AMAL
Part of Reflections of Native Voices at La MaMa
Direction and dramaturgy by award-winning theater artist, Teo Castellanos, written and performed by military/war veterans Combat Hippies, with a head bangin’ original AfroRican Punk soundtrack, produced by DJ Brimstone 127 and live percussion by Angel Ruben Rodriguez Sr. AMAL examines the impact of war with equal parts humor and urgency. It explores the quest for meaning, purpose and identity sought through enlisting in the military and shares the unifying experiences of combatants and noncombatants as people of color. Tough and tender, AMAL relays stories of veterans’, refugees’ and civilians’ adjustment to life after war. This all-Puerto Rican theater company, places Puerto Rico’s colonial status, cultural and military heritage center stage.
AMAL was originally developed for MDC Live Arts at Miami Dade College.
A provocative and inspiring spoken-word theater piece that delves into the societal impact of war.
“AMAL could stand proudly on any stage in the world.”
– Jordan Levin
Photo credit: Romain Maurice
AMAL was made possible with major support by the Knight Foundation; by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Theater Project, with lead funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and additional support from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation; by the MAP Fund, supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; by a grant from the Network of Ensemble Theater’s Touring & Exchange Network (NET/TEN); and a grant from the National Performance Network/Visual Artists Network, with lead funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Led by renowned theater artist and director Teo Castellanos, Combat Hippies is an ensemble of Puerto Rican military veteran performing artists based in Miami, Florida. Formed during a creative writing workshop for veterans in 2015 which culminated with their inaugural theater piece “Conscience Under Fire”, they 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 Puerto Rico’s cultural and military heritage. Their latest and most ambitious project AMAL premiered during MDC Live Arts 2018/19 season and is currently touring nationally. The Combat Hippies are funded through generous support from the Knight Foundation, National Performance Network (NPN), New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA), National Ensemble of Theaters (NET), and the MAP Fund.
Find out more at http://www.thecombathippies.com/