HOUSE OF AMERICAN ACTIVITIES

HOUSE OF AMERICAN ACTIVITIES is an original dance-theater production about the fears, divisions, and nascent uprising shaping the lives of Americans during the 1950s Red Scare. As government officials, Hollywood stars, and powerless Americans grasp for an alternative ending to a story on repeat, who will survive and who will be left behind?

Created by the after-image and a team of devisors, this 80-minute production envisions a fictional world in which legendary activist and celebrity Paul Robeson and Hollywood star Judy Holliday prepare to face off against the House Un-American Activities Committee. As they negotiate with Congressional staff and ordinary people behind closed doors, everyone’s agendas and hopes slam up against one another, but in this culture of fear, not everyone will come out on top.

ABOVE : Excerpt from HOUSE OF AMERICAN ACTIVITIES // videography by Carlos Cardona & editing by Cayla Mae Simpson

BELOW : Photos by Olga Rabetskaya

Produced by the after-image at Theater for the New City // March 24 - 27, 2022

Created and co-written by KATE ST. JOHN & AMY SHOSHANA BLUMBERG

with additional writing and material generated by: BRYANNA BRADLEY, CAROLINE BURKHART, TAD CAMERON, ZAHYDÉ PIETRI, & ALYSSA VIRJI

Direction & Choreography by AMY SHOSHANA BLUMBERG

and

Creative direction and scenic design by KATE ST. JOHN

Lighting design by YANG YU

Costume design by SARAH CONSTABLE

Sound design by NINA FIELD

Stage Management by YOONIE YUN & DAKOTA SILVEY

Dramaturgy by VIDA MANALANG

Technician/Sound Board Operation by CIERA MILLER

Social Media Management by JESSICA MONEY