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‘The Best Theater of 2016’ – The New York Times The Holland Festival presents The Public Theater production of The Gabriels:Election Year in the Life of One Family, the new, critically-acclaimed three-play cycle by Tony Award-winning playwright and director Richard Nelson, following one extraordinary, imperfect American family in real time, tracking their lives throughout this turbulent election year. History, money, politics, art and culture are all on the table in this moving and unforgettable trilogy about a family celebrating, remembering and waiting for the world to change. scheme part 1: 3-6.45 pm part 2: 5:30-7:15 pm part 3: 9:00-10:45 pm Programme

(1835). In The Gabriels director Richard Nelson reflects on the recent American election year through the eyes of an ordinary family. Other artists focus on controversies in democracies, such as the issue of refugees in directors Dieudonné Niangouna and Thomas Bellinck’s performances. Others address the threat of violence (Demolishing Everything with Amazing Speed), tyranny (Octavia), or shaping activism (The Tempest Society). In Manifesto the film director Julian Rosefeldt examines the relation between art and society. 

 

We are presenting two national theatre production companies, each with its own state of the nation: My Country by the National Theatre in London, and The Nation by the Dutch National Theatre in The Hague. Both performances show divided countries in which no one, from politicians to citizens, seems to dare to take responsibility. We also believe that it is important to explore democracy of form. Members of the audience can get actively involved as a passer-by, participant, or activist, if they so wish. Our artists encourage you to question the old hierarchy between the audience and the artists.

 

This year several festival artists are looking at the problems faced by Western democracies. The French philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville admired democracy for its social equality. He saw its dangers too. Director Romeo Castellucci is making La democrazia inAmerica, based on De Tocqueville’s eponymous book

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credits

direction Richard Nelson set design Jason Ardizzone-West, Susan Hilferty light design Jennifer Tipton sound design Will Pickens, Scott Lehrer costumes Susan Hilferty cast Amy Warren, Jay O. Sanders, Maryann Plunkett, Roberta Maxwell, Lynn Hawley, Meg Gibson production The Public Theatre stage manager Jared Oberholtzer tour manager Rebecca Sherman production manager Jeff Harris assistant director Sasha Bischoff costume associate Mark Koss lighting assistant Caitlin Smith-Rapoport sound engineer Laura Brauner Shelly Vance leiding rekwisieten/garderobe piano on tape Dan Lipton violin player Dana Lyn press and marketing Candi Adams, Jared Fine