Universes

Biography

(ripped from http://www.universesonstage.com/ and American Theatre Magazine)

UNIVERSES is a National Ensemble Theater Company, of multi-disciplined writers and performers who fuse theater, poetry, dance, jazz, hip hop, politics, down home blues and Spanish Boleros to create moving, challenging and entertaining works for the stage. The group breaks the traditional theatrical bounds to create its own brand of theater. The core members of this ensemble include Steven Sapp (Bard College, ’89. Concentrations: Theatre; Minor in Dance) , Mildred Ruiz-Sapp ( Bard College ’92. Concentrations: Literature and Language; Minor in Dance) , Gamal A. Chasten, William Ruiz (Bard College ’03. Concentrations: Theatre). Additional collaborators include Lemon Andersen, Flaco Navaja, Caridad de la Luz, Paul J. Thompson, Angel Rodriguez, Carlos Pimentel, Antoine Drey, and Maurice Turner.

This ensemble formed as a result of preexisting friendships rooted in shared living experiences and working within the same artistic culture in New York City open mike events. As they vary in age, gender, ethnic background and work experiences, each member of UNIVERSES brings to the ensemble a different element which contributes to their eclectic style of writing and performance. Steven brings a jazz and literary style from the 1970s- contemporary influences to the ensemble. Mildred brings a musical versatility as she mixes Spanish Boleros with gospel, blues and contemporary sounds and images.

Founded in the Bronx, New York in 1995, the members of UNIVERSES came together in the urban poetry and music scene of the late 1990s, meeting and quickly moving through the “Downtown” performance scene to build a home for themselves in American Theater. They began performing individually at the Nuyorican Cafe, and noticed the similarities in themes between each poem that was shared. Originally referring to themselves as "UNIVERSES from the Bronxside," they changed their name to just UNIVERSES to be more inclusive as member Lemon Andersen's origins were in Brooklyn.

In their 21+ years, they have taken their original pieces around the world, electrifying crowds and sparking conversation about just what it means to be an American citizen right here and right now. The group breaks the bounds of traditional theater to create their own brand, inviting old and new generations of theater crafters as well as theater goers and new comers to revolutionize American Theater.

Highlighted Play: Slanguage

Sample Activity:

In groups of 4-5, using terms from the glossary at the beginning of the play, create a found poem. As the music plays, pay attention to the beats and rhythm. Think of the characters depicted on the subway in the play, and people you may come across during a typical day in your city. You will perform the poems back out to the class. Performances can include:

Singing
Handmade beats
Physicality of distinct characters
Themes related to our discussion of the play

Synopsis: Slanguage uniquely and successfully combines New York City street language with theatrical conventions in order to depict a realistic representation of urban America and street culture. UNIVERSES sets this piece within a subway ride from Brooklyn to the Bronx. Throughout the play, the audience is introduced to various neighborhoods representing different cultures and themes.

How this play could be used: This play could be used in English Literature and Drama classes and productions at the high school level. Additionally, several arts based youth organizations could successfully complete a production of this play while engaging in discussions about youth urbanism.

Sample Discussion Questions:

Based on themes, theatrical conventions, and the text in Slanguage, how could accepting slang in the classroom improve cross-cultural and intercultural working and sharing?
How could this play be used in classes as a means of conflict resolution or improving race-relations amongst a diverse group of students?
Based on all of the readings this week, how do you think you could authentically approach teaching/directing this work?

Highlighted Play: Ameriville

Sample Activity:

In groups of 3-4 over the course of a week, take pictures and videos of each group member's respective neighborhood. Your photos may contain people, but should focus on elements of the urban landscape as it is commented on in UNIVERSES's Ameriville. The pictures should highlight many of the themes mentioned in the annotation. Once the images and videos have been collected, students will use these images and videos to devise their own piece of theater which comments on an issue of their choice.

Synopsis: Ameriville comments on the status of contemporary America during a perceived post-racial era. It takes place during the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina as it comments on issues within the contemporary urban landscape such as the effects of poverty and institutional racism. They use song, movement, and projected videos and images to discuss natural disaster, gentrification, economic oppression and racial discrimination. In doing that, UNIVERSES provides a sharp critique of the systems and institutions that have constantly failed impoverished minority communities.

How this play could be used: This play could be used in numerous contexts as it is intersectional in the themes that are explored. It could be used in both schools and community settings to teach audiences about social injustice and policy reform. In a school setting, this play could be used in a social studies, English or drama class, as it would allow students to find ways to make their own critiques of the current state of the United States. Additionally, as it is a piece that includes heavy movement and visual choices, it would be a strong choice for a production in a high school or community setting. It is also a strong example of showing students how to devise site specific theater.

Sample Discussion Questions:

If you were to stage this play, what theatrical conventions and elements do you believe would be most necessary in order to communicate the main themes of this play?
This play takes place within a very specific place and circumstance; how does UNIVERSES convey the subject matter in a way that could relate to your own circumstances or location?

Highlighted Play:

Party People

Sample Activity: The members of UNIVERSES used arts-based research methods to tell a more personal side of many historical events. The play is rooted in personal reflections on themes related to social justice and politics. With a partner, interview each other with the following prompts:

What was your earliest memory of political content and ideas, how do they differ to your position now?
What do you feel like is an aspect of yourself people don't know based on what everyone else perceives you to be? How does it affect the way you navigate through the world?
If there was one thing you would want to discuss with the members of the Black Panther Party and the Puerto Rican Young Lords what would it be and why?

Once you record the interview responses, transcribe two minute sections of each response and arrange a brief script in the style of UNIVERSES's Party People. Think of staging, musical and movement choices you could include. The two interviews will create two characters in this play.

Synopsis: During an art gallery showcasing visual art inspired by the Black Panther Party and Puerto Rican Young Lord during the 1960s and 1970s, members from each group reflect on their experiences as they are met by people of generations removed from this part of history. In this interaction, former members are forced to confront past trauma, relationships, friendships and reflect on the way the movement was once romanticized and what its implications on contemporary society are. True to their style, UNIVERSES uses jazz, hip hop, poetry, theater, boleros and salsa to create monologues that share the private thoughts of members of each group in order to express to complexity of this history which is often not discussed in traditional teachings of American History. This piece was created through an arts-based research process consisting of several interviews. Ultimately it makes this history personal and challenges audiences to make their own personal connections to where we are today.

How this play could be used: This play could be used in both a school and community setting. In schools it could be taught in an American History, Africana studies, and/ or Contemporary Affairs studies context. It would be suitable for students in middle school, high school and collegiate levels. It can show students different approaches to qualitative research and how performance and the arts can be used to present research findings.

Sample Discussion Questions:

What do you think was the significance of placing this play within a modern art gallery?
Did UNIVERSES successfully make connections between the Black Panther Party and Puerto Rican Young Lords to examples of social and political activism among young people today?
What does the use of song, movement and other theatrical conventions show us about the way history is captured, documented and taught within education?