Mission

The Civilians works to strengthen the connections between theater and contemporary society.

The central idea of the Civilians’ artistic program is to create investigative, collaborative theater in a sustained relationship with the public at every phase of a project’s life. The primary activity of The Civilians is the creation of original projects from investigations into real life. Using methods that combine documentary and artistic practices, The Civilians’ process encourages a deep, inquisitive engagement between the artists and their subject matter. The resulting shows are boldly theatrical, often incorporating elements of musical theater. As the company’s work is research-based and collaborative, the process requires a large investment of time, labor and resources. The Civilians works to extend and deepen the engagement with its various constituencies through a variety of educational and dialogue programs such as work-in-progress showings, pre- and post-show discussions, and programs with educational and community-based partners.

Method

The company exists to forge links between theater and society and to support projects and initiatives that stimulate the audience’s participation in public culture. Our process is as follows. Inception: project ideas are developed in ongoing outward-looking research and dialogue within a diverse, multi-disciplinary community of artists and thinkers from other fields; Creation: Artistic works are created from creative investigations into real life. By delving into actual experiences in the generative stages of a project, the artists are compelled to move beyond their pre-conceived ideas and fully engage a subject in its actuality, bringing greater rigor and a larger social perspective to the work. Production and Dissemination: both artists and audiences benefit from ongoing interaction, generating critical big picture thinking in response to the plays.

Structure

The artistic foundation of The Civilians is a group of Associate Artists including directors, writers, actors, designers, choreographers, and composers. Each year, the company invites several artists to join as new Associate Artists. The company realizes its projects through a network of collaborative partnerships. Many projects are developed with the support of partners including universities, institutional theaters and artist residency programs. Projects often tour to both performing arts presenters and regional theaters. The company occupies offices in Chelsea and employs a full-time Artistic Director, full-time Managing Director, and part-time General Manager, Literary Associate and Associate Producer. The company is supported by a twelve-member Board of Directors and several committees: Finance, Nominating, Development, and Communications.

History

Since its founding in 2001 by Artistic Director Steven Cosson, The Civilians has supported the creation of seven original shows--Canard, Canard, Goose?, The Ladies, Paris Commune, Gone Missing, (I am) Nobody's Lunch, Shadow of Himself and This Beautiful City. The Civilians’ projects have been produced at venues throughout New York including The Public Theater, joe’s pub, St. Ann’s Warehouse, 59E59 among others, and at theaters nationally including A.R.T., La Jolla Playhouse, HBO’s US Comedy Festival, and Actors Theatre of Louisville. Works by the company have also toured nationally and internationally to universities, arts presenters and festivals. Recent touring engagements have included The Hopkins Center at Dartmouth, Princeton, World Performance Project at Yale, Wesleyan, University of Pennsylvania, and Connecticut College. The Civilians made its UK debut with Gone Missing in 2004 at the Gate Theatre, and (I Am) Nobody’s Lunch was a Fringe First Award winner at the 2006 Edinburgh Fringe leading to a London production at Soho Theatre. The Civilians’ recent commercial run of Gone Missing at the Barrow Street Theater ran for seven months and was included in several Top 10 of 2007 lists in the New York press including critic Charles Isherwood’s list in the The New York Times. The company’s new major project, This Beautiful City premiered at the 2008 Humana Festival and is slated for upcoming productions at major theaters including Studio Theatre, Center Theatre Group (Mark Taper), Vineyard Theatre, and La Jolla Playhouse. Also in the current season, Paris Commune was produced in The Public Theater’s Public LAB series. The Civilians produced accompanying programs at The Museum of Modern Art and the City University of New York. The company has developed its work in residencies with New York Theatre Workshop, Sundance Theatre Lab, the MacDowell Colony and The Orchard Project. This Beautiful City was developed through a year-long residency at Colorado College. Gone Missing will be published by Dramatists Play Service and the cast recording was produced by Ghostlight Records. (I Am) Nobody’s Lunch was published by Oberon Books. The Civilians received an Obie in 2004 in recognition of its accomplishments in its first two seasons of work.