THE COMBAT HIPPIES // AMAL Developed & Directed by Teo Castellanos

CONTACT: Thomas O. Kriegsmann, President E [email protected] T 917.386.5468 www.arktype.org ABOUT THE COMBAT HIPPIES

Led by renowned theater artist and director Teo Castellanos, Combat Hippies is an ensemble of Puerto Rican military veteran performing artists based in , Florida. They formed during a creative writing workshop for veterans in 2015 and have since developed multiple evenings of spoken word and music, generative approaches to workshops designed toward healing, community engagement offerings and more. The company focuses on works about combatants as people of color, and shares experiences of veterans adjustments to life after war as well as that of civilians from war-torn countries. Their work also explores the search for meaning, purpose, and identity through enlisting in the military, as well as ’s cultural and military heritage. Their latest and most ambitious project AMAL will premiere during MDC Live Arts upcoming 2018/19 season and will tour nationally beginning in April 2019. The Combat Hippies are funded through generous support from the Knight Founda- tion, National Performance Network (NPN), New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA), National Ensemble of Theaters (NET), and the MAP Fund.

2 ABOUT ‘AMAL’(Spring 2019 Premiere) AMAL delves into the impact of war on both combatants and noncombatants as people of color, and shares experiences of veterans adjustment to life after war, as well as that of civil- ians from war-torn countries. The piece also explores the search for meaning, purpose, and identity through enlisting in the military, as well as Puerto Rico’s cultural and military her- itage. This includes the U.S. military’s bombings of two Puerto Rican towns in 1950, which marked the first time in history that the United States government bombed its own citizens. The performance will be in a theater-in-the-round setting, with the two lead performers encircling a percussionist in the symbolic representation of a hurricane. Original music production (beats per minute) will also be set to the five categories of hurricanes (miles per hour). This symbolizes both the chaos of war and its aftermath, as well as a tribute to the people of Puerto Rico, who were devastated by Hurricane Maria in 2017. AMAL will pre- miere at MDC Live Arts in there 2018/2019 season and will subsequently tour to numerous cities across the US and internationally. The work has received funding from the James L. Knight Foundation, National Performance Network (NPN), New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA), National Ensemble of Theaters (NET), and the MAP Fund.

AMAL was made possible with funding by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Theater Project, with lead funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and additional sup- port from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

3 TOUR & PRODUCTION

AVAILABILITY

2019-20 WORLDWIDE OPEN WORKSHOPS

Masterclasses & Workshops Space: Black Box / Proscenium Available for all Venues in Various Capacities Tour Personnel: 3 Performers Poetry Workshops/Masterclasses 2 Tech /Company Management Creative Writing Workshops/Masterclasses Exploring healing through creative expression (presenta- tion/workshop) Schedule: Day One Company Arrival Writing through trauma Day Two Tech Movement workshops/training Day Three Tech/Performance Exploring Post-Traumatic Growth Day Four + Perfs TBD Engaging veterans through the arts Company Departs Yoga Workshops

4 COMPANY BIOGRAPHIES TEO CASTELLANOS (Artistic Director) is an actor/ In 2003, at age 19 he joined the US Marine Corps despite writer/director, who works in theater, film & television. His the US already being at war with both Afghanistan & Iraq. award winning solo NE 2nd Avenue toured extensively for Following four years, including two deployments to Iraq, a decade, winning the Fringe First Award at the Edinburgh he separated from the military honorably. His experiences Fringe Festival, Scotland 2003. He founded the Dance/The- overseas pierced him heavily, after returning home he began ater Company seeking healing for the various injuries he had sustained, Teo Castellanos physically, emotionally & spiritually, leading him on a jour- D-Projects in ney of self 2003. For over – discovery. twenty years Hipólito is Teo has toured trained in solo & company Bapiste Pow- works through- er Yoga & out the U.S., Trauma Con- Europe, South scious Yoga. America, China He also & the Caribbean. serves as a He is the recipient of several awards & grants including Wilderness NEA, NEFA, MAP, NPN, Knight Arts Challenge, Knight Expedition Foundation People’s Choice Award, Miami-Dade County Leader with Cultural Affairs & also won the State of Florida Individual No Barriers Artist Fellowship 2005 and 2013. He’s a Sundance Institute Warriors, guiding veterans on transformative curriculum – Screenwriters Intensive Fellow 2015. Teo is a member of based adventures in nature & serves as a Peer Facilitator SAG/AFTRA, & Society of Stage Directors and Choreogra- with Warrior Writers. Besides yoga & the outdoors, his pas- phers and holds a BFA in Theater. sions include healing, reading, writing, community service, activism & assisting others in their journeys of growth.

