About the project

Tape
Dramatic Reading of Tape, by Stephen Belber
Directed by Bryan Doerries
Tape sparks discussions about consent, power dynamics, and sexual assault. These performances are designed to challenge individuals and communities to examine their own core values and pursue positive action. This project has been presented on military installations, university campuses, in shelters and in high schools.
I think that there’s a lot of people out there that don’t come forward with their stories, who don’t openly acknowledge that there are instances that make them uncomfortable, because we are kind of expected to protect ourselves.

About the play
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Tape by Stephen Belber
Two best friends from high school—Jon and Vince—reunite ten years later at a motel in Michigan. Over the course of an evening, Vince pressures Jon to admit that he date-raped Amy Randall, a girl they both dated in high school, only then to reveal that he has recorded their entire conversation. Vince then uses the tape to force Jon to personally apologize to Amy that evening, after inviting her to join them for dinner. Differing memories of the event collide, and the complexities and social pressures of the relationships are revisited, in a final confrontation in which Jon, Amy, and Vince argue over the truth of what happened that night.
Tape Highlights
The Perception of Tape
Camp Arifjan, Kuwait / 2014

Maj. Gen. Darrell K. Williams thanks soldiers, civilians and actors for participating in Tape
Camp Arifjan, Kuwait / 2014

NYC Go Purple Day
On Zoom / 2021
Tracie Thoms, David Denman, and Nyasha Hatendi star in TAPE, presented with our partners at the NYC Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence, who hosted and co-facilitated this event in honor of NYC Go Purple Day. On “NYC Go Purple Day” (October 21st) local buildings and landmarks across the city light up in purple, and New Yorkers are encouraged to wear purple to show support for survivors.
Explore Projects
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IncarcerationPrometheus in Prison
Prometheus in Prison is an innovative public health project that presents readings of Aeschylus’ Prometheus Bound, an ancient Greek play about god who is imprisoned for stealing fire and giving it to humans, as a catalyst for powerful discussions about the challenges faced by individuals, families, and communities whose lives have been touched by the criminal justice system. For the past decade years, this groundbreaking project has been used to open up healing dialogue in a variety of settings, including prisons, detention centers, and public venues throughout the country and the world.
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HomelessnessThe Oedipus at Colonus Project
The Oedipus at Colonus Project presents readings of scenes from Sophocles’ final play, Oedipus at Colonus, as catalyst for powerful, community-driven conversations about homelessness, the immigration and refugee crisis, and the challenges of eldercare during and after the pandemic.
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Racialized Police ViolenceAntigone in Ferguson
Antigone in Ferguson is a groundbreaking project that fuses dramatic readings by acclaimed actors of Sophocles’ Antigone with live choral music performed by a diverse choir, including activists, youth, teachers, police officers, and concerned citizens from St. Louis, Missouri and New York City, culminating in powerful, healing discussions about racialized violence, police brutality, systemic oppression, gender-based violence, health inequality, and social justice. Antigone in Ferguson was conceived in the wake of Michael Brown’s death in 2014, through a collaboration between Theater of War Productions and community members from Ferguson, MO, and premiered at Normandy High School, Michael Brown’s alma mater, in September of 2016.