Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy (2014)

Our production took a distinctly non-ironic look at one of the most famous of the eight model operas of the Chinese Cultural Revolution. We were interested in how propaganda looks and works outside of western, capitalist value system. Our great achievement in the production was discovering how we could make a show about capital “C” Communism and still have it feel like something Michael Bay or Disney might create. In follow up discussions with patrons, comments tended to be about how fun the show was. When addressing the issue of propaganda, thoughtful discussions ensued about all the value systems we neglect or willfully ignore when watching exciting action films and television. In it’s way, the play seemed successful at calling attention to western, capitalist forms of propaganda in entertainment and art