To You, The Birdie! (Phèdre)
March 2000–October 2006
Jean Racine’s tragedy Phèdre, translated by Paul Schmidt and re-set on a raised platform which serves both as Phaedra’s court and a French badminton court. Badminton is played, and the Queen meets her fate among sliding plexiglass panels, omnipresent monitors, hidden cameras, and an invisible swimming pool.
Media & Ephemera
Dailies
From 2010 to around 2020, the Dailies was an online video series begun by the Group’s resident filmmaker at the time Zbigniew Bzymek. Most of Dailies videos follow his relationship to the company and its work, offering glimpses into our rehearsals and archives, as well as short films, interviews, and other behind-the-scenes materials. Dailies videos in the “from the archives” series were curated by the Group’s archivist Clay Hapaz. View more of the project here.
Production History
Performers
- Hippolytos: Ari Fliakos
- Theramenes/Voices: Scott Shepherd
- Oenone: Sheena See
- Phèdre: Kate Valk
- Theseus: Roy Faudree
- Venus/Referee: Fiona Leaning
- Marker 7: Koosil-ja
- Marker 4: Dominique Bousquet
- Video Venus: Suzzy Roche
Production
- Director: Elizabeth LeCompte
- Text: Paul Schmidt
- Set: Jim Findlay
- Sound: Geoff Abbas, John Collins, Jim Dawson
- Video: Philip Bussmann, Reid Farrington
- Light: Jennifer Tipton
- Original Music Tracks: David Linton
- Original Songs: Koosil-ja, Suzzy Roche, Kate Valk
- Video Assistant: Anna Henckel-Donnersmarck
- Costumes: The Wooster Group, Elizabeth Jenyon
- Assistant Director: Richard Kimmel
- Technical Director: Ruud van den Akker
- Production Manager: Bozkurt Karasu
- Master Electrician: Gabe Maxson
- Production Assistant: Joby Emmons
- Audio Consultant: Dan Dobson
- Badminton Master: Chi-Bing Wu
- Dramaturgy: Jim Dawson, Dennis Dermody
-
Performers
- Hippolytos: Ari Fliakos
- Theramenes/Voices: Scott Shepherd
- Oenone: Sheena See
- Phèdre: Kate Valk
- Theseus: Roy Faudree
- Venus/Referee: Fiona Leaning
- Marker 7: Koosil-ja
- Marker 4: Dominique Bousquet
- Video Venus: Suzzy Roche
Production- Director: Elizabeth LeCompte
- Text: Paul Schmidt
- Set: Jim Findlay
- Sound: Geoff Abbas, John Collins, Jim Dawson
- Video: Philip Bussmann, Reid Farrington
- Light: Jennifer Tipton
- Original Music Tracks: David Linton
- Original Songs: Koosil-ja, Suzzy Roche, Kate Valk
- Video Assistant: Anna Henckel-Donnersmarck
- Costumes: The Wooster Group, Elizabeth Jenyon
- Assistant Director: Richard Kimmel
- Technical Director: Ruud van den Akker
- Production Manager: Bozkurt Karasu
- Master Electrician: Gabe Maxson
- Production Assistant: Joby Emmons
- Audio Consultant: Dan Dobson
- Badminton Master: Chi-Bing Wu
- Dramaturgy: Jim Dawson, Dennis Dermody
-
Performers
- Hippolytos: Ari Fliakos
- Theramenes/Reader: Scott Shepherd
- Oenone: Sheena See
- Phèdre: Kate Valk
- Theseus: Roy Faudree
- Venus/Referee: Fiona Leaning
- Marker 7: Koosil-ja
- Marker 4: Dominique Bousquet
- Video Venus: Suzzy Roche
Production- Director: Elizabeth LeCompte
- Text: Paul Schmidt
- Set: Jim Findlay
- Sound: Geoff Abbas, John Collins, Jim Dawson
- Video: Philip Bussmann, Reid Farrington
- Light: Jennifer Tipton
- Original Music Tracks: David Linton
- Original Songs: Koosil-ja, Suzzy Roche, Kate Valk
- Costumes: The Wooster Group, Elizabeth Jenyon
- Assistant Director: Richard Kimmel
