Directed by Nick Sandys
NOW CLOSED
This spring, join us for American Ethnic - the third annual production of Remy Bumppo thinkTank. This year's presentation features three nationally recognized spoken word artists - Usman Ally, Idris Goodwin, and Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai - who will collaborate on an original work combining hip-hop, spoken word and theater aesthetics to examine the mass media's role in perpetuating cultural norms surrounding race and gender. This world premiere production will be directed by Nick Sandys. thinkTank features dramatic works with a focus on provoking timely conversation about a social, political or economic issue in which Chicago citizens have a stake.
Written and Performed by:
Usman Ally is a Pakistani national who was born and raised in Southern and Eastern Africa for 18 years. Usman made his Chicago theatre debut in Tranquility Woods at Steppenwolf Theater Company. His one man show Public Enemy was featured in Remy Bumppo's thinkTank last season. He has appeared in productions at Victory Gardens Theater, Lookingglass Theatre, American Theatre Company and A Red Orchid Theatre. He is founder of One Nation, the first Hip Hop Theatre troupe at University of Florida. He was recently named one of New City's top 5 actors of 2008. Click here to visit Usman online.
Idris Goodwin isan award winning cross disciplinary performance artist out to engage, inspire & incite. The National Endowment for the Arts & The Ford Foundation have supported Idris' pursuit to explore & experiment with the blending of hip hop, spoken word & theatrical aesthetics. Idris' numerous stage plays & solo performances have premiered across the country. Idris' break beat poetry was featured on season six of Russell Simmons' HBO Def Poetry & published in the Spoken Word Revolution Redux Anthology. Idris frequently teaches, performs & lectures at institutions on themes of arts, culture & activism.
Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai is a Chicago-born, Brooklyn-based, Chinese Taiwanese American spoken word artist who has given over 300 performances worldwide in notable venues like the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, House of Blues, Apollo Theater in Harlem, Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, and three seasons on HBO's "Def Poetry." A frequent collaborator with filmmakers, choreographers, musicians, and theater artists, Tsai has released three chapbooks: Inside Outside Outside Inside (2004), Thought Crimes (2005), No Sugar Please (2008), and the CD Infinity Breaks (2006). She has shared stages with Mos Def, KRS-One, Sonia Sanchez, Talib Kweli, Erykah Badu, Amiri Baraka, and many more. www.yellowgurl.com
Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai is a Chicago-born, Brooklyn-based, Chinese Taiwanese American spoken word artist who has given over 300 performances worldwide in notable venues like the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, House of Blues, Apollo Theater in Harlem, Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, and three seasons on HBO's "Def Poetry." A frequent collaborator with filmmakers, choreographers, musicians, and theater artists, Tsai has released three chapbooks: Inside Outside Outside Inside (2004), Thought Crimes (2005), No Sugar Please (2008), and the CD Infinity Breaks (2006). She has shared stages with Mos Def, KRS-One, Sonia Sanchez, Talib Kweli, Erykah Badu, Amiri Baraka, and many more. www.yellowgurl.com
Creative/Production
| Nick Sandys | Director |
| Amy Bertacini | Production Stage Manager |
| Tim Morrison, USA | Scenic Designer |
| Samantha C. Jones | Costume Designer |
| Stephanette Isabel Smith | Lighting Designer |
| Nick Keenan | Sound Designer |
Click here to discuss thinkTank on our new blog, or here for a blog from cast member Usman Ally.
American Ethnic preview video, March 12, 2009.
Usman, Kelly, Idris, and Nick recently appeared on air at Vocalo 89.5 FM. Click below to listen:
Part 1:
Part 2:
Did you know you can listen to all thinkTank's American Ethnic post-show discussions from your home? Log on to ChicagoPublicRadio.org and search "Chicago Amplified Archives" for all of Remy Bumppo' programs.
American Ethnic explores, encourages dialogue about questionable media images - Feb. 19 article from Chi-Town Daily News
What is They Feedin' Our Kids by Idris Goodwin
Black, White, Whatever by Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai
American Ethnic Preview:
In early September, the artists behind American Ethnic gathered together with Chicago civic and arts leaders to discuss the issues behind the upcoming show. Listen the the complete recording of their conversation:
Pictures from the September event:
Pictured: Idris Goodwin and Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai
Pictured: Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai and Usman Ally