Bryan Doerries News

A weeklong festival exploring big questions about life and death will unfold not just in theaters and concerts halls across New York City's five boroughs, but also in hospitals, libraries, houses of worship, senior centers, and even cemeteries from October 27th through November 3rd as part of the first Reimagine End of Life New York.

Actors Josh Hamilton, Frankie Faison, and Katherine Erbe headline Theater of War's End of Life on October 28th as part of Reimagine End of Life, a weeklong, citywide festival exploring death taking place from October 27th to November 3rd.

The Hunter Theater Project at Hunter College (President, Jennifer J. Raab) announced a two-week extension today for the critically acclaimed New York premiere of Anton Chekhov's UNCLE VANYA, directed by Richard Nelson, at the Frederick Loewe Theater (E. 68th Street between Lexington and Park Ave). Translated by Richard Nelson, Richard Pevear, and Larissa Volokhonsky, and directed by Nelson, UNCLE VANYA began performances on Friday, September 7 and was originally scheduled to run through October 14.

A weeklong festival exploring big questions about life and death will unfold not just in theaters and concerts halls across New York City's five boroughs, but also in hospitals, libraries, houses of worship, senior centers, and even cemeteries from October 27th through November 3rd as part of the first Reimagine End of Life New York.

Harlem Stage, the legendary uptown venue that for over 35 years has promoted the creative legacy of Harlem and artists of color from around the corner and across the globe, is proud to present its Fall 2018 season of performances. The season is curated by Monique Martin, recently appointed Director of Programming for Harlem Stage and features artists who #Disrupt and take creative risk. The performances feature a range of artistic genres, offering audiences the chance to experience legendary performers, as well as rising stars.

Harlem Stage and Theater of War Productions today announced an unprecedented five-week FREE run of performances of Theater of War Productions' original project, Antigone in Ferguson. Opening on September 13 and kicking off Harlem Stage's 2018/2019 programming season, Antigone in Ferguson was conceived in the wake of Michael Brown's death in 2014, through a collaboration between Theater of War Productions and community members from Ferguson, MO. Translated and directed by Bryan Doerries and composed by Phil Woodmore, the project fuses a dramatic reading by leading actors of excerpts from Sophocles' Greek tragedy with live choral music performed by a choir of activists, police officers, youth, and concerned citizens from Ferguson and New York City. The performance is the catalyst for panel and audience-driven discussions on race and social justice, the core component of the event. This multifaceted production will offer a glimpse not only into the effects of the tragedy in Brown's local community, but also the trauma of police violence and racial injustice in communities of color in New York and across the nation.

 Hunter College President Jennifer J. Raab announced today the inaugural production of the Hunter Theater Project, the New York premiere of Anton Chekhov's UNCLE VANYA at the Frederick Loewe Theater at Hunter College (E. 68th Street and Lexington Avenue), directed by Richard Nelson. Translated byRichard Nelson, Richard Pevear, and Larissa Volokhonsky. This production is the first time renowned Russian literature translators Pevear and Volokhonsky will have a work premiere in New York City, following the show's world premiere at The Old Globe in San Diego, California. Previews for UNCLE VANYA begin Friday, September 7. The production runs through Sunday, October 14, with an official press opening on Sunday, September 16. Tickets are on sale now.

Purchase College, SUNY held its 46th annual commencement ceremony on Friday, May 18, 2018 at 12:30 p.m. at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, NY. 

On Thursday, February 15, Theater of War Productions and The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space at WNYC will present "Hercules in Manhattan" - the second installment of Theater of War's monthly series combining performances of ancient Greek plays with deep conversations about public health and social issues such as gun violence, war, mental health, incarceration, substance abuse, and the failure of the legal system.

Building on the first year of his residency as a NYC Public Artist in Residence with the Department of Veterans Services, in 2018 artistic director of Theater of War Productions, Bryan Doerries, will bring a new roster of free events to theaters, parks, libraries and other venues across all five boroughs.

