Epic Theatre Ensemble Explained

The Epic Theatre Ensemble is an American theatre in New York City.^[1] As well staging well known traditional plays,^[2] its productions often focus on promoting engaged citizenship and social change.^[3]

History

The Epic Theatre Ensemble was founded in 2001 by original members Ron Russell, Melissa Friedman, Zak Berkman, James Wallert, Teri Lamm, Craig Rovere, and Shaheen Vaaz. Its work is influenced by the Epic Theatre movement.

In 2009, the Ensemble's remix of Shakespeare’s plays performed in several New York City Public Schools was awarded the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award, then called the Coming Up Taller Award.^[4]

Significant productions include the 2010 rendition of Sarah Ruhl’s Passion Play^{[5] [6] [7]} and Pike Street in 2015.^{[8] [9]}

In 2012, the theatre received funding from the National Endowment for the Arts to create a contemporary interpretation of Shakespeare's MacBeth.^[10]

As well as performing traditional dramas, the Ensemble also commissions and stages new plays.^{[11] [12]}

The Ensemble includes both professional and student actors.^[13] In 2016, Epic Theatre Ensemble presented 10467, a fifty-minute play that discusses educational equity in New York City's public schools. .^[14] The play was written and performed by students of Epic's artistic and youth development program Epic NEXT

External links

• Official website

Notes and References

1. https://edmontonjournal.com/Vern+Thiessen+returns+from+Apple+head+Workshop+West/11147168/story.html "Vern Thiessen returns from the Big Apple to head up Workshop West"
2. http://www.curtainup.com/macbethaquila-epic.html "The Bard's Famous Murdering Couple Open On Two Different Stages in One Week"
3. http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/72814/review-hirabayashi-remembered-in-eloquent-play/ "Review: Hirabayashi remembered in eloquent play"
4. "Epic Theatre Ensemble." American Theatre Jan. 2010: 22.
5. Sheward, David. "Sarah Ruhl's Passion play: Epic Theatre Ensemble at the Irondale Center." Back Stage, National ed. 13 May 2010: 40.
6. http://www.chicagostagereview.com/sarah-ruhl%E2%80%99s-passion-play-review/ "Sarah Ruhl’s “PASSION PLAY” – REVIEW"
7. http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/sarah-ruhl-epic-passion-play-passionate-life-death-jesus-christ-article-1.447939 "Sarah Ruhl's epic 'Passion Play' gets passionate about life and death of Jesus Christ"
8. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/18/theater/review-pike-st-where-one-woman-speaks-for-all.html?hpw&rref=theater&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region&region=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well&_r=0 "Review: ‘Pike St.,’ Where One Woman Speaks for All Pike St."
9. http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/11/23/team-player "Team Player"
10. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303459004577360011445835308 "Shakespeare for Everybody"
11. http://www.theatermania.com/off-broadway/news/nilaja-sun-pike-street-opening-night-photos_75003.html "Nilaja Sun Opens Pike St. at Abrons Arts Center"
12. https://www.americantheatre.org/2015/08/31/a-communitys-history-recovered-in-the-people-before-the-park/ "Keith Josef Adkins’s New Play Recovers ‘The People Before the Park’"
13. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/03/14/shakespeare-s-modern-lessons-for-new-york-schoolkids.html "Shakespeare’s Modern Lessons For New York Schoolkids"
14. http://www.villagevoice.com/news/nyc-high-schoolers-stand-up-for-their-educational-rights-on-stage-8419609 "NYC High Schoolers Stand Up for Their Educational Rights on Stage"