Author: The Civilians

The Civilians is a company that creates new theater from creative investigations into the most vital questions of the present. Through a number of artistic programs, the Civilians advances theater as an engine of artistic innovation and strengthens the connections between theater and society. An artist-led company, the Civilians creates and produces new theater and pursues its artistic mission through programs serving artists and the public. The company’s work is grounded in investigative theater, an artistic practice rooted in the process of creative inquiry that brings artists into dynamic engagement with the subject of their work. Artists look outward in pursuit of a question, often engaging with individuals and communities in order to listen, make discoveries, and challenge habitual ways of knowing. The ethos of investigative theater extends into production, inviting audiences to be active participants in the inquiry before, during, and after the performance. Since its founding in 2001, the Obie Award-winning company has supported the creation of 14 original shows, and its work has been produced at many theaters in New York, nationally, and internationally. Last season saw two highly successful shows: "Mr. Burns: a Post-Electric Play" at Playwrights Horizons, which was included in eight Top 10 of 2013 Lists, and "The Great Immensity" at The Public Theater. The Civilians’ work has been published by Dramatists Play Service, Oberon Books, Ghostlight Records and Playscripts, Inc.

Articles by this author

This Beautiful City

Actors Emily Ackerman, Colleen Werthmann & Matt Dellapina perform monologues cut from “This Beautiful City,” a played based on interviews with Evangelical Christians in Colorado Springs.

Nobody’s Lunch

This episode takes a look at how we know what we know in a world governed by lies.

“Canard, Canard, Goose”

A live recording of the tenth anniversary concert staging of “Canard, Canard, Goose,” the first show the Civilians ever produced.

Occupy Wall Street, Part 7

Actors perform monologues from interviews with OWS protestors, and Michael Friedman sings a song from his grandfather’s rebel songbook. Recorded live at Joe’s Pub in NYC.

Occupy Wall Street, Part 6

Actors Daoud Heidami, Caitlin Miller, Gretta Lee & Matt Dellapina perform monologues based on interviews with OWS protestors.

Occupy Wall Street, Part 5

Kelly McCreary, Quinlan Corbett, Dan Domingues & Tony-nominee Daniel Jenkins perform monologues based on interviews with figures in the OWS movement.

Occupy Wall Street, Part 4

A continuation of our investigation into the Occupy Wall Street movement. Actors perform monologues and a song based on interviews with key OWS figures.

A Pretty Filthy Podcast, Part 9

Five actors bring to life the words of porn stars interviewed for the new Michael Friedman/Bess Wohl musical, “Pretty Filthy.”

A Pretty Filthy Podcast, Part 8

Heath Calbert, Robbie Collier Sublett & Andrew Kober sing “Waiting for Wood,” a song about male porn stars from the new Michael Friedman/Bess Wohl musical, “Pretty Filthy.”

A Pretty Filthy Podcast, Part 7

Performers Emily Rossell, Greg Hildreth and Colleen Werthmann play real-life porn professionals who were interviewed for Michael Friedman and Bess Wohl’s new musical, “Pretty Filthy.”

A Pretty Filthy Podcast, Part 6

Actors Brad Heberlee and Kelly McCreary perform monologues and Lexy Fridell sings a song from the new musical “Pretty Filthy,” which Bess Wohl & Michael Friedman have written from interviews with porn professionals.

Crime, Part 4

Tony-nominee Maria Dizzia performs a monologue about extraordinary crime, based on an interview with a forensic psychologist. The interview was conducted for Alix Lambert’s play, “Crime, USA.”

A Pretty Filthy Podcast, Part 5

This episode features excerpts from a live “Pretty Filthy” concert at Joe’s Pub, in which the actors and audience play a round of Porn Charades.

A Pretty Filthy Podcast, Part 4

Artists Alix Lambert, Mia Barron and Andrew Kober perform monologues and a song from the new musical “Pretty Filthy,” which is based on interviews with adult entertainment professionals.

A Pretty Filthy Podcast, Part 3

In this episode, actors perform monologues and music from the new musical “Pretty Filthy” by Michael Friedman and Bess Wohl. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 18.