The Neo-Futurists are an experimental theater troupe founded by Greg Allen in 1988, based on an aesthetics of honesty, speed and brevity. Neo-Futurists in theatre were inspired by the Italian Futurist movement from the early 20th century. Originating in Chicago, branches of the Neo-Futurists also exist in New York City, San Francisco, and London (the latter under the name Degenerate Fox).
The Neo-Futurist aesthetic demands that everything that transpires in their theater be non-illusory, which is to say that they pretend nothing; actors only play themselves. All plays take place on a stage, specifically, the stage on which they are performed, in the present. If one of the performers reports that something has happened, you can bet that it really happened. Much of their work contains the possibility of failure, a unique theatrical component that keeps them and the audience honest. Their plays are wildly eclectic, touching on all genres and tones; plays may be political, satirical, personal, tragic, comic, abstract, musical, surreal, poetic, and so on.
The bottom line is that Neo-Futurism does not buy into the "suspension of disbelief"—it does not attempt to take the audience anywhere else at any other time with any other people. The idea is to deal with what is going on right here and now.
History
The Neo-Futurists began with the show Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind: 30 Plays in 60 Minutes, often abbreviated as TMLMTBGB (though many refer to it simply as TML). For the first few years, the Neo-Futurist movement consisted entirely of TMLMTBGB, but then expanded to include "prime time productions." These productions began late evening, as opposed to TMLMTBGB's late-night starting time (11:30 in Chicago, 10:30 in New York).
The Neo-Futurists have published three books of plays from TMLMTBGB - two books of regular plays, and one of plays that use only one actor. They've also released one CD recording of plays from Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind, one video, and a recording of Jokes and their Relation to the Unconscious, a play described as an attempt to destroy comedy by analyzing it to death.
In 2008 the New York Neo-Futurists put on (Not) Just a Day Like Any Other, four autobiographical stories woven together with accompanying Bollywood music videos, relationships charted via PowerPoint, and margaritas for all.[1]
In November 2016, Greg Allen announced in an emailed press release that he intended to revoke the Chicago company's rights to perform TMLMTBGB.[2] Allen had ceased to be a member of the performing ensemble four years prior, and in his announcement he stated his intention to form a new company to perform the show[3] as a way to "combat the new Trump administration."[4] In a response statement, the Neo-Futurists stated that they were "disappointed that it has come to this conclusion," but that "throughout our long history with Greg there have been considerable artistic differences and irreconcilable personal conflicts."[3] Additionally, a former artistic director and ensemble member disputed Allen's claim that the split was motivated by external politics, citing instead ongoing personality conflicts.[5] In solidarity with the Chicago company, the New York and San Francisco productions of Too Much Light also closed that December.
Subsequently, the Neo-Futurists developed and opened a new weekly late-night show in 2017 titled The Infinite Wrench in all three branches to continue to showcase their two-minute plays. The Chicago ensemble notably reached their 10,000th play on September 29th, 2017.[6] A fourth branch, operating in London as Degenerate Fox, runs the similar show The Dirty Thirty.[7]
Theater members
Since 1988, the ranks of the Neo-Futurists have included the following individuals (listed alphabetically):
Stephen Colbert (now famous for his television persona in The Colbert Report) auditioned for the Neo-Futurists, and was cast as part of the ensemble, but never got an opportunity to perform with them.[8]
Theater locations
Chicago: 5153 N. Ashland Avenue (The Neo-Futurarium)
New York: 85 E. 4th St., near 2nd Ave. (The Kraine)
In 2011, the New York Neo-Futurists produced an original piece, "Locker 4173b," wherein Neo-Futurists Joey Rizzolo and Christopher Borg purchased a foreclosed storage locker and, as amateur archaeologists, excavated, catalogued, and chronicled their findings.[9] The show received critical acclaim and received a New York Innovative Theater Award for Outstanding Performance Art Production in 2011.[10]
The New York Neo-Futurists were also New York Innovative Theatre Awards recipients for 'Outstanding Performance Art Production' in 2006, 2011, & 2017, 'Outstanding Ensemble' in 2009, and the Caffe Cino Award 2010. They also have been nominated for two Drama Desk awards in 2012 and 2014. In 2009 the New York company won the Village Voice Readers’ Choice poll for Best Performance Art and was named one of the nytheatre.com People of the Year.
References
^Sobieski, Sonia (November 2008). "Looking to the Neo-Future: (Not) Just Another Day Like Any Other". The Brooklyn Rail.
^"Greg Allen pulls 'Too Much Light' from Chicago's Neo-Futurists". Time Out Chicago. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
^ ab"'Too Much Light' creator yanks show from Chicago Neo-Futurists". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
^Jones, Chris. "Longtime favorite 'Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind' to end over dispute". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
^. DNAinfo Chicago. Archived from the original on 2016-12-03. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
^"The Neo-Futurists Close 2017 with 10,000 Premieres and a Year-End Full of Events - Chicago News, Reviews, and Events". chicago.thelocaltourist.com.
