THEATER IN ASYLUM

Theater in Asylum 2021 Year in Review

12/27/2021

 
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We made it! As 2021 comes to a close, we want to reiterate our gratitude to the community who made this year possible. For the past few weeks we've been looking back at all we achieved this year. If you missed it, here are a few links:
  • Financial Transparency Report 2021
  • All the organizations we supported in 2021
  • Memories we'll cherish from 2021
  • Performances we loved in 2021
  • Books we loved in 2021
  • Music we loved in 2021
  • Movies & Television we loved in 2021

And below, find a review of all Theater in Asylum produced and accomplished this year. And if you're in a position to do so, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to our dreams for 2022. Once again, thank you.

2021 Major Events & Project

The Debates 2021
  • This project was an installment in our Debates series (Past iterations: 2016, 2020). Over the course of about six months, Theater in Asylum hosted voter education and engagement events, created a detailed voter guide, and produced an original online adaptation of the 2021 NYC Democratic Mayoral Primary debates. This project's goal was to provoke political understanding, confidence, and engagement in NYC's 2021 elections.
  • 2021 Voter Guide
  • The Debates 2021 annotated script
  • Press releases: 3/18/21 , 3/29/21, 5/13/21
  • 2 live, online performances May 27 & 28, 2021, 150 viewers
  • 15 paid collaborators
  • 3 Voter Education "Civics Happy Hours". The first focused on the power distinctions between NYC's mayor and City Council. The second focused on power distinctions between NYC's Comptroller, Public Advocate, and Borough Presidents. The third focused on the mayoral candidates running.
  • 4 Debates Watch Parties and Political Analysis Meetings to promote voter engagement
  • 1 Text Banking Party to get out the vote
  • 3 candidates met by team members!
Paul with Art Chang
Malcolm with Maya Wiley
Emily met Kathryn Garcia but unfortunately we didn't get a photo.
Occupy Prescott
  • This project was a fully-produced play by Andy Boyd. Set in Prescott, Arizona circa 2011, Occupy Prescott followed five Occupy-Wall-Street-style demonstrators as they draft their protest demands and, in doing so, create community.
  • Performed outside at The Jalopy Tavern in Red Hook, Brooklyn.
  • Press Release: 9/28/21
  • Press Features: Joey Sims review, Go See a Show interview, Adam Szymkowicz interview, Fordham Observer review
  • 6 live, in-person performances October 16-31, 2021, all sold-out, 200 attendees.
  • 19 paid collaborators
Cold Readings
  • This project is an ongoing play-reading group. Each week we gather to read and discuss a play without rehearsal. Facilitators introduce each reading and guide discussions. This project's goal is to encourage theater literacy as well as confidence in speaking about plays.
  • Each week we highlight an organization doing good work that we encourage attendees to donate to. We summarized this year's organizations in our Giving Tuesday post.
  • 35 readings in 2021, mostly on Wednesdays. 3 readings were held in person, the rest were on Zoom.
  • Approximately 15 people at each, 530 people total.
  • 9 people guest facilitated a total of 14 readings. The rest were facilitated by Theater in Asylum leadership.
  • 63% of plays were by women, 52% were by people of color.
  • The oldest play we read was written in 1500. The newest play we read was written this year, in 2021.
  • We continued reading and discussing The Golden Collection. We will finish reading the Collection in January 2022.
  • We read and –still cold and unrehearsed– sang through one musical.
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Our in-person reading at Prospect Park in July 2021
Non-production Highlights
  • Theater in Asylum won three grants this year: one from the Brooklyn Arts Council and two from the City Artist Corps.
  • Theater in Asylum released Transparency Commitments and a 2021 Financial Transparency Report
  • Theater in Asylum released Community Agreements and resources
  • Theater in Asylum revised its mission statement