- Technical Director: Ruud van den Akker
- Production Manager: Bozkurt Karasu
- Master Electrician: Gabe Maxson
- Audio Consultant: Matt Tierney
- Badminton Master: Chi-Bing Wu
- Dramaturgy: Jim Dawson, Dennis Dermody
-
Performers
- Hippolytos: Ari Fliakos
- Theramenes/Reader: Scott Shepherd
- Oenone: Sheena See
- Phèdre: Kate Valk
- Theseus: Roy Faudree
- Venus/Referee: Fiona Leaning
- Marker 7: Koosil-ja
- Marker 4: Dominique Bousquet
- Video Venus: Suzzy Roche
Production- Director: Elizabeth LeCompte
- Text: Paul Schmidt
- Set: Jim Findlay
- Sound: Geoff Abbas, John Collins, Jim Dawson
- Video: Philip Bussmann, Reid Farrington, Tara Webb
- Light: Jennifer Tipton
- Original Music Tracks: David Linton
- Original Songs: Koosil-ja, Suzzy Roche, Kate Valk
- Costumes: The Wooster Group, Elizabeth Jenyon
- Assistant Costumes: Tara Webb
- Assistant Director: Richard Kimmel
- Technical Director: Iver Findlay
- Master Technician: Ruud van den Akker
- Production Manager: Bozkurt Karasu
- Master Electrician: Gabe Maxson
- Sound Technician: Dan Dobson
- Badminton Master: Chi-Bing Wu
- Dramaturgy: Jim Dawson, Dennis Dermody
-
Performers
- Hippolytos: Ari Fliakos
- Theramenes/Reader: Scott Shepherd
- Oenone: Sheena See
- Phèdre: Kate Valk
- Theseus: Roy Faudree
- Venus/Referee: Fiona Leaning
- Marker 7: Koosil-ja
- Marker 4: Dominique Bousquet
- Video Venus: Suzzy Roche
Production- Director: Elizabeth LeCompte
- Text: Paul Schmidt
- Set: Jim Findlay
- Sound: Geoff Abbas, John Collins, Jim Dawson
- Video: Philip Bussmann, Reid Farrington, Tara Webb
- Light: Jennifer Tipton
- Original Music Tracks: David Linton
- Original Songs: Koosil-ja, Suzzy Roche, Kate Valk
- Costumes: The Wooster Group, Elizabeth Jenyon
- Assistant Costumes: Tara Webb
- Assistant Director: Richard Kimmel
- Technical Director: Iver Findlay
- Master Technician: Ruud van den Akker
- Production Manager: Bozkurt Karasu
- Master Electrician: Gabe Maxson
- Sound Technician: Dan Dobson
- Badminton Master: Chi-Bing Wu
- Dramaturgy: Jim Dawson, Dennis Dermody
-
Performers
- Hippolytos: Ari Fliakos
- Theramenes/Reader: Scott Shepherd
- Oenone: Sheena See
- Phèdre: Kate Valk
- Theseus: Roy Faudree
- Venus/Referee: Fiona Leaning
- Marker 7: Koosil-ja
- Marker 4: Dominique Bousquet
- Video Venus: Suzzy Roche
Production- Director: Elizabeth LeCompte
- Text: Paul Schmidt
- Set: Jim Findlay
- Sound: Geoff Abbas, John Collins, Jim Dawson
- Video: Philip Bussmann, Reid Farrington, Tara Webb
- Light: Jennifer Tipton
- Original Music Tracks: David Linton
- Original Songs: Koosil-ja, Suzzy Roche, Kate Valk
- Costumes: The Wooster Group, Elizabeth Jenyon
- Assistant Costumes: Tara Webb
- Assistant Director: Richard Kimmel
- Technical Director: Iver Findlay
- Stage Manager: Ruud van den Akker
- Production Manager: Bozkurt Karasu
- Master Electrician: Gabe Maxson
- Sound Technician: Dan Dobson
- Badminton Master: Chi-Bing Wu
- Dramaturgy: Jim Dawson, Dennis Dermody
-
Performers
- Hippolytos: Ari Fliakos
- Theramenes/Reader: Scott Shepherd
- Oenone: Sheena See
- Phèdre: Kate Valk
- Theseus: Willem Dafoe
- Venus/Referee: Fiona Leaning
- Marker 7: Koosil-ja
- Marker 4: Dominique Bousquet
- Video Venus: Suzzy Roche
Production- Director: Elizabeth LeCompte
- Text: Paul Schmidt
- Set: Jim Findlay
- Sound: Geoff Abbas, John Collins, Jim Dawson, Iver Findlay