^"Degenerate Fox Theatre Presents THE DIRTY THIRTY Next Month". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
^"New York Times article, 'Finding the Drama in What Life Has Left Behind' by Corey Kilgannon" New York Times.com, accessed August 6, 2012
^"New York Innovative Theater Awards Listing, '2011 Recipients'" nyitawards.com, accessed August 6, 2012
External links
The Chicago Neo-Futurists - Chicago Neo-Futurists Official homepage.
The NY Neo-Futurists — New York Neo-Futurists Official homepage.
The San Francisco Neo-Futurists — San Francisco Neo-Futurists Official homepage.
Degenerate Fox — Degenerate Fox Theatre (London Neo-futurists) Official website.
Dean Evans — Dean Evans' Website.
February 09, 2023
futurists, this, article, relies, excessively, references, primary, sources, please, improve, this, article, adding, secondary, tertiary, sources, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, february, 2009, learn, when, remove, this, template, mess. This article relies excessively on references to primary sources Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources Find sources Neo Futurists news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Neo Futurists are an experimental theater troupe founded by Greg Allen in 1988 based on an aesthetics of honesty speed and brevity Neo Futurists in theatre were inspired by the Italian Futurist movement from the early 20th century Originating in Chicago branches of the Neo Futurists also exist in New York City San Francisco and London the latter under the name Degenerate Fox Contents 1 Aesthetic 2 History 3 Theater members 4 Theater locations 5 Accolades 6 References 7 External linksAesthetic EditThe Neo Futurist aesthetic demands that everything that transpires in their theater be non illusory which is to say that they pretend nothing actors only play themselves All plays take place on a stage specifically the stage on which they are performed in the present If one of the performers reports that something has happened you can bet that it really happened Much of their work contains the possibility of failure a unique theatrical component that keeps them and the audience honest Their plays are wildly eclectic touching on all genres and tones plays may be political satirical personal tragic comic abstract musical surreal poetic and so on The bottom line is that Neo Futurism does not buy into the suspension of disbelief it does not attempt to take the audience anywhere else at any other time with any other people The idea is to deal with what is going on right here and now History EditThe Neo Futurists began with the show Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind 30 Plays in 60 Minutes often abbreviated as TMLMTBGB though many refer to it simply as TML For the first few years the Neo Futurist movement consisted entirely of TMLMTBGB but then expanded to include prime time productions These productions began late evening as opposed to TMLMTBGB s late night starting time 11 30 in Chicago 10 30 in New York The Neo Futurists have published three books of plays from TMLMTBGB two books of regular plays and one of plays that use only one actor They ve also released one CD recording of plays from Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind one video and a recording of Jokes and their Relation to the Unconscious a play described as an attempt to destroy comedy by analyzing it to death In 2008 the New York Neo Futurists put on Not Just a Day Like Any Other four autobiographical stories woven together with accompanying Bollywood music videos relationships charted via PowerPoint and margaritas for all 1 In November 2016 Greg Allen announced in an emailed press release that he intended to revoke the Chicago company s rights to perform TMLMTBGB 2 Allen had ceased to be a member of the performing ensemble four years prior and in his announcement he stated his intention to form a new company to perform the show 3 as a way to combat the new Trump administration 4 In a response statement the Neo Futurists stated that they were disappointed that it has come to this conclusion but that throughout our long history with Greg there have been considerable artistic differences and irreconcilable personal conflicts 3 Additionally a former artistic director and ensemble member disputed Allen s claim that the split was motivated by external politics citing instead ongoing personality conflicts 5 In solidarity with the Chicago company the New York and San Francisco productions of Too Much Light also closed that December Subsequently the Neo Futurists developed and opened a new weekly late night show in 2017 titled The Infinite Wrench in all three branches to continue to showcase their two minute plays The Chicago ensemble notably reached their 10 000th play on September 29th 2017 6 A fourth branch operating in London as Degenerate Fox runs the similar show The Dirty Thirty 7 Theater members EditSince 1988 the ranks of the Neo Futurists have included the following individuals listed alphabetically Claudia Alick Greg Allen Jessie Alsop Rachelle Anthes Jessica Anne Brenda Arellano Hilary Asare Dave Awl Aya Aziz Benni Baker Cecil Edward Baldwin Ted Bales Jake Banasiewicz Meg Bashwiner