2021 Timeline

  • January 6 - Cold Reading
  • January 13 - Cold Reading
  • January 20 - Cold Reading
  • January 26 - First dramaturgy meeting for The Debates 2021
  • January 27 - Cold Reading
  • January 31 - Theater in Asylum's 2021 Fundraising campaign ends
  • February 3 - Cold Reading
  • February 10 - Cold Reading
  • February 17 - Cold Reading
  • February 17 - Theater in Asylum wins a Brooklyn Arts Fund grant
  • February 24 - Cold Reading
  • March 3 - Cold Reading
  • March 10 - Cold Reading
  • March 17 - Cold Reading
  • March 18 - Civics Happy Hour: Mayor vs. City Council
  • March 23 - Watch Party: Meet the Candidates Forum
  • March 24 - Cold Reading
  • March 25 - Political Analysis Meeting: Unpacking the Meet the Candidates Forum
  • March 31 - Cold Reading
  • April 7 - Cold Reading
  • April 8 - Civics Happy Hour: Comptroller, Public Advocate, and Borough President
  • April 14 - Cold Reading
  • April 18 - Theater in Asylum releases Transparency Commitments
  • April 21 - Cold Reading
  • April 22 - Civics Happy Hour: The Mayoral Candidates
  • April 28 - Cold Reading
  • May 4 - First rehearsal for The Debates 2021
  • May 5 - Cold Reading
  • May 12 - Cold Reading
  • May 13 - Debate Watch Party with Political Analysis Meeting immediately after
  • May 19 - Cold Reading
  • May 26 - Cold Reading
  • May 27 - The Debates 2021 live, online performance
  • May 28 - The Debates 2021 live, online performance, script published online
  • Throughout June - The Debates 2021 streaming on demand
  • June 2 - Debate Watch Party with Political Analysis Meeting immediately after
  • June 6 - Cold Reading
  • June 10 - Text banking party to get out the vote
  • June 16 - Debate Watch Party with Political Analysis Meeting immediately after
  • June 22 - Primary Election Day, Theater in Asylum participates in Get Out the Vote efforts
  • June 23 - Cold Reading
  • June 30 - Cold Reading
  • July 11 - Cold Reading (in-person!)
  • July 14 - Cold Reading
  • July 15 - First dramaturgy meeting for Occupy Prescott
  • July 28 - Cold Reading
  • August 2 - Theater in Asylum win a City Artist Corp grant
  • August 11 - Cold Reading
  • August 15 - Cold Reading (in-person!)
  • August 25 - Theater in Asylum wins a second City Artist Corp grant
  • September 9 - Cold Reading
  • September 17 - First rehearsal for Occupy Prescott
  • September 29 - Cold Reading
  • October 16 - Occupy Prescott performance, in-person
  • October 17 - Occupy Prescott performance, in-person
  • October 23 - Occupy Prescott performance, in-person
  • October 24 - Occupy Prescott performance, in-person
  • October 27 - Cold Reading
  • October 31 - Occupy Prescott performances (two!), in-person
  • November 2 - General Election Day, Theater in Asylum participates in Get Out the Vote efforts
  • November 10 - Cold Reading
  • November 30 - Cold Reading
  • December 1 - Cold Reading
  • December 2 - Theater in Asylum 2021 Financial Transparency Report published
  • December 5 - Holiday party 2021's TIA collaborators
  • December 15 - Cold Reading
  • December 18 - Theater in Asylum's 2022 Fundraising campaign begins
  • December 28 - Theater in Asylum year-in-review published
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2021 by the Numbers

  • Event attendees: approximately 950
  • 2021 Season Donors: 115
  • Admin meetings: 69
  • Cold Readings: 35 (32 online, 3 in-person)
  • Rehearsals: 32 (15 for The Debates 2021, 18 for Occupy Prescott)
  • Live performances: 8 (2 online, 6 in-person)
  • Filming days: 5
  • Watch Parties: 4
  • Political Analysis Meetings: 4
  • Civics Happy Hours: 3
  • Published scripts: 1
  • Published voter guides: 1

Thank you!

