York: Playscripts, Inc, 2008).
  23. ^Isherwood, Charles.“Checking the Lost and Found of Life,”The New York Times(June 27, 2007).
  24. ^Cosson, Steven. "Gone Missing."The Civilians.Ed. Steven Cosson. (New York: Playscripts, Inc, 2008.).
  25. ^Bell, Neal. "Shadow of Himself"The Civilians.Ed. Steven Cosson. (New York: Playscripts, Inc, 2008.).
  26. ^Genzlinger, Neil."Two Friends Start a Journey, but One Will Not Return,"The New York Times(January 23, 2009).
  27. ^abThis Beautiful Cityat the Vineyard Theatre website.
  28. ^abSoloski, Alexis."One Troupe’s Heartland Pilgrimage,"The New York Times(January 28, 2009).
  29. ^abDrama Desk Nominations Press Release 2009Archived2011-07-03 atarchive.today
  30. ^abBroadwayworld.com,2008-2009 75th Annual Drama League Nominations Announced,April 21, 2009
  31. ^abLucille Lortel Nominees 2009Archived2011-01-19 at theWayback Machine
  32. ^Aronson, Isaac-Davy and Alison Lichter."Brooklyn Neighborhood Acts Out On Development Plan."
  33. ^"The Civilians' Brooklyn at Eye Level".www.bam.org.Archived fromthe originalon July 20, 2011.
  34. ^Flavorpill Events -The Civilians present You Better Sit Down: Tales from My Parents' Divorce
  35. ^WNYC presentsThis Weeks Divorce Talesby The Civilians
  36. ^abPress for In The Footprintat TheCivilians.org
  37. ^Boston Globe,In ‘Footprint,’ it’s big business vs. the people,January 22, 2011
  38. ^New York Times,When News Events Are Retold Onstage,December 7, 2010
  39. ^Lyon, Shauna.Top Off-Broadway (And Off-Off-Off-Broadway) Theatre of 2010 (DECEMBER 17, 2010)
  40. ^Isherwood, Charles."Bright Fodder for Future Revivals" (December 16, 2010)
  41. ^Brantley, Ben."THEATER REVIEW: Stand Up, Survivors; Homer Is With You,"The New York Times(Sept. 15, 2013).
  42. ^Peters, Carol."Art and Science Collaboration Produced Work-in-Progress on Climate Change." PEI News (Spring/Summer 2010).
  43. ^PublicTheater.orgNew Work Now! Readings 2010
  44. ^Isherwood, Charles(April 24, 2014)."Climate Change Onstage: Singing of the Extinction of Fauna".The New York Times.Mr. Cosson's text is pocked with speeches about the urgent necessity of mending man's rapacious ways. While sincerely felt and factually indisputable, these nevertheless feel like sermons we've all heard many times before. What's truly enticing inThe Great Immensityis hearing such sentiments expressed in the vivifying context of musical numbers.
  45. ^Stasio, Marilyn."Off Broadway Review: Porn Docu-Musical ‘Pretty Filthy’,"Variety(FEBRUARY 8, 2015).
  46. ^Broadwayworld.com- The Civilians explore the Porn Industry in a Cabaret at Joe's Pub
  47. ^Flavorpill.com- The Civilians: Let Me Ascertain You
  48. ^Theatermania.com- PHOTO FLASH: Mia Barron, Emily Swallow, Sam Trammell, Steven Weber, et al. at A Pretty Filthy Evening
  49. ^abRickwald, Bethany (January 11, 2016)."Interviews: José Rivera and Steve Cosson Go Inside Colombia's Unlikeliest Beauty Pageant: With the help of Grammy winner Héctor Buitrago," Another Word for Beauty "tells the stories of inmates at a Bogotá women's prison".Theater Mania.
  50. ^Bresloff, Alan (Jan 2016)."Another Word for Beauty".Around the Town Chicago.
  51. ^Brantley, Ben."Review: ‘Rimbaud in New York’ Splices the Genes of the Original Outlaw Artist,"New York Times(March 3, 2016).
  52. ^"Goings on About Town: The Undertaking,"The New Yorker.Accessed Oct. 26, 2019.
  53. ^The Undertaking,The Civilians website. Accessed Oct. 26, 2019.
  54. ^Gabler, Jay."Children's Theatre's 'The Abominables' is a fitting final tribute to Minnesota from Michael Friedman,"City Pages(September 18, 2017).
  55. ^Preston, Rohan."New CTC musical 'Abominables' blows whistle, sweetly, on youth sports: REVIEW: Children's Theatre's made-in-Minnesota hockey musical offers insights and humor,"Minneapolis Star Tribune(SEPTEMBER 19, 2017).
  56. ^Clement, Olivia."The Civilians to Take Over Historic Chelsea Townhouse for Newest Show,"Playbill(APR 09, 2019).
  57. ^Village Voice,New York Obies Theater Award 2004
  58. ^Cote, David.“Culture Report: Gatekeepers,”Time Out New York(April 2, 2008).
  59. ^Ng, David.Land of the Lost (Jul 3 2007)

External links[edit]

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