Sojourn Theatre

WAITING FOR YOU [ON THE CORNER OF...] is an interactive meditation on listening & communicating in America today. Created by NYC's The TEAM & Portland's Sojourn Theatre & commissioned by Kansas City Repertory Theater, it follows the stories of 6 characters who live & work in KC but who dream in a mythical land called IOWA! Researched on the ground in KC, in Iowa during the 2012 caucuses, & in around the country through conversations with public policymakers from both sides of the political aisle, WAITING... will combine traditional dramatic storytelling with moments of vibrant participation & engage its audience in the same quest its characters pursue- how do we make the world we imagine real in the world we inhabit?

Both Sojourn Theatre & the TEAM have a wealth of experience in creating this kind of visceral, character-driven & intellectually potent world from research & interviews, as well as in using research & live performance to facilitate dialogue with audiences who are seeking to explore contemporary issues & discourse. The 2 companies are partnering on all aspects of creating the work. Artistic Directors Rachel Chavkin (TEAM) and Michael Rohd (Sojourn) will lead the project, which will include designers and performers from both ensembles. All artists will contribute as playwrights. The production will feature multimedia design by Sojourn's Shannon Scrofano, whose work uses architectural and urban theory to develop immersive design. She will collaborate with the TEAM's Nick Vaughan, an installation artist and scenic designer. Through this partnership, and through collaboration with Kansas City Repertory Theatre, the resulting work will have a Winter 2013 production at Kansas City Repertory Theater.

Research is underway. In Sept 2011 we visited southern Virginia, where we learned "sustainability" is a loaded word, that there are families who were granted land by the King, & many community members are suspect of 'land use' dialogue. November brought us to Iowa, where we learned the finer points of caucusing from Republicans & Democrats involved in them since 1960. December took us to Kansas City, where we are learning the jazz scene is not what it was, that barbecue rules, and that the mission of public education is not only in jeopardy but in question.

January 2012 saw us as special guests of the Blackhawk County Republican Party at the largest Iowa Caucus in the state (in the press area with Newt Gingrich and Michele Bachmann – fascinating, great night.) After a public performance of where we were at that point, one year in, we next gathered in NYC in March for more work and another public showing. June found us at NACL in the Catskills with a week culminating in another public showing (with some of the audience who had seen our show AMERICAN VALUE in that space in 2006). In October, we were in residence for a week at Georgetown University, another public showing (for an audience that had seen our show THE RACE in 2008). By December 1, we had a first complete draft of the piece. Which will be different, no doubt, by New Year's...


About Us \| Touring \| Productions \| Engagement / Education
WAITING FOR YOU [ON THE CORNER OF...] is an interactive meditation on listening & communicating in America today. Created by NYC's The TEAM & Portland's Sojourn Theatre & commissioned by Kansas City Repertory Theater, it follows the stories of 6 characters who live & work in KC but who dream in a mythical land called IOWA! Researched on the ground in KC, in Iowa during the 2012 caucuses, & in around the country through conversations with public policymakers from both sides of the political aisle, WAITING... will combine traditional dramatic storytelling with moments of vibrant participation & engage its audience in the same quest its characters pursue- how do we make the world we imagine real in the world we inhabit? Both Sojourn Theatre & the TEAM have a wealth of experience in creating this kind of visceral, character-driven & intellectually potent world from research & interviews, as well as in using research & live performance to facilitate dialogue with audiences who are seeking to explore contemporary issues & discourse. The 2 companies are partnering on all aspects of creating the work. Artistic Directors Rachel Chavkin (TEAM) and Michael Rohd (Sojourn) will lead the project, which will include designers and performers from both ensembles. All artists will contribute as playwrights. The production will feature multimedia design by Sojourn's Shannon Scrofano, whose work uses architectural and urban theory to develop immersive design. She will collaborate with the TEAM's Nick Vaughan, an installation artist and scenic designer. Through this partnership, and through collaboration with Kansas City Repertory Theatre, the resulting work will have a Winter 2013 production at Kansas City Repertory Theater. Research is underway. In Sept 2011 we visited southern Virginia, where we learned "sustainability" is a loaded word, that there are families who were granted land by the King, & many community members are suspect of 'land use' dialogue. November brought us to Iowa, where we learned the finer points of caucusing from Republicans & Democrats involved in them since 1960. December took us to Kansas City, where we are learning the jazz scene is not what it was, that barbecue rules, and that the mission of public education is not only in jeopardy but in question. January 2012 saw us as special guests of the Blackhawk County Republican Party at the largest Iowa Caucus in the state (in the press area with Newt Gingrich and Michele Bachmann – fascinating, great night.) After a public performance of where we were at that point, one year in, we next gathered in NYC in March for more work and another public showing. June found us at NACL in the Catskills with a week culminating in another public showing (with some of the audience who had seen our show AMERICAN VALUE in that space in 2006). In October, we were in residence for a week at Georgetown University, another public showing (for an audience that had seen our show THE RACE in 2008). By December 1, we had a first complete draft of the piece. Which will be different, no doubt, by New Year's...