The Hairy Ape
June 1994–November 2001
Eugene O’Neill’s 1921 tale of Yank (Willem Dafoe), a stoker on a transatlantic steamship, placed, in The Wooster Group’s version, on a shifting hydraulic network of steel grates and ramps (the set from North Atlantic repurposed backwards). With music by John Lurie.
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
- Robert Smith, "Yank": Willem Dafoe
- Paddy: Scott Renderer
- Long: Dave Shelley
- Mildred Douglas: Kate Valk
- Her Aunt: Vivianne DeMuynck
- Prisoner: Roy Faudree
- I.W.W. Secretary: Scott Shepherd
- Stage Assistant: Ari Fliakos
- Boom Operator: Shaun Irons
Production
- Director: Elizabeth LeCompte
- Designer: Jim Clayburgh
- Sound Design: James "J.J." Johnson, John Collins, Geoff Abbas
- Video Design: Christopher Kondek, Philip Bussmann
- Lighting Design: Jennifer Tipton
- Music: John Lurie
- Costumes: The Wooster Group
- Stage Manager: Clay Hapaz
- Production Manager: Jim Findlay
- Master Electrician: Georg Bugiel
- Master Carpenter, Rigger: Ruud van den Akker
- Technical Directors: Jim Dawson, Geoff Abbas
- Lightboard Operator: Reid Farrington
- Audio System Design: John Collins
- Sound Consultant: Martin R. Desjardins
- Engineering Consultant: Bill Ballou
- Costume Construction: Kate Valk, Ellen McCartney
-
Performers
- Robert Smith, "Yank": Willem Dafoe
- Paddy: Scott Renderer
- Long: Dave Shelley
- Mildred Douglas: Kate Valk
- Her Aunt: Vivianne DeMuynck
- Prisoner: Roy Faudree
- I.W.W. Secretary: Scott Shepherd
- Stage Assistant: Ari Fliakos
- Boom Operator: Shaun Irons
Production- Director: Elizabeth LeCompte
- Designer: Jim Clayburgh
- Sound Design: James "J.J." Johnson, John Collins, Geoff Abbas
- Video Design: Christopher Kondek, Philip Bussmann
- Lighting Design: Jennifer Tipton
- Music: John Lurie
- Costumes: The Wooster Group
- Stage Manager: Clay Hapaz
- Production Manager: Jim Findlay
- Master Electrician: Georg Bugiel
- Master Carpenter, Rigger: Ruud van den Akker
- Technical Directors: Jim Dawson, Geoff Abbas
- Lightboard Operator: Reid Farrington
- Audio System Design: John Collins
- Sound Consultant: Martin R. Desjardins
- Engineering Consultant: Bill Ballou
- Costume Construction: Kate Valk, Ellen McCartney
-
Performers
- Robert Smith, "Yank": Willem Dafoe
- Paddy: Scott Renderer
- Long: Dave Shelley
- Mildred Douglas: Kate Valk
- Her Aunt: Vivianne DeMuynck
- Prisoner: Roy Faudree, Ari Fliakos
- I.W.W. Secretary: Scott Shepherd
- Stage Assistant: Ari Fliakos, Joel Bassin
- Boom Operator: Shaun Irons
Production- Director: Elizabeth LeCompte
- Designer: Jim Clayburgh
- Sound : James "J.J." Johnson, John Collins, Geoff Abbas
- Video : Christopher Kondek, Philip Bussmann
- Lighting : Jennifer Tipton
- Music: John Lurie
- Costumes: The Wooster Group
- Stage Manager: Clay Hapaz
- Production Manager*: Jim Findlay
- Master Electrician: Georg Bugiel
- Master Carpenter, Rigger: Ruud van den Akker
- Technical Director*: Jim Findlay, Reid Farrington
- Audio System Design: John Collins
- Engineering Consultant: Bill Ballou
- Costume Construction: Kate Valk, Ellen McCartney
- Lightboard Operator: Reid Farrington
-
Performers
- Robert Smith, "Yank": Willem Dafoe
- Paddy*: Daniel Zippi
- Long: Dave Shelley
- Mildred Douglas: Kate Valk
- Her Aunt: Vivianne DeMuynck
- Prisoner: Roy Faudree
- I.W.W. Secretary: Scott Shepherd
- Stage Assistant: Jeff Sugg
- Boom Operator: Shaun Irons
Production- Director: Elizabeth LeCompte
- Designer: Jim Clayburgh
- Sound Design: James "J.J." Johnson, John Collins
- Video Design: Christopher Kondek, Philip Bussmann
- Lighting Design: Jennifer Tipton
- Music: John Lurie
- Costumes: The Wooster Group
- Stage Manager: Clay Hapaz
- Master Electrician: Georg Bugiel
- Production Manager: Jim Findlay
- Master Carpenter, Rigger: Ruud van den Akker
- Technical Director: Jeff Sugg
- Audio System Design: John Collins
- Engineering Consultant: Bill Ballou
- Costume Construction: Kate Valk, Ellen McCartney
-
Performers
- Robert Smith, "Yank": Willem Dafoe
- Paddy: Daniel Zippi
- Long: Dave Shelley
- Mildred Douglas: Kate Valk
- Her Aunt: Vivianne DeMuynck
- Prisoner: Roy Faudree
- I.W.W. Secretary: Scott Shepherd
- Stage Assistant*: Ari Fliakos, Jeff Sugg
- Boom Operator: Shaun Irons
Production- Director: Elizabeth LeCompte
- Designer: Jim Clayburgh
- Sound Design: James "J.J." Johnson, John Collins
- Video Design: Christopher Kondek, Philip Bussmann
- Lighting Design: Jennifer Tipton
- Music: John Lurie
- Costumes: The Wooster Group
- Stage Manager: Clay Hapaz
- Master Electrician: Georg Bugiel
- Production Manager: Jim Findlay
- Master Carpenter, Rigger: Ruud van den Akker
- Technical Director: Jeff Sugg
- Audio System Design: John Collins
- Engineering Consultant: Bill Ballou
- Costume Construction: Kate Valk, Ellen McCartney
-
Performers
- Robert Smith, "Yank": Willem Dafoe
- Paddy*: Scott Renderer, Daniel Zippi
- Long: Dave Shelley
- Mildred Douglas: Kate Valk
- Her Aunt: Peyton Smith, Vivianne DeMuynck
- Prisoner: Roy Faudree
- I.W.W. Secretary: Paul Lazar
- Stage Assistant: Ari Fliakos
- Boom Operator: Shaun Irons
Production- Director: Elizabeth LeCompte
- Designer: Jim Clayburgh
- Sound Design: James "J.J." Johnson, John Collins
- Video Design: Christopher Kondek, Philip Bussmann
- Lighting Design: Jennifer Tipton
- Music: John Lurie
- Costumes: The Wooster Group
- Stage Manager: Clay Hapaz
- Master Electrician: Georg Bugiel
- Production Manager: Jim Findlay
- Master Carpenter, Rigger: Ruud van den Akker
- Technical Director: Jeff Sugg
- Audio System Design: John Collins
- Engineering Consultant: Bill Ballou
- Costume Construction: Kate Valk, Ellen McCartney
-
Performers
- Robert Smith, "Yank": Willem Dafoe
- Paddy: Scott Renderer
- Long: Dave Shelley
- Mildred Douglas: Kate Valk
- Her Aunt: Peyton Smith
- Prisoner: Roy Faudree
- I.W.W. Secretary: Scott Shepherd
- Stage Assistant: Ari Fliakos
- