The Great American All-Star Traveling War Machine at the Theater for the New City

Irondale Ensemble Project present The Great American All-Star Traveling War Machine, conceived by the Irondale Ensemble Project, based on selected entries in Lewis Lapham's journal 'Lapham's Quarterly,' at the Theater for the New City from 16 May - 15 Jun 2008.

The Great American All-Star Traveling War Machine: A cabaret combining songs from the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Civil War, Spanish American War, both World Wars, Viet Nam, and the Iraq War with scenes, sketches and monologues taken from the Lewis Lapham's 'States of War' which contains first hand accounts, speeches, poetry, songs and more related to the machinations of war and the people who perpetuate, or try to stop them.

Dramatized documents go as far back as the Trojan War down through history to the present times. The pieces alternate between moving (the relationship of horseman to their steeds at the Charge of the Light Brigade at Bela Clava), to the rousing (Elizabeth I addressing her forces before the clash with the Armada), to the obscene (General Patton to his troops), to the weird (Kissinger counseling Nixon against the use of Nuclear Weapons), to the darkly funny (body counts in the various Rambo movies-how many killed by Rambo with his shirt on rather than off) as well as original company developed material based on selections.

Directed by Jim Niesen, The Great American All-Star Traveling War Machine features Micahel-David Gordon, Nolan Kennedy, Sarah Merkel, Patrena Murry, Scarlet Rivera, Damen Scranton, Welland Scripps and Lindsey Vrab.

The cretive team comprises Ken Rothchild (sets) and Randy Glickman (lighting).