Working Group Theatre

01/27/2018

So thrilled to be doing this workshop again in a new format. For those who have not yet checked out the Iowa Writer's House, do yourself a favor and see what they're up to.

To develop a story, sometimes you need to write to discover the world around the plot, the history of characters, the provenance of an object, in other words, sometimes you have to write a lot that won’t go directly on the page but will flavor everything that does. In this workshop, writers will d...

12/24/2017

New play adds adult dimension to stories of bullying, cyberbullying

07/14/2017

Big shout out of praise to Patrick DuLaney and Chris Okiishi and the entire cast for their fabulous production of Sense and Sensibility. Joyful, heart-warming, funny as hell and oh so moving. Thanks for the sneak peak!!!

11/22/2016

Are you looking to do something this Saturday and Sunday post Thanksgiving. Tim Budd is doing some amazing work in EVERY BRILLIANT THING, directed by Artistic Director Sean Lewis.

Riverside is even doing a Black Friday deal for $12 tickets.

For a little more on the show and to see the community involvement on this show watch the video:

https://vimeo.com/192415599

"What is something in everyday life that makes you happy?" This question earned hundreds of responses on Facebook last week. So here are some of those…

11/08/2016

When you really kill it the Executive Director writes a letter like this to the newspaper:

"“This is indeed a busy week at The Gaillard Center. 1,650 patrons enjoyed a classic rock performance by a trio of rockers together for 40-years ….ZZ-Top on Sunday, November 6th. Wednesday night brings the hit Broadway show Stomp, Thursday night a children’s favorite Octonauts Live, Friday night the Empress of Soul – Gladys Knight and Saturday night the young singing prodigy Jackie Evancho, BUT the most inspiring and impactful performances this week likely took place on Monday, November 7th when nearly 2,000 5th through 9th graders from the following schools – Burke, Buist, Charleston Charter School of Math and Science, Daniel Island, Frierson, Hursey, James Simmons, Mason Prep., Memminger, Moultrie and Orange Grove - attended one of two performances watching and taking part in an interactive exchange with the cast of the Working Group Theatre’s production of Out of Bounds – a show with a strong message of anti-bullying in the world our youth reside in today – a world where they can unfortunately be bullied in person or more and more commonly on-line. It was wonderful seeing how engaged the students were at both shows. However, it was a bit scary seeing how many of the youth raised their hands when asked if they had experienced being bullied (I would say just less than 2/3) and nearly 100 or so that were honest enough to say they had bullied others. The message highlighted the importance of being an “upstander” and not a bystander to bullying"

- Steven Bedard, Gaillard Center, Charleston SC

09/19/2016

Hey everyone! On a different note from the play going and creation- Sean Lewis will be at Prairie Lights tonight talking with Tim Budd about his graphic novel SAINTS created with Benjamin Mackey.

It's at 7pm!

http://www.prairielights.com/live/sean-lewis

SEAN LEWIS September 19, 2016 - 7:00pmPrairie LightsIowa City playwright and director Sean Lewis will talk about his new graphic novel with artist Benjamin Mackey, Saints: The Book of Blaise. Critically lauded, this is the story of a group of misfits who discover themselves to be the reincarnations…

09/15/2016

Last week I started my run as the interim AD at Riverside Theatre. They let me do something crazy. They let me reprogram the season and they let me start with a show that did not exist yet.

BLACK AND BLUE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbfF_7x2aBc

For years, I've been loud and probably too loud about tepid programming and the fear of really doing immediate and social work on stages- THAT WAS STILL ENTERTAINING (no lectures please). So, when I got the gi, it was time. Put your money where your mouth is.

We sold out. We are still selling out. The reviews have been amazing. Our demographics in one show are more diverse than an entire previous season.

This weekend we do it again. I hope you show up. It's a very good show. And a necessary one.

Riverside Theatre kicks off its 2016-17 season with an unflinching look at the conflict between police and minorities in "Black and Blue." Get your first loo...

09/06/2016

This weekend Riverside Theatre premieres BLACK AND BLUE. The newest play from WGT Artistic Director Sean Christopher Lewis.

Incredible acting, deft sensitivity and intricate smart questions about where we are abound in this work. The opening night is almost sold out. Please join us for this one.

08/26/2016

We are now one week into rehearsal for Artistic Director Sean Lewis' first foray at Riverside Theatre, Black and Blue.

The cast of Ryan West, Barrington Vaxter, Tierra Plowden and Alyssa Perry are doing truly great work. Shawn Ketchum Johnson (recently featured in American Theatre Magazine) has given us a wonderfully dynamic set, intimate and intense, like a great Chicago storefront space and our light designer S. Benjamin Farrar is on his way from lighting a show in Slovenia to make some magic happen.

You'll see more students at this Riverside show then you have in awhile, more community groups- we've been working incredibly hard to move the needle of the theater towards community meeting ground. It's exciting. We hope to see you there. Above all, this show is fire.

07/26/2016

It's Announcement Day!!!! Many of you know Sean has become the Artistic Director of Riverside. He is continuing to run WG, as well! And today the WG season is announced.

First, a thank you to our supporters, the audience, the artists, the Iowa Arts Council and all who have made us go from a small dream in a backyard to a nationally touring endeavor.

To that end:

Oct- Nov 2016

DOGS OF RWANDA and KILLADELPHIA wlll be in Repertory at 16th Street Theatre in Chicago from Oct 20-Nov 19

In these solo shows Artistic Director Sean Lewis takes us from inner city Philadelphia and its outlying prisons to the hills of Rwanda in two heartbreaking and introspective shows.

"Killadelphia is necessary theater... a tour de force"- NY THEATRE

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The 2ND NATIONAL TOUR of OUT OF BOUNDS.
(A show you helped us build right here in iowa travels nationwide and coast to coast for the second consecutive year. So far it has play to over 35,000 students)

Oct- Nov 2016

Numerica Performing Arts Center, Wenatchee WA
The Wyoming Theatre, Sheridan WY
Schauer Arts Center, Hartford WI
Governors State College, Chicago IL
Palace Arts Center, Marion OH
Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet IL
River Park Center, Owensboro KY
Glema Maher Center, Madisonville KY
River Center, Columbia GA
Brooks Center at Clemson University, Clemson SC
Gaillard Center, Charleston SC
Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield CT
Spruce Peak Arts Center, Stowe VT
Lebanon Opera House, Lebanon NH
Colonial Theatre, Keene NH
Tilles Center for the Performing Arts at LIU, Long Island NY

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Jan 2017

DOGS OF RWANDA at the Phoenix Theatre, Indianapolis IN

Lewis continues the tour of the newest solo piece in his repertoire.
Phoenix Theatre is a member of the National New Play Network.

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February 2017

OUT OF BOUNDS is in Residence in DES MOINES

For one week we bring the show back to Iowa, to the State Capitol.

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And more to come!!! There is alot of exciting things happening with BRUNO LITTLEMORE and GHOST STORY that can't be announced yet. As well as the return of BROKEN CHORD???? And perhaps a new commission with some surprising local partners.

We hope to see you.

07/02/2016

THE EVOLUTION OF BRUNO LITTLEMORE
May 2016

The piece I am still obsessed with is building up to an interesting future. Here is the first of promotional videos and featurettes.

06/30/2016

Great Love tonight to Barrington Vaxter, Aaron Weiner, Cara Clonch Viner, Chuy Renteria, Nina Morrison and Katy Karas for tonights workshop of WG's new TYA Initiative!