Joe Basile Andy Bayiates Jill Beckman Sean Benjamin Sam Bertken Anooj Bhandari Neil Bhandari Jackson Bird Eli Bishop Micael Bogar Christopher Borg Ashley Brockington Desiree Burch Eliza Burmester Randy Burgess Lisa Buscani Tyler Butterfield Regie Cabico Will Caldwell Katie Kay Chelena Karen Christopher Kurt Chiang Katharine Chin Rachel Claff Bill Coelius Megan Cohen Roberta Colindrez Marisa Conroy Jeffrey Cranor Michael Cyril Creighton Ida Cuttler Adrian Danzig Bilal Dardai Trevor Dawkins Joe Dempsey Chris Dippel Dean Evans Michaela Farrell Marjorie Fitzsimmons Molly Flynn Mary Fons Cara Francis Kevin R Free Clifton Frei Betsy Freytag Genevra Gallo Ricardo Gamboa Phil Gibbs Ryan Good Sharon Greene Ayun Halliday Alicia Harding Rayne Harris Tif Harrison Nick Hart Eevin Hartsough Yael Haskal Katharine Heller Scott Hermes Nicole Hill Katy May Hudson Lindsay Brandon Hunter Cat Huck Chisa Hutchinson Michael Improta Joanna Jamerson jeb Rex Jenny Chloe Johnston Kate Jones Jasmine Henri Jordan Connor Kalista Spencer Kayden Heather Kelley Dan Kerr Hobert Kathy Keyes Jeewon Kim Olivia Kingsley David Kodeski Greg Kotis Noelle Krimm Greg Lakhan Jacquelyn Landgraf Amy Langer Zoe Lehman Sarah Levy Chan Lin Melissa Lindberg Shelton Lindsay Erica Livingston Christopher Loar Ci era London Anita Loomis Trent Lunsford Jonathan Mastro Robin MacDuffie Mike Manship Dylan Marron Margaret McCarthy Dan McCoy Julia Melfi Megan Mercier Daniel Mirsky Lily Mooney Steve Mosqueda Tonya Narvaez Rob Neill Nessa Norich Abby Pajakowski Clare Palmer Andie Patterson Flor De Liz Perez Page Phillips Connor Shioshita Pickett John Pierson Matt Pine Simon Pond Mike Puckett Marta Rainer Ale Ramirez Rudy Ramirez Ezra Reaves Sheri Reda Tim Reid Tim Reinhard Phil Ridarelli KR Riiber Heather Riordan Joey Rizzolo Geryll Robinson Paige Saliba Connor Sampson Krystal Seli Annie Share Lauren Sharpe Stephanie Shaw Kyra Sims Diana Slickman Adam Smith Alexis Smith Siyu Song Lusia Strus Caitlin Stainken Colin Summers Bahaar Taj F Omar Telan TL Thompson Justin Tolley Jay Torrence Katrina Toshiko Mike Troccoli Leah Urzendowski Courser Robin Virginie Alex Vlahov Kristie Koehler Vuocolo Dylan Waite Shaina Wagner Dina Marie Walters Ryan Walters Steven Westdahl Ryan Patrick Welsh Ro White Yolanda Kaye Wilkinson Jenny Williams Wallace YanStephen Colbert now famous for his television persona in The Colbert Report auditioned for the Neo Futurists and was cast as part of the ensemble but never got an opportunity to perform with them 8 Theater locations EditChicago 5153 N Ashland Avenue The Neo Futurarium New York 85 E 4th St near 2nd Ave The Kraine San Francisco 144 Taylor Street PianoFight London 2 Shepperton Road Rosemary Branch Theatre Accolades EditIn 2011 the New York Neo Futurists produced an original piece Locker 4173b wherein Neo Futurists Joey Rizzolo and Christopher Borg purchased a foreclosed storage locker and as amateur archaeologists excavated catalogued and chronicled their findings 9 The show received critical acclaim and received a New York Innovative Theater Award for Outstanding Performance Art Production in 2011 10 The New York Neo Futurists were also New York Innovative Theatre Awards recipients for Outstanding Performance Art Production in 2006 2011 amp 2017 Outstanding Ensemble in 2009 and the Caffe Cino Award 2010 They also have been nominated for two Drama Desk awards in 2012 and 2014 In 2009 the New York company won the Village Voice Readers Choice poll for Best Performance Art and was named one of the nytheatre com People of the Year References Edit Sobieski Sonia November 2008 Looking to the Neo Future Not Just Another Day Like Any Other The Brooklyn Rail Greg Allen pulls Too Much Light from Chicago s Neo Futurists Time Out Chicago Retrieved 2016 12 02 a b Too Much Light creator yanks show from Chicago Neo Futurists Chicago Sun Times Retrieved 2016 12 02 Jones Chris Longtime favorite Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind to end over dispute chicagotribune com Retrieved 2016 12 02 Former Artistic Director Doubts Politics Were Behind Too Much Light Yank DNAinfo Chicago Archived from the original on 2016 12 03 Retrieved 2016 12 02 The Neo Futurists Close 2017 with 10 000 Premieres and a Year End Full of Events Chicago News Reviews and Events chicago thelocaltourist com Degenerate Fox Theatre Presents THE DIRTY THIRTY Next Month BroadwayWorld Retrieved 5 September 2022 Awl Dave Stephen Colbert Behind the Maniac Ocelopotamus May 23rd 2007 New York Times article Finding the Drama in What Life Has Left Behind by Corey Kilgannon New York Times com accessed August 6 2012 New York Innovative Theater Awards Listing 2011 Recipients nyitawards com accessed August 6 2012External links EditThe Chicago Neo Futurists Chicago Neo Futurists Official homepage The NY Neo Futurists New York Neo Futurists Official homepage The San Francisco Neo Futurists San Francisco Neo Futurists Official homepage Degenerate Fox Degenerate Fox Theatre London Neo futurists Official website Dean Evans Dean Evans Website Performers at Cusp Conference 2009 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Neo Futurists amp oldid 1137660100, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
