Protest songs from across the generations.
Teens. The TEAM. Baby Boomers.
Footage from production premiere at Brooklyn's Roulette Intermedium in August, 2017.
Footage directed by Camilo T. Quiroz-Vazquez
Associate Producer, Ellpetha Tsvicos
PRIMER FOR A FAILED SUPERPOWER is a concert featuring a massive band of teenagers, the TEAM, and Baby Boomers playing new and unexpected arrangements iconic protest songs from the past and present–songs that have celebrated and questioned what it means to be an American throughout our country’s past and present, and that exercise the muscles in our hearts and lungs for the challenges ahead.
The three-generation band includes 33 performers and musicians from across New York City and as far away as Texas–some veteran performers, and some taking the stage for the first time. The concert also features video interviews with activists from across the country–from an indigenous youth water protector at Standing Rock, to one of the co-chairs of the Women’s March on Washington, to a coal-country cultural worker in Virginia.
Collaborating composers include Heather Christian (MISSION DRIFT), Justin Ellington (FETCH CLAY MAKE MAN), Jack Fuller (RUSE, BLOWN AWAY), Orion Johnstone (I'LL NEVER LOVE AGAIN), Amy León (SOMETHING MELANCHOLY), Martha Redbone & Aaron Whitby (BONE HILL), Stew & Heidi Rodewald (PASSING STRANGE), and Yva Las Vegass (I WAS BORN IN A PLACE OF SUNSHINE AN DTHE SMELL OF RIPE MANGOES).
The creative team includes Director Rachel Chavkin, Music Supervisor Orion Johnstone, Associate Director Zhailon Levingston, Music Director Nehemiah Luckett, Sound Designer Matt Hubbs, Lighting Designer Jake Heinrichs, Video Designer Stivo Arnoczy, Stage Designer Nick Vaughan, and Costume Designer Brenda Abbandandolo.
About The TEAM
The TEAM is a Brooklyn-based theatre ensemble dedicated to creating new work about the experience of living in America today. Since 2004, we have created 11 original and award-winning pieces of theatre, which have been seen at venues including the Public Theater and PS122 in New York, Boston’s A.R.T., the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, Virginia Tech, London’s National Theatre and Royal Court Theatre, and at festivals throughout the UK, Europe, Australia and Hong Kong. theteamplays.org
PRIMER was initially commissioned by the Edinburgh International Festival 2011 Fringe Prize, and developed with support from National Theatre Studio, Playwrights Horizons Theatre School, JACK, Sarah Lawrence College, BRIC, and SMU Ignite/Arts. It was made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Cultural Development Fund, Creative Capital, the Jerome Foundation, the JMJ Family Fund, Off Broadway Angels, the Puffin Foundation, and the generosity of the following individuals:
Alice & Robin Griffiths, Ana Beliakova, Anna Frenkel, Anna Corrigan, Annie Tippe, Barbara Chubb, Becca Smith, Ben and Anisa Yalom, Ben Kaye, Brendan Coyne, Carly Conklin, Carol Tambor, Carolyn Miller, Cathryn Wake, Celia Mei Rubin, Cherry Jones, Cheryl Kunis, Chris Steele, Christina Roussos, Colleen Sonosky, Courtney Epton, Cynthia Yang, Dale & Don Franzen, Dan Hawkins, Daniel Jones, Danielle & Bradley King, Dave Malloy, David Binder, David Caparelliotis, David Chavkin, David Zinn, Dawn Williams & Marty Fluger, Debbie & Dave Williams, Diann Filiatrault, Dick & Lucille Goldsmith, Dina Emerson, Ellen Rosenbaum, Erin Baier, The Fischer Family, Feygele Jacobs, Galen Kreiser, Jackie Saporito, Jalel Bonnick, Jason Kemper & Thor Perplies, JC Bardzil, Jean Rohe, Jeffrey Steinman & Jody Falco, Jeneia Mullins, Jennifer McGrath, Jeremy Blocker, Jon Ross and Jen Pehr, Kate Quarfordt, Kerryann Cook & Sarah Jane Johnson, Kristen Leonard, Lauren Z. Adelman, The Lee Family, Lee Ann Gullie, Li Kennedy, Madeleine Maby, Marcus Denard Johnson, Mariam Raines, Matt Coyne, Matt Sisneros & Will Hunter, Matthew Humphreys, Melissa Italiano, Michael Rohd, Mike Inwood, Monica Meyer, Nancy Alligood, Nicole Capatasto, Nina Rubin, Patrice Miller & Jeremy Barker, Paul & Dee Molina, Paulette Douglas & Woody Freiman, Rachel Sussman, Risa Shoup & Di Glazer, Rosemary Roy, Sam Pinkleton, Sammi Cannold, Sandra Garner, Sara Rosenbaum, Sarah Gahr, Sarah Hawkins, Saul Ferholt-Kahn, Sharmon Hilfinger, Stephanie Thompson, Susan Rose, Tegan Ritz McDuffie, Thomas Kriegsmann, Thomas Widdison & Jonathan Slaughter, Tim Gahr, Toby Bercovici, Vallejo Ganter, Victoria Andujar, Will Cantler, William Fisher, Zac Hoogendyk