The Walk Across America For Mother Earth
Named one of the ten best plays of 2011 by the New York Times (Charles Isherwood).
A group of anarchists walk, from New York City to the Nevada Nuclear Test Site, to protest nuclear proliferation in this a modern day commedia dell'arte play (with music by Ellen Maddow) about political activism and activists.
"At its deepest level 'The Walk Across America for Mother Earth' celebrates the people who search for meaning in life by striving for social change, even if their motives are mixed and success remains stubbornly elusive. As Mr. Mac himself observes in this smart, funny and ultimately quite moving play, for idealists — and for artists — failure and success can look an awful lot alike.” -- The New York Times
Cast Requirements
The cast size is flexible but there need to be a minimum of ten players. All genders, ages, ethnicity and body types should be represented by the cast but the play should not be cast appropriately: women can play men, old can play young, fat can play skinny, and any ethnicity can play any role. All the characters in the play are either cross-eyed, tunnel visioned, or have heavy eyelids.
Set Description
A pantomime set. A giant map of the US in the foreground. The road. Two-dimensional. Colorful. Perhaps the white stripe on the side of the road extends into the audience as the play goes on. Perhaps it begins to zig-zag all over the theater. A cartoon world. Trap doors that come out of sky and earth. A set that rebels on its players and audience.
Press
“With this new play (The Walk Across America for Mother Earth), a sweet and satiric meditation on the beautiful folly of idealism, Mac establishes himself as a writer and artist of serious consequence.” -- Charles Isherwood, The New York Times
Production and Development History
THE WALK ACROSS AMERICA FOR MOTHER EARTH was originally commissioned by and produced at LaMama ETC. January 27 – February 13, 2011
by The Talking Band, Paul Zimet (Artistic Director) in association with Under The Radar Festival. It received extensive workshop time and space as part of New Dramatists' Creativity Fund, was developed and produced with support from the Playwrights’ Center’s McKnight Commission and Residency Program, Minneapolis, MN and was further developed with the support of the Orchard Project (www.orchardproject.com), as well as New York Theatre Workshop and New York University's Experimental Theater Wing.
Credits from the premier production of THE WALK ACROSS AMERICA FOR MOTHER EARTH
By Taylor Mac; directed by Paul Zimet; music by Ellen Maddow; costumes by Machine Dazzle; sets by Anna Kiraly; lighting by Lenore Doxsee; makeup by Darrell Thorne; production stage manager, Robert Signom III. Presented by La MaMa E.T.C. in association with the Talking Band. At the Ellen Stewart Theater, 66 East Fourth Street, East Village
WITH: Will Badgett (Nick), Viva DeConcini (Beeka), James Tigger! Ferguson (Greeter), Daphne Gaines (Angie), Taylor Mac (Kelly), Ellen Maddow (Flower), Frank Paiva (Grass/Wakenhut), Steven Rattazzi (King Arthur), Tina Shepard (Marsha), Jack Wetherall (Rainbow Carl), Alex Franz Zehetbauer (Creek/Wakenhut) and Nikki Zialcita (Jimica/Key Key).