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The Wooster Group is an ensemble of artists who collaborate on the development and production of theatre and media pieces. Under the direction of Elizabeth LeCompte, The Group, along with its many associate artists, has conceived and constructed sixteen works for the theatre, six works for film and video, three radio pieces and three dance pieces.
Mission statement
For over twenty-five years, The Wooster Group has cultivated new forms and techniques of theatrical expression reflective of and responsive to our evolving culture, while sustaining a consistent ensemble and maintaining a flexible repertory. Wooster Group theatre pieces are constructed as assemblages of juxtaposed elements: radical staging of both modern and classic texts, found materials, films and videos, dance and movement, multi-track scoring, and an architectonic approach to theatre design.
The Wooster Group has played a pivotal role in bringing technologically sophisticated and evocative uses of sound, film and video into the realm of contemporary theatre, and in the process has influenced a generation of theatre artists nationally and internationally. The Group's work is unique because it attracts not only the theatre-going community but also artists and enthusiasts of many other cultural disciplines, such as dance, painting, music, video and film.
The Group has created and performed all of its theatre pieces at The Performing Garage in SoHo, New York City. All pieces in The Group's award winning repertory have toured widely in the US and Europe, as well as to Asia, Australia, Canada, and South America.
Works
Theater
- Poor Theater (2004)
- To You, The Birdie! (Phèdre) (2002)
- House / Lights (1999)
- The Hairy Ape by Eugene O'Neill (1995)
- Fist Story (1994)
- The Emperor Jones by Eugene O'Neill (1993) (2005)
- Brace Up! from Chekhov's Three Sisters (1991 & 2003)
- North Atlantic (1984 & 1999)
THE ROAD TO lMMORTALlTY
- FRANK DELL'S THE TEMPTATlON OF ST. ANTONY (1987)
- L.S.D. (...JUST THE HIGH POINTS...) (1984)
- ROUTE 1 & 9 (1981)
THREE PLACES IN RHODE lSLAND
- POINT JUDITH (an epilog) (1979)
- NAYATT SCHOOL (1978)
- RUMSTICK ROAD (1977)
- SAKONNET POINT (1975)
- HULA (1981) and FOR THE GOOD TlMES (1982)(two dance pieces)
- NORTH ATLANTlC (1984/1999) written for the company by James Strahs
- MlSS UNlVERSAL HAPPlNESS (1985) and SYMPHONY OF RATS (1988) written for the company & directed by Richard Foreman
Radio Productions
Each radio piece was a BBC Radio 3 Broadcast for a Festival Radio Production.
- THE PEGGY CARSTAlRS REPORT (radio play - 2002)
- Racine's Phèdre (radio play - 2000)
- The Emperor Jones (radio play - 1998)
Audio Productions
- LOVE SONGS Songs from The Wooster Group's To You, The Birdie! (Phèdre) written, performed and produced and by drench (CD - 2002)
Film - Video Productions
- HOUSE / LIGHTS (DVD-2004)
- The Wooster Group's The Emperor Jones by Eugene O'Neill (video-1999)
- WRONG GUYS (film-in progress)
- RHYME 'EM TO DEATH (video-1994)
- WHlTE HOMELAND COMMANDO (video-1992) written for the company by Michael Kirby
- FLAUBERT DREAMS OF TRAVEL BUT THE ILLNESS OF HIS MOTHER PREVENTS IT (video-1986)
Members
Founding members
The Wooster Group's founding members are:
- Jim Clayburgh
- Willem Dafoe
- Spalding Gray (1941-2004)
- Elizabeth LeCompte
- Peyton Smith
- Kate Valk
- Ron Vawter (1948-1994)
Current associates
- Geoff Abbas
- Jo Andres
- Joel Bassin
- Dominique Bousquet
- Steve Buscemi
- Philip Bussmann
- John Collins
- Steve Cuiffo
- Lance Dann
- Jim Dawson
- Dennis Dermody
- Viviane de Muynck
- Martin R. Desjardins
- Dan Dobson
- J. Reid Farrington
- Roy Faudree
- Iver Findlay
- Jim Findlay
- Jim Fletcher
- Ari Fliakos
- Clay Hapaz
- Cynthia Hedstrom
- Mark Muttt Huang
- Koosil-Ja Hwang
- Shaun Irons
- Elizabeth Jenyon
- James J.J. Johnson
- Bozkurt Bozzy Karasu
- Richard Kimmel
- Ken Kobland
- Anna Kohler
- Christopher Kondek
- Karen Lashinsky
- Fiona Leaning
- David Linton
- John Lurie
- Gabe Maxson
- Emily McDonnell
- Frances McDormand
- Helen Pickett
- Scott Renderer
- Suzzy Roche
- Beatrice Roth
- Sheena See
- Tanya Selvaratnam
- Dave Shelley
- Scott Shepherd
- E. Jay Sims
- Ariana Smart
- Michelle Stern
- James Strahs
- Jeff Sugg
- Jennifer Tipton
- Ruud van den Akker
- Tara Webb
- Kim Whitener
- Gary Wilmes
External links
Official site
Associate artists' links
- Collapsable Giraffe
- Elevator Repair Service
- Need Company - Jan Lauwers
- Philip Bussman
- Radiohole
- Radio Reverb Community Radio
- Suzzy Roche
- The Builder's Association
"The Wooster Group"