Neo-Futurism is a non-illusionary type of theater that, according to their Web site, doesn't buy into the trend of "suspension of disbelief." The people on stage were not characters in their own world; they are who they say they are and they know they're performing for a live audience.
On the eve of the presidential debate, Hofstra's own participated in a Neo-Futurism performance. It was the culmination of a series of a series of workshops given by Chris Dippel, an adjunt professor in the Drama Department, who is also a founding member of the New York City branch of the Neo-Futurists. The NYC branch is the sister company of the Chicago group, founded in 1988 by Greg Allen.
The topic of their first performance: whether people in the U.S. "would be better served if political campaigns focused more on real issues and less on personal theatrics."
Drama Department students were featured in the University's production, comprised of Kyle Cheng, Louis Aquiler, Chris D'Amato, Keith Pinault and Abigail Strange on the affirmative side; Rich Traub, Jeremy Benson, Dina Massery, Richie Pepio and Alexis Rhiannon on the negative.
On the eve of the presidential debate, Hofstra's own participated in a Neo-Futurism performance. It was the culmination of a series of a series of workshops given by Chris Dippel, an adjunt professor in the Drama Department, who is also a founding member of the New York City branch of the Neo-Futurists. The NYC branch is the sister company of the Chicago group, founded in 1988 by Greg Allen.
The topic of their first performance: whether people in the U.S. "would be better served if political campaigns focused more on real issues and less on personal theatrics."
Drama Department students were featured in the University's production, comprised of Kyle Cheng, Louis Aquiler, Chris D'Amato, Keith Pinault and Abigail Strange on the affirmative side; Rich Traub, Jeremy Benson, Dina Massery, Richie Pepio and Alexis Rhiannon on the negative.
Each team delivered an opening statement, a rebuttal, a cross-examination and a closing statement. An audience vote determined the winner. The catch: they're not debating with speeches, they're using short plays.
Benson, on the negative side, said theatricality is important in politics, especially now. "Theatricality is not a bad thing," he said. "You can look at 'Rock the Vote' [as an example of theatricality]…it builds something within young people which makes them get involved. It's important in today's system."
The Neo-Futurists original production, "Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind," is still running in both Chicago and New York City. For more information, check out www.nyneofuturists.org or http://www.neofuturists.org/.
--David Gordon
1 comment:
Where there any photos from this event?
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