- Video: Philip Bussmann, Reid Farrington, Tara Webb
- Light: Jennifer Tipton
- Original Music Tracks: David Linton
- Original Songs: Koosil-ja, Suzzy Roche, Kate Valk
- Costumes: The Wooster Group, Elizabeth Jenyon
- Assistant Costumes: Tara Webb
- Assistant Director: Richard Kimmel
- Technical Director: Iver Findlay
- Master Technician: Ruud van den Akker
- Production Manager: Bozkurt Karasu
- Master Electrician: Gabe Maxson
- Sound Technician: Dan Dobson
- Badminton Master: Chi-Bing Wu
- Dramaturgy: Jim Dawson, Dennis Dermody
-
Performers
- Hippolytos: Ari Fliakos
- Theramenes/Reader: Scott Shepherd
- Oenone: Sheena See
- Phèdre: Kate Valk
- Theseus: Willem Dafoe
- Venus/Referee: Fiona Leaning
- Marker 7: Koosil-ja
- Marker 4: Dominique Bousquet
- Video Venus: Suzzy Roche
Production- Director: Elizabeth LeCompte
- Text: Paul Schmidt
- Set: Jim Findlay
- Sound: Geoff Abbas, John Collins, Jim Dawson, Iver Findlay
- Video: Philip Bussmann, Reid Farrington, Tara Webb
- Light: Jennifer Tipton
- Original Music Tracks: David Linton
- Original Songs: Koosil-ja, Suzzy Roche, Kate Valk
- Costumes: The Wooster Group, Elizabeth Jenyon
- Assistant Costumes: Tara Webb
- Assistant Director: Richard Kimmel
- Technical Director: Iver Findlay
- Master Technician: Ruud van den Akker
- Production Manager: Bozkurt Karasu
- Master Electrician: Gabe Maxson
- Sound Consultant: Dan Dobson
- Badminton Master: Chi-Bing Wu
- Dramaturgy: Jim Dawson, Dennis Dermody
-
Performers
- Hippolytos: Ari Fliakos
- Theramenes/Reader: Scott Shepherd
- Oenone: Sheena See
- Phèdre: Kate Valk
- Theseus: Willem Dafoe
- Venus/Referee: Fiona Leaning
- Marker 7: Koosil-ja
- Marker 4: Dominique Bousquet
- Video Venus: Suzzy Roche
Production- Director: Elizabeth LeCompte
- Text: Paul Schmidt
- Set: Jim Findlay
- Sound: Geoff Abbas, John Collins, Jim Dawson, Iver Findlay
- Video: Philip Bussmann, Reid Farrington, Tara Webb
- Light: Jennifer Tipton
- Original Music Tracks: David Linton
- Original Songs: Koosil-ja, Suzzy Roche, Kate Valk
- Costumes: The Wooster Group, Elizabeth Jenyon
- Assistant Costumes: Tara Webb
- Assistant Director: Richard Kimmel
- Technical Director: Iver Findlay
- Master Technician: Ruud van den Akker
- Production Manager: Bozkurt Karasu
- Master Electrician: Gabe Maxson
- Sound Consultant: Dan Dobson
- Badminton Master: Chi-Bing Wu
- Dramaturgy: Jim Dawson, Dennis Dermody
-
Performers
- Hippolytos: Ari Fliakos
- Theramenes/Reader: Scott Shepherd
- Oenone: Sheena See
- Phèdre: Kate Valk
- Theseus: Willem Dafoe
- Venus/Referee: Fiona Leaning
- Marker 7: Koosil-ja
- Marker 4: Dominique Bousquet
- Video Venus: Suzzy Roche
Production- Director: Elizabeth LeCompte
- Text: Paul Schmidt
- Set: Jim Findlay
- Sound: Geoff Abbas, John Collins, Jim Dawson, Iver Findlay
- Video: Philip Bussmann, Reid Farrington, Tara Webb
- Light: Jennifer Tipton
- Original Music Tracks: David Linton
- Original Songs: Koosil-ja, Suzzy Roche, Kate Valk
- Costumes: The Wooster Group, Elizabeth Jenyon
- Assistant Costumes: Tara Webb
- Assistant Director: Richard Kimmel
- Technical Director: Iver Findlay
- Master Technician: Ruud van den Akker
- Lighting Supervisor: Lara Wilder
- Master Electrician: Gabe Maxson
- Sound Consultant: Martin R. Desjardins
- Badminton Master: Chi-Bing Wu
- Dramaturgy: Jim Dawson, Dennis Dermody
