CIVICS by Max Gill
I had the pleasure, once again, to direct for Max Gill. His one-act play, CIVICS was part of a collection of original works with outstanding actors in the Blurring Boundaries Festival presented by New Ambassadors Theatre Company.
I worked talented pair — Mark Hofmaier and Piyali Syam (pictured) — in a story about a woman ready to become a U.S. citizen, but her interview with a U.S. Agent, the Man with the Power, takes a surreal turn.
The playwright playfully and painfully tackles trauma porn.
Photo by Ruthie Rado
Courtesy of New Ambassadors Theatre Company
"This is still the citizenship test?"
Mark Hofmaier and Piyali Syam in Max Gill’s CIVICS, part of a collection of original works in New Ambassadors Theatre Company’s Blurring Boundaries Festival.
Photo by Sydney Burtner
Courtesy of New Ambassadors Theatre Company
"Sharing your trauma makes it so much easier for us to embrace you. And then you're in."
Mark Hofmaier and Piyali Syam rehearse Max Gill’s CIVICS, part of a collection of original works in New Ambassadors Theatre Company’s Blurring Boundaries Festival.
Photo by Sydney Burtner
Courtesy of New Ambassadors Theatre Company
"Next question..."
Mark Hofmaier and Piyali Syam in Max Gill's CIVICS.
Photo by Ruthie Rado
Courtesy of New Ambassadors Theatre Company
"I don't want to slip too far away."
Mark Hofmaier and Piyali Syam in Max Gill’s CIVICS, part of a collection of original works in New Ambassadors Theatre Company’s Blurring Boundaries Festival.
Photo by Sydney Burtner
Courtesy of New Ambassadors Theatre Company
"I've been here for 10 years."
"Sure you have."
Mark Hofmaier and Piyali Syam in Max Gill’s CIVICS, part of a collection of original works in New Ambassadors Theatre Company’s Blurring Boundaries Festival.
Photo by Ruthie Rado
Courtesy of New Ambassadors Theatre Company
Sunita refuses to let the Man with Power define her.
Mark Hofmaier and Piyali Syam in Max Gill’s CIVICS, part of a collection of original works in New Ambassadors Theatre Company’s Blurring Boundaries Festival.
Team CIVICS: Max Gill, playwright and Sydney Burtner, director and actors Piyali Syam and Mark Hofmaier.