ANTHONY TORRES (Executive Director/Performer) was born in Brooklyn and raised in Utica, New York. He ANGEL RUBEN RODRIGUEZ, SR. (Percussionist/ began his military career as a Civil Affairs Specialist in the Performer ) Musician, singer, poet, composer, arranger, Army Reserve from 1999-2002, then on active duty as a actor, producer & educator was born in Bayamon, Puerto mental health Rico in 1954. He started playing drums at the age of 9; his specialist at first paid gig Fort Hood, was at the Texas from age of 13. For 2002-2006. the past 45 In 2004 he years Angel was attached has dedicat- to the 115th ed himself to Field Hospital preserving & and served on maintaining a 12-month Puerto Rico’s deployment rich musical to Abu Ghraib Prison, Iraq. While deployed, he provided culture. Over mental health treatment to both U.S. troops as well Iraqi his career he detainees. Following an honorable discharge he relocated has record- to Miami, Florida and worked as a psychology technician at ed & performed with a who’s who of Latin musicians & the Miami VA Medical Center from 2008-2013. He holds a served as percussionist at the world famous Apollo Theater MS in Psychology from Carlos and a Mas- Amateur Night With Ralph Cooper Sr. Some of his theater ter’s degree in Social Work from . credits include “UBU Enchained” directed by Wiesaw Gorski & Steven Sapp & Full Circle Productions “Soul’er Powered”. One of Angel’s lasting legacies is helping to found & run HIPOLITO “BEARD MAN” ARRIAGA (Community the Point CDC; a local Bronx based community center with Outreach Director/Performer) Born & raised in the South the mission of developing & mentoring youth through the Bronx, Arriaga was profoundly impacted by his childhood. arts.

5 SETH “BRIMSTONE127” SCHERE (Music Pro- GARY LUND (Technical Director) is the President ducer) Brimstone127 is a dynamic leader, educa- of Anchor Arts Management, Inc. a full service tor, activist and artist who embodies Hip Hop’s production management organization devoted “Can’t stop, won’t stop!” attitude. He has written to the performing arts. Mr. Lund is a produc- and been featured in several articles on Hip Hop tion manager, light designer and stage manager culture & education & has served as a lecturer & with International, National and Miami artists in specialist on Hip Hop history, education & cul- dance, theater and music. Mr. Lund has toured ture (Brandeis University, , with several artists in numerous concert halls and Florida International University, School of Audio festivals throughout the United States, Europe, Engineering, Lifestyles College, Island Academy South America, the Caribbean, Russia and Chi- International School). This self & mentor-taught na. Mr. Lund’s professional career spans over 4 artist & technician has stacked up performance, decades as a choreographer and arts production engineering & production credits with some of manager. Hip Hop’s legends & artists from diverse genres including The Cure, Nelly Furtado, KRS ONE, De La Soul, Pit Bull, Fat Joe, Whodini, Rakim, The Wailers, The Roots, Talib Kweli and Ozomat- li. He has co-produced and distributed his own award-winning Hip Hop albums: Metamorphoses, Elevator Music and Renaissance of Hip Hop.

6 COMPANY HISTORY

PERFORMANCES 2016 Military Appreciation Day - Homestead, FL 2018 Work-In-Progress showing at MDC Live Arts Lab – Miami, FL (upcoming) 2015 Miami VA Medical Center - Outpatient Mental Health therapy group 2017 Connected Warriors Fundraiser - Mizner Park Cultural Center, FL 2015 , Wolfson Campus 9/11 Event

2017 Ashoka Conference at Miami Dade College, Wolfson 2015 Veterans Open Mic at Books & Books - Miami, FL Campus

2017 Art2Action’s R&R Festival - Tampa, FL

2016 Performing Cultural Arts Theatre at , South Campus AWARDS / GRANTS 2016 Seminole Theatre - Homestead, FL

2016 TEDxCoconutGrove - Miami, FL 2018 NET/TEN Exchange Grant (with Art2Action, Inc.) 2015 Nova Southeastern University Black Box Theater - Davie, FL 2017 New England Foudnation for the Arts (NEFA) Develop- ment Grant 2015 Barry University - Miami, FL 2017 New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) Alumni 2015 MDC Live Arts Lab (two performances) - Miami, FL Grant (for Artistic Director Teo Castellanos)

2015 The Betsy - Miami Beach, FL 2017 National Performance Network’s (NPN) Creation and Development Fund

2016 Winner - Knight Arts Challenge Grant

2016 TEDxCoconutGrove – voted audience favorite

WORKSHOPS / PRESENTATIONS

2017 Dept Veterans Affairs LGBT Veteran Summit – Broward County VA Clinic

2017 Arts For Health Florida Symposium - Hallandale Beach, FL

2017 Monthly Veterans Creative Expression Workshop (ongo- ing) – Miami, FL

2016 Miami VA Medical Center – PTSD/Substance Abuse therapy group

2016 United Way of Broward County Commission on Sub- stance AbuseBehaviorial Health Conference

2016 Barry University School of Social Work – Miami Shores, FL

2016 Miami Dade College, Homestead Campus Veteran’s Day event

2016 Orange Island Arts Foundation Veterans Showcase

7 ARTIST MATERIALS & PRESS

Combat Hippies Website: www.thecombathippies.com

AMAL Video Clips: https://vimeo.com/274136057 Password: amal123 https://vimeo.com/274137992 Password: amal123

8 Thomas O. Kriegsmann, President ArKtype P.O. Box 180241, Brooklyn, NY 11218 P: +1 917 386 5468 F: +1 347 889 5031 E: [email protected] W: www.arktype.org