-
Performers
- Hippolytos: Ari Fliakos
- Theramenes/Reader: Scott Shepherd
- Oenone: Sheena See
- Phèdre: Kate Valk
- Theseus: Willem Dafoe
- Venus/Referee: Fiona Leaning
- Marker 7: Koosil-ja
- Marker 4: Dominique Bousquet
- Video Venus: Suzzy Roche
Production- Director: Elizabeth LeCompte
- Text: Paul Schmidt
- Set: Jim Findlay
- Sound: Geoff Abbas, Jim Dawson, Iver Findlay
- Video: Philip Bussmann, Reid Farrington, Tara Webb
- Light: Jennifer Tipton
- Original Music Tracks: David Linton
- Original Songs: Koosil-ja, Suzzy Roche, Kate Valk
- Costumes: The Wooster Group, Elizabeth Jenyon
- Assistant Costumes: Tara Webb
- Assistant Director: Richard Kimmel
- Technical Director: Iver Findlay
- Master Technician: Ruud van den Akker
- Lighting Supervisor: Lara Wilder
- Master Electrician: Gabe Maxson
- Badminton Master: Chi-Bing Wu
- Dramaturgy: Jim Dawson, Dennis Dermody
-
Performers
- Hippolytos: Ari Fliakos
- Theramenes/Reader: Scott Shepherd
- Oenone: Sheena See
- Phèdre: Kate Valk
- Theseus: Roy Faudree
- Venus/Referee: Fiona Leaning
- Marker 7: Koosil-ja
- Marker 4: Dominique Bousquet
- Video Venus: Suzzy Roche
Production- Director: Elizabeth LeCompte
- Text: Paul Schmidt
- Set: Jim Findlay
- Sound: Geoff Abbas, John Collins, Jim Dawson, Iver Findlay
- Video: Philip Bussmann, Reid Farrington, Tara Webb
- Light: Jennifer Tipton
- Original Music Tracks: David Linton
- Original Songs: Koosil-ja, Suzzy Roche, Kate Valk
- Costumes: The Wooster Group, Elizabeth Jenyon
- Assistant Costumes: Tara Webb
- Assistant Director: Richard Kimmel
- Technical Director: Iver Findlay
- Master Technician: Ruud van den Akker
- Lighting Supervisor: Lara Wilder
- Master Electrician: Gabe Maxson
- Badminton Master: Chi-Bing Wu
- Dramaturgy: Jim Dawson, Dennis Dermody
-
-
-
Performers
- Hippolytos: Ari Fliakos
- Theramenes/Reader: Scott Shepherd
- Oenone: Sheena See
- Phèdre: Kate Valk
- Theseus: Willem Dafoe
- Venus/Referee: Fiona Leaning
- Marker 7: Koosil-ja
- Marker 4: Dominique Bousquet
- Video Venus: Suzzy Roche
Production- Director: Elizabeth LeCompte
- Text: Paul Schmidt
- Set: Jim Findlay
- Sound: John Collins, Geoff Abbas, Jim Dawson, Iver Findlay
- Video: Philip Bussmann, Reid Farrington, Tara Webb
- Light: Jennifer Tipton
- Original Music Tracks: David Linton
- Original Songs: Koosil-ja, Suzzy Roche, Kate Valk
- Costumes: The Wooster Group, Elizabeth Jenyon
- Assistant Costumes: Tara Webb
- Assistant Director: Richard Kimmel
- Technical Director: Iver Findlay
- Master Technician: Ruud van den Akker, Jeff Sugg
- Production Manager/Master Electrician: Lara Wilder
- Electrician: Reid Farrington
- Sound Consultant: Dan Dobson
- Assistant Video/Editor: Max Finneran
- Badminton Master: Chi-Bing Wu
- Dramaturgy: Jim Dawson, Dennis Dermody
-
Characters
- Hippolytos: Ari Fliakos
- Theramenes/Reader: Scott Shepherd
- Oenone: Frances McDormand
- Phèdre: Kate Valk
- Theseus: Willem Dafoe
- Venus/Referee: Suzzy Roche, Sheena See
- Marker 7: Koosil-ja
- Marker 4: Dominique Bousquet
Crew- Director: Elizabeth LeCompte
- Text: Paul Schmidt
- Set: Jim Findlay
- Sound: John Collins, Geoff Abbas, Jim Dawson
- Video: Philip Bussmann
- Light: Jennifer Tipton
- Original Music Tracks: David Linton
- Original Songs: Koosil-ja, Suzzy Roche, Kate Valk
- Costumes: The Wooster Group, Elizabeth Jenyon
