The TEAM

The TEAM is an experimental theater group founded in 2004. The group was originally formed as Theater of the Emerging American Moment by 12 graduates of New York University performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The TEAM has won four Fringe First awards and developed the plays Reconstructing, Primer for a Failed Superpower, and RoosevElvis.

History

The TEAM was founded in 2004 by a group of 12 alumni of New York University students who sought to build on their studies in experimental theater. They crowdsourced funding to attend the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where they presented Give Up and Start Over and A Thousand Natural Shocks. The performance resulted in a collaboration with the Traverse Theatre to develop the play Particularly in the Heartland for the Festival Fringe in 2006. For its early performances, the group went by Theater of the Emerging American Moment. Over its presentations at the Fringe, the ensemble received four Edinburgh Fringe First Awards. As of 2015, Rachel Chavkin served as artistic director, with core membership consisting of:

In 2008, the organization earned status as a 501(c)3 non-profit. The TEAM has sought and received governmental support, including from the National Endowment for the Arts. It also hosts fundraising benefits which have featured performances from Taylor Mac, Mandy Patinkin, Denée Benton, and Amber Gray.

Work

Year Play Premiere Venue Notes Ref.
2005 Give Up and Start Over Edinburgh Festival Fringe
A Thousand Natural Shocks
2006 Particularly in the Heartland Co-produced with Traverse Theatre. Re-staged in 2007 for Performance Space 122
2008 Architecting Co-produced with the National Theater of Scotland
2011 Mission Drift Re-staged in 2012 for Performance Space 122's COIL Festival
2013 RoosevElvis The Bushwick Starr
2016 The Holler Sessions Performance Space 122
2016 Anything that Gives Off Light Edinburgh International Conference Centre Co-produced with the National Theater of Scotland
2017 Primer for a Failed Superpower Roulette Intermedium

References

  1. 1 2 Tripney, Natasha (November 5, 2015). "'RoosevElvis is the smallest thing the Team has ever made'". The Stage. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  2. 1 2 "The best show I've ever seen at Edinburgh: performers and theatre-makers on their festival highlights". The Guardian. 2014-08-03. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  3. ↑ Orel, Gwen (2009-01-07). "The Importance of Being Heartfelt". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-10-03.
  4. ↑ Hetrick, Adam (April 26, 2017). "How the National Endowment for the Arts Shaped the Landmark Plays and Musicals You Love". Playbill. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
  5. ↑ "Patinkin and Mac TEAM Up for April 18 Benefit". Playbill. Retrieved 2026-10-03.
  6. ↑ "Denée Benton, Amber Gray, and More Set to Perform at Benefit Launch for The TEAM". Playbill. Retrieved 2026-10-03.
  7. ↑ Bellafante, Ginia (2007-03-02). "Imagine More Hope, All Ye Who Enter Here". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  8. ↑ Gardner, Lyn (2006-08-10). "Particularly in the Heartland". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  9. ↑ McGee, Celia (2008-06-29). "The Greeks Hoist the Dramatic Flag of Scotland". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  10. ↑ Isherwood, Charles (2012-01-11). "The Story of America, Founding to Foreclosure (Singing and Dancing, Too)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  11. ↑ Dickson, Andrew (2011-08-07). "TEAM's Mission Drift: The money markets are in meltdown. Send for Elvis". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  12. ↑ Brantley, Ben (2013-10-18). "Finding Your Flair, Pompadour Optional". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  13. ↑ Brantley, Ben (2016-01-11). "Review: In 'The Holler Sessions,' a D.J. as True Believer". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  14. ↑ Gardner, Lyn (2016-08-19). "Anything That Gives Off Light review – a rowdy road trip into dark Scottish history". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  15. ↑ Brantley, Ben (2017-08-23). "Overcoming Through Song in a Summer of Discontent". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-09-29.