- CHARLES ISHERWOOD - THE NEW YORK TIMES
- TIMES OUT NEW YORK
- NEW YORK MAGAZINE
IN THE FOOTPRINT
Written By: Steve Cosson
Music and Lyrics By: Michael Friedman
The story of the largest development project in Brooklyn’s history
In the Footprint, a new play with music, tells the story of Brooklyn’s largest development project in history. The play examines the conflicts that erupted in the case of 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 ongoing saga of politics, money, and the places we call home. The play is constructed from interviews with real life players in this Brooklyn epic, including local residents, business owners, Daniel Goldstein, political leaders such as Letitia James and Marty Markowitz, activists, union members, and community leaders.
Written and directed by:
Steve Cosson
Co-written by:
Jocelyn Clarke
Music and lyrics by:
Michael Friedman
Scenic Design: Andromache Chalfant
Costume Design: Chloe Chapin
Lighting Design: Lucrecia Briceño
Sound Design: Shane Rettig
Video and Projection Design: Jeanette Yew
Music Direction: Kris Kukul
Production Stage Manager: Terri K. Kohler
From interviews conducted by Marsha Stephanie Blake, Greg McFadden, Melanie Nocholls-King, Michael Premo, Alex Rosenthal, Joaquin Torres, and Colleen Werthmann.
Irondale Center – Nov 12th-Dec 11th, 2010, World Premiere
Cast:
Matthew Dellapina
Donnetta Lavinia Grays
Billy Eugene Jones
Greg McFadden
Simone Moore
Colleen Werthmann
ArtsEmerson’s Paramount Blackbox – January 19-23, 2011, Boston Premiere
Cast:
Matthew Dellapina
Safya Fredericks
Daniel Jenkins
Simone Moore
Stephen Moore
Colleen Werthmann
Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts – January 18-28, 2012, Philadelphia Premiere
Cast:
Gibson Frazier
Donnetta Lavinia Grays
Nina Hellman
Jordan Mahome
Simone Moore
Brian Sgambati
Development:
The initial presentation of the Atlantic Yards project, entitled Brooklyn at Eye Level, was produced by the Civilians in December 2008 at the Brooklyn Lyceum. It was directed by Steve Cosson.
After the Brooklyn performances of In the Footprint, the Civilians opened up the stage to speakers who shared their expertise and led discussions about the real-life issues from the play related to the Atlantic Yards development and our changing community.
November 20 at 2PM: Michelle de la Uz, Executive Director of the Fifth Avenue Committee
November 29 at 7PM: Brad Lander, New York City Council Member
November 30 at 8PM: Stephen Levin, New York City Council Member
December 2 at 8PM: Tom Angotti, Professor of Urban Studies & Planning at Hunter College
December 4 at 2PM: Daniel Goldstein, Co-founder of DDDB and last resident to leave The Footprint
December 6 at 7PM: BrooklynSpeaks: The Future of Atlantic Yards*
December 7 at 8PM: Letitia James , New York City Council Member (Invited)
December 9 at 8PM: Stacey Sutton, Urban Planning Professor at Columbia’s Architecture Grad Dept. and Daniel Goldstein, Co-founder of DDDB and last resident to leave The Footprint
*December 6 Speakers: Deb Howard Pratt Area Community Council; JoAnne Simon District Leader, 52nd Assembly District; Gib Veconi, Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council
The Civilians presents the world premiere of In the Footprint, 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’s world premiere chronicled 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: Daniel Goldstein, 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.
The Atlantic Yards development project was first proposed in 2003 by real estate developer Forest City Ratner. The construction plan includes a basketball stadium for the New Jersey Nets, high-rise condominiums, and new commercial spaces, and the demolition of established local businesses and existing homes. The groundbreaking for the development project occurred in March, 2010 after seven years of negotiations, legal battles, and community protests. The New York Court of Appeals’ decision permitted the use of eminent domain.
NEW YORK TIMES Charles Isherwood Best of 2010
THE NEW YORKER Top Off-Broadway (and Off-Off-Broadway) Theatre of 2010
NEW YORK TIMES: “[In the Footprint] is as fresh, inventive and frankly as entertaining as any new work of musical theater to open this fall.”
THE NEW YORK TIMES, ARTS BEAT: “…the company’s entertaining, insight-rich show about the controversial redevelopment plan in Brooklyn, restored my faith in the ability of theater artists to engage meaningfully with the world, here and now.”
TIME OUT NEW YORK: Critic’s Pick, Five Stars
NEW YORK MAGAZINE: “Social Theater At Its Best”
THE L MAGAZINE: “necessary viewing for every Brooklynite and, really, every American”
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS: “concise, juicy and entertaining”
VILLAGE VOICE: “innovative staging”
BACKSTAGE: Critic’s Pick
THAT SOUNDS COOL: “one of the year’s most sincere, clever, and enjoyable shows, period”
ATLATNTIC YARDS REPORT: “entertaining, and should spur further conversation”
CURBED NY: The Ten Best Things About the Atlantic Yards Musical
NEW YORK TIMES: Photo Slide-Show
NEW YORK TIMES: “the kind of passionate long-form journalism that has become too rare”
WNYC, SOUNDCHECK: The cast of In the Footprint performs!
NEW YORK TIMES: “a layered portrait of a city and a neighborhood changing”
THE BOSTON GLOBE: “imprint a total of 16 characters with vivid individuality.”
TIME OUT BOSTON: “Four stars… a powerful, multifaceted portrait”
THE BOSTON GLOBE: “Onstage, a proliferation of African-American voices”
THE BOSTON GLOBE: “In the Footprint leaves audiences with serious food for thought”
Urban Omnibus: Mini-documentary about In the Footprint
BRIC: Mini-documentary about In the Footprint