The Civilians present In The Footprint, The Battle Over Atlantic Yards November 12, 2010

“The secret to their [The Civilians’] success might very well be their refusal to be pigeonholed, defying expectations with every new production." - Stage Directions

What: In The Footprint: The Battle Over Atlantic Yards
Who: The Civilians. Investigative Theatre Company
When: November 12 – December 11
Where: Irondale Center, 85 South Oxford Street, Brooklyn, NYC. D/M/R2/3/Q/B to Atlantic/Pacific, C to Lafayette Avenue
Directions: www.irondale.org
Cost: $35


BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, The Civilians presents the world premiere of IN THE FOOTPRINT: THE BATTLE OVER ATLANTIC YARDS, a new play with music at the Irondale Center in Fort Greene. The site of the future Atlantic Yards Project including the Barclays basketball arena is located two blocks away from the theater where IN THE FOOTPRINT will chronicle the conflicts surrounding the largest land development project in Brooklyn’s history. This lively theatrical production is inspired by interviews with the real-life players in the controversy, representing many different perspectives: residents of Prospect Heights and Fort Greene, political leaders such as Letitia James and Marty Markowitz, members of Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn, union members, and project supporters such as ACORN’s Bertha Lewis. This show is the culmination of a two-year long company investigation. The creative team listened to Brooklynites from Borough Hall to barber shops to gain insights into both the Atlantic Yards drama and the ongoing story of gentrification. The company previously presented a week of sold-out workshop performances at the Brooklyn Lyceum in 2008 under the title BROOKLYN AT EYE LEVEL. IN THE FOOTPRINT, along with several pre- and post-show dialogues, will examine the conflicts that erupted in the case of the Atlantic Yards through to their current resolution in an attempt to discover how the fate of the city is decided in present-day New York and what can be learned from this epic and ongoing story of politics, money, and the places we call home.

Written and directed by Steven Cosson (Gone Missing, This Beautiful City); Co-written by Jocelyn Clarke; Music and lyrics by Michael Friedman (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, This Beautiful City)

In the Footprint is produced in association with The Exchange and is part of Exchange NYC 2010-11, a city wide season of new work by America’s most innovative theatre companies. Tickets for In the Footprint are available as part of the X-Pass, Exchange NYC’s flexible season pass. For more information and to purchase the X-Pass: www.exchangenyc.org

About The Civilians

Led by Artistic Director Steve Cosson, The Civilians is a center for investigative theater, supporting the development and production of new theater from creative inquiries into the most vital questions of the present. The Civilians expands the scope of American theater and champions innovation by tackling complex and under-explored subjects, enabling artists to enrich their creative processes through in-depth interaction with their topics, diversifying artistic voices and audiences, and integrating theater with new media. The creation of work may involve community residencies, travel, face-to-face conversations, extensive research, and other investigative means. The Civilians was founded in 2001 and since have supported the creation of 12 original works. The Civilians' projects have been produced at numerous theaters in New York including The Public Theater and Vineyard Theatre; nationally at Center Theatre Group, A.R.T., La Jolla Playhouse, HBO's US Comedy Festival, Studio Theatre, and Actors Theatre of Louisville among others. Works by the company have toured extensively to arts presenters and festivals with presentations in over 40 cities nationally and internationally. The company’s past work has been featured in The New York Times top ten list and received a Fringe First Award as well as Lucille Lortel, Drama Desk and Drama Guild nominations. The Civilians' work is published by Dramatists Play Service, Oberon Books, Playscripts, and Ghostlight Records.

About Irondale
As a 27 year old Ensemble, Irondale have received national and international accolades for their theatrical performances which are often driven by themes that emerge from the social and political climate, as well as the ability to take unique approaches to well known tales. This season will be no exception. Now with their own space, the Irondale Center in Fort Greene they can also be instrumental in creating new work and supporting the work of other local companies.

The Irondale Center, the first new performing arts space to open in the BAM Cultural District is uniquely and entirely run and maintained by the Irondale Ensemble. A beautiful and historic space, the center is now a theater created out of a nineteenth century Sunday school building attached to the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian church. The church boasts an incredible history in its own right, playing a central role in Brooklyn’s rich abolitionist history in the 1860’s and making an ongoing commitment to positive social activism. Irondale’s mission is .a perfect complement to the church’s rich history of public engagement.

Irondale’s Mission
Through the power of the ensemble process, Irondale creates and presents theater, performance and education programs that challenge traditional assumptions about art, and help us to better understand today’s world. The Irondale Center, our theater, laboratory and classroom, is a home for ensemble artists of all disciplines and cultures, and a resource for our community.