Public Artists in Residence (PAIR) program embeds artists within City agencies to address pressing civic and social issues through creative practice

Brooklyn Public Library and Theater of War Productions will present a dramatic reading and reenactment of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s final sermon, The Drum Major Instinct on February 4, 2018, 50 years to the day that King originally delivered the speech, just two months before his assassination. The free performance, staged at the Central Library, will feature actor Samira Wiley reading King's sermon, with a live gospel choir singing original and arranged music composed for the production. The dramatic staging will provide a starting point for a guided community discussion exploring themes of social justice and racial inequality.

Theater of War Productions and WNYC today announced a new partnership to present six free performances at The Jerome L. Greene Space, WNYC's state-of-the-art performance and broadcast studio, to occur monthly from January to June 2018. The new partnership launches the second year of Artistic Director Bryan Doerries' appointment as New York City Public Artist in Residence (PAIR) with the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and Department of Veterans' Services.

Beginning in 2018, Theater of War Productions and The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space at WNYC will join forces to present six monthly programs that combine theatrical readings of ancient Greek plays and deep conversations about public health and social issues such as gun violence, war, mental health, incarceration, substance abuse, and the failure of the legal system.

Staged during Veterans Week 2017, NYC Public Artist in Residence (PAIR) Bryan Doerries and Theater of War Productions will bring together leading actors and city officials such as Council Member Jumaane Williams, Kathryn Erbe (Law & Order), Maryann Plunkett (House of Cards), Bill Camp (Jason Bourne), and Jay O. Sanders (The Good Wife) in dramatic readings of scenes from Classical Greek plays. Events are free and open to the wider public.

Theater of War Productions and New York City Public Artist in Residence (PAIR) Bryan Doerries present 'Hercules in Brooklyn' today, October 7, 2017 from 5:00 - 7:00 P.M.

Theater of War Productions and New York City Public Artist in Residence (PAIR) Bryan Doerries present 'Hercules in Brooklyn' on Saturday, October 7, 2017 from 5:00 - 7:00 P.M.

NYC Department of Veteran's Services Public Artist in Residence (PAIR) Bryan Doerries and Theater of War Productions  will engage diverse audiences in a meditation on racism, violence, and social justice by bringing together leading actors for a dramatic reading of scenes from Sophocles' Antigone-an ancient Greek tragedy exploring what takes place when personal conviction and the law clash, and violence ensues. The readings are accompanied by a gospel choir performance of original music by Philip Woodmore performed by an ensemble that includes police officers, local educators, and community members from Ferguson and St. Louis, MO and Brooklyn, NY. Gathering victims of violence, concerned citizens, members of faith communities, and the general public, the event culminates in an open facilitated discussion to create a dialogue between these communities and foster compassion, understanding, and positive action, while helping them heal from their personal experiences with violence in their neighborhoods. 

NYC Department of Veteran's Services Public Artist in Residence (PAIR) Bryan Doerries and Theater of War Productions will engage diverse audiences in a meditation on racism, violence, and social justice by bringing together leading actors from The Wire for a dramatic reading of scenes from Sophocles' Antigone - an ancient Greek tragedy exploring what takes place when personal conviction and the law clash, and violence ensues - in an event called 'Antigone in Ferguson' at Howard Playground, connected to BPL's Brownsville Branch, on today, July 15, 2017 from 7:00 - 8:45 p.m.

The NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and Department of Veterans' Services today announced new projects as part of Bryan Doerries' evolving two-year appointment as a NYC Public Artist in Residence (PAIR), a City initiative to enhance civic services through artistic practice. Expanding on their current work through PAIR of presenting theater projects to nurture a deeper understanding of issues facing veterans, Doerries and his company, Theater of War Productions, will partner with City agencies and community organizations-including the Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence (OCDV) and the Mayor's Action Plan for Neighborhood Safety-to present new projects that address domestic violence, neighborhood violence, homelessness, and more. Working with veterans, military, and civilian communities, the company will also continue to broaden programs focused on veterans' affairs, police and community relations, racial injustice, gun violence, and mental health.