We are so grateful to the artists, audience, volunteers, donors, friends, and family who made Theater in Asylum's 2021 season possible. We are so lucky to have such a vibrant and supportive community.

As we turn the page on 2021, we look with hope to 2022. If you are in a position to do so, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to our 2022 season.

Happy New Year!

Peace, power, and love to you,
Paul, Katie, Kathryn
Theater in Asylum
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All the things we'll remember from 2021

12/23/2021

 
Dear friends,

Can you believe this year is nearly over? As we count down the final days of 2021, we asked our community to look back at all the things that brightened the year. What was unforgettable? What are we grateful for? On our blog we recently posted crowd-sourced lists of performances, books, music, and films we loved this year. And below here, find a list of moments we’ll never forget from 2021, as well as aspirations for 2022.

However you are spending these final few days of 2021, we hope you’ll take a moment to reflect on this wild year, and spend some time dreaming into the new year.

Have a happy new year, and we’ll see you in ‘22!

Peace, power, and love to you,
Paul, Katie, and Kathryn
Theater in Asylum

Ps. Theater in Asylum is raising money for our dreams in 2022! Help us achieve them!
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The team of The Debates 2021, just after we wrapped filming for the "City on the Fritz" music video
Moments we’ll never forget from 2021
  • Getting vaccinated! **this was on many people’s submissions**
  • Going to live theater again! **this was on many people’s submissions**
  • First time dancing with a group of people in over a year
  • The entire process of directing Orlando.
  • Seeing my mom after over a year
  • Getting to do live theater again
  • The discovery of Boursin cheese and Costco tuna
  • Being in a large Covid-pod with Bread and Puppet, and creating a new show with lots of people, even during lockdown
  • Falling in Love, Streaming, New Job!
  • The first big dinner at an amazing Chinese restaurant after all my friends were vaccinated!
  • 45 leaving office!
  • Being in rehearsal and laughing at an improvisation - in real time and space!
  • Writing grant applications that resulted in $125,000 for the not-for-profit I run
  • The many Cold Readings and play discussions, especially with so many new friends!
  • Kamala Harris becoming the first woman and first person of color vice president!
  • Occupy Prescott!!!!!
  • January 6th (not a highlight, but a moment I’ll never forget)
  • Took a vacation for the first time in a long time with no agenda or stuff to do
  • Gathering again with family! And returning to NYC - with the low COVID rates and lots of travel points. I spent 1 week each month at my timeshare between April and November!
  • When I saw all my co-workers at once in-person first time after the lockdown
  • The Colored Museum & Sweat Readings
  • Writing Scenes for The Debates 2021 with my cast mates
  • Filming my Music Videos
  • Bernie and his mittens. Highlight of 2021 fashion.
  • The TIA holiday party and meeting people in person whom I’ve worked with online for months.
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A toast during TIA's 2021 Holiday Party (all guests were vaxxed and tested negative before attending)
Aspirations for 2022
  • A safe end to the pandemic **this was on many people’s lists**
  • Live.
  • I'd very much love to work with more students. It's been inspiring learning from the younger generation.
  • Be Happy
  • Continued happiness and travel!
  • Expand my Etsy Store, Work on More Productions, Stream More!
  • Build community and resistance through music !
  • To make space and time for my priorities, especially supporting people
  • Stay alive, keep writing, "keep hoping machine running" W. Guthrie
  • Get a new, more sustainable, job
  • Getting a mortgage/moving for the last time for the foreseeable future
  • Restart an exercise habit
  • Focus on reading again. Reactivate our feminist book club. Read through the 2019 Kilroy list of plays.
  • to get more unmasked and unmuted (as long as public health guidelines allow of course)
  • Finish my album
  • Travel the world again if safe
  • Be more present and less regretful
  • Spend more time on what matters and less time (stressing) on what doesn't matter.
  • Help the Democrats hold on to their majorities in Congress
  • Convince Kathy Hochul to sign the New York Health Act!
  • More theater! **this was on many people’s lists**