- Assistant Costumes/Video: Tara Webb
- Assistant Director: Richard Kimmel
- Technical Director: Iver Findlay
- Master Technician: Ruud van den Akker, Jeff Sugg
- Master Electrician: Lara Wilder
- Video Operator: Reid Farrington
- Sound Consultant: Martin R. Desjardins
- Assistant Video/Editor: Max Finneran
- Badminton Master: Chi-Bing Wu
- Dramaturgy: Jim Dawson, Dennis Dermody
-
Characters
- Hippolytos: Ari Fliakos
- Theramenes/Reader: Scott Shepherd
- Oenone: Frances McDormand
- Phèdre: Kate Valk
- Theseus: Willem Dafoe
- Venus/Referee: Suzzy Roche, Sheena See
- Marker 7: Koosil-ja
- Marker 4: Dominique Bousquet
- Director: Elizabeth LeCompte
- Text: Paul Schmidt
- Set: Jim Findlay
- Sound: Geoff Abbas, John Collins, Jim Dawson
- Video: Philip Bussmann
- Light: Jennifer Tipton
- Original Music Tracks: David Linton
- Original Songs: Koosil-ja, Suzzy Roche, Kate Valk
- Costumes: The Wooster Group, Elizabeth Jenyon
- Assistant Costumes: Tara Webb
- Assistant Director: Richard Kimmel
- Production Manager: Jim Dawson
- Technical Director: Geoff Abbas
- Master Technicians: Ruud van den Akker, Jeff Sugg
- Master Electrician: Reid Farrington
- Video Totems: Ruud van den Akker
- Sound Consultant: Lance Dann
- Assistant Video/Editor: Kimberley Hassett
- Badminton Master: Chi-Bing Wu
- Dramaturgy: Jim Dawson
-
Performers
- Hippolytos: Ari Fliakos
- Theramenes/Reader: Scott Shepherd
- Oenone: Frances McDormand
- Phèdre: Kate Valk
- Theseus: Willem Dafoe
- Venus: Suzzy Roche
- Frick: Koosil-ja
- Frack: Dominique Bousquet
Crew (incomplete credits)- Director: Elizabeth LeCompte
- Text: Paul Schmidt
- Set: Jim Findlay
- Sound: John Collins, Geoff Abbas, Jim Dawson
- Video: Philip Bussmann
- Light: Jennifer Tipton
- Original Music Tracks: David Linton
- Costumes: The Wooster Group, Elizabeth Jenyon
- Assistant Director: Richard Kimmel
- Stage Manager: Judy Tucker
- Production Manager: Jim Dawson
-
Performers
- Hippolytos: Ari Fliakos
- Theramenes/Reader: Scott Shepherd
- Oenone: Frances McDormand
- Phèdre: Kate Valk
- Theseus: Willem Dafoe
- Venus: Suzzy Roche
- Frick: Koosil-ja
- Frack: Dominique Bousquet
Crew (incomplete credits)- Director: Elizabeth LeCompte
- Text: Paul Schmidt
- Set: Jim Findlay
- Sound: John Collins, Geoff Abbas, Jim Dawson
- Video: Philip Bussmann
- Light: Jennifer Tipton
- Original Music Tracks: David Linton
- Costumes: The Wooster Group, Elizabeth Jenyon
- Assistant Director: Richard Kimmel
- Stage Manager: Judy Tucker
- Production Manager: Jim Dawson
Additional Credits
Dedicated to Paul Schmidt (1934-1999) who wrote this version of Racine’s Phèdre for The Wooster Group in 1993. Use of this material is made possible by the Paul Schmidt Estate.
Additional text from Euripides’ Hippolytus and the IBF Laws of Badminton.
Original songs recorded and engineered by Stewart Lerman at the Shine Box, NYC.
Video totems by Ruud van den Akker.
Video software courtesy of Production Designer Software.
Thanks to Phyllis Carlin, Constantine Fliakos, Kimberley Hassett, Geraldine Swayne, and Prada.
Funded in part by the National Dance Project of the New England Foundation for the arts, with lead funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. Additional funding provided by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Philip Morris Companies Inc.