Ato Blankson-Wood

This documentary focuses on The Public Theater’s 2017 Public Works musical production of As You Like It, which was performed by 200 New Yorkers of all ages and boroughs, and was named one of the Top Ten shows of 2017 by The New York Times. Co-adapted by Shaina Taub and Laurie Woolery, with music and lyrics by Shaina Taub, original choreography by Sonya Tayeh, and direction by Laurie Woolery, As You Like It was set to be remounted as part of the 2020 Free Shakespeare in the Park season, but those plans were halted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This film tracks the creation of As You Like It and the ways this resilient community has banded together amidst the crises of 2020.

Antigone in Ferguson is a groundbreaking project, developed by Theater of War Productions, which fuses dramatic readings by acclaimed actors of Sophocles’ Antigone with live choral music performed by a diverse choir, including activists, youth, teachers, police officers, & concerned citizens from St. Louis, Missouri & New York City, culminating in powerful, healing discussions about race & social justice. Antigone in Ferguson was conceived in the wake of Michael Brown’s death in 2014. In this version, Oscar Isaac—who plays the Theban king Creon—is joined by Tracie Thoms as Antigone, Marjolaine Goldsmith as her sister, Ato Blankson Wood as her fiancé, Willie Woodmore as the blind prophet Tiresias & New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams as a messenger & guard. A live choir conducted by Dr. Philip Woodmore will accompany the performance, & two of its soloists, De-Rance Blaylock & Duane Foster, have a special relationship to the subject: They were Michael Brown's teachers.