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Film and Television we loved in 2021

12/22/2021

 
Each year Theater in Asylum gathers lists of things we loved throughout the year. Below, find a list of films and television shows we loved in 2021, crowd-sourced from our community. And a big shout out to our friends at The Boxcutter Collective!
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Films
  • The 40-Year-Old Version
  • Boxcutter Collective’s Dimension Zero
  • Encanto
  • The Green Knight
  • In the Heights
  • Judas and the Black Messiah
  • Nomadland
  • Norma Rae
  • Promising Young Woman
  • Spiderman: No Way Home
  • tick, tick... BOOM!
  • West Side Story

Television Series
  • Crash Landing on You
  • Diary of a Future President
  • Last Week with John Oliver
  • Loki
  • LORE
  • Schitt's Creek
  • Sex Education
  • The Morning Show
  • The Sopranos
  • Succession
  • Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
  • Ted Lasso
  • WandaVision
  • “I watch lots of trashy TV. I'm great on a trivia team. Ask me about the Real Housewives or the Kardashian Klan.”

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Music we loved in 2021

12/22/2021

 
Each year, Theater in Asylum polls its community to compile a list (and a playlist!) of our favorite songs, albums, and musical artists. Below, see our list of musical acts we loved in 2020. And see here for last year's list!
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Emily Johnson-Erday playing at Occupy Prescott; photo by Shubhra Mishra, 2021
TIA's 2021 Spotify Playlist
Musicians & Bands
  • TIA’s musicians! Emily Johnson-Erday! Ama Encore! Ali Dineen!
  •  Arooj Aftab
  • The Books
  • Doja Cat
  • Dua Lipa
  • Ella Fitzgerald, she’s a goddess
  • David Malloy
  • Greta Van Fleet
  • The Kaiser Quartett
  • Truly the entire portfolio of Manchester Orchestra.
  • Olivia Rodrigo
  • Willow Smith
  • Stevie Wonder

Albums & Compositions
  • 30 by Adele
  • The Color Purple, Broadway Cast Recording, both 2005 and 2015
  • Goldberg Variations by Bach, played by Glenn Gould
  • digital druglord by blackbear
  • Planet Her by Doja Cat
  • Sediments we Move by Charlotte Greve+Wood River+Cantus Domus
  • i become birds by Home Is Where
  • Let Me Do One More by Illuminati Hotties
  • An Overview of Phenomenal Nature by Cassandra Jenkins
  • The Rich are Only Defeated When Running for Their Lives by Anthony Joseph 
  • Another Side by Leo Nocentelli
  • Queens of the Summer Hotel by Aimee Mann
  • Promises by Floating Points and Pharaoh Sanders with the London Symphony Orchestra
  • Heaux Tales by Jazmine Sullivan
  • Urban Driftwood by Yasmin Williams

Songs
  • “If I Had a Hammer”, written by Pete Seeger, performed by many, including the cast of Occupy Prescott
  • Emily Johnson-Erday’s rendition of “This Land is Your Land”
  • “Don’t Shut Me Down” by Abba (a new song!)
  • “Say Neighbor” by Burrell
  • “Shelter Island” by Xavier Dubois Foley
  • “Liberated” by DeJ Loaf and Leon Bridges
  • “Industry Baby” by Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow
  • “Rumors” by Lizzo and Cardi B
  • “The Feeling” by Sammy Rae and the Friends
  • “Bad Friend” by Rina Sawayama
  • “Prayer in Passing” by Ayanna Witter-Johnson with Anoushka Shankar
TIA's 2021 Spotify Playlist
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Theater in Asylum (TIA) is a New York-based theater company founded in 2010 to challenge and empower our community. TIA joyfully pursues a rigorous research and an ensemble-driven approach to theater-making. We create performances to investigate our past, interpret our present, and imagine our future. We prize space to process, space to question—asylum—for ourselves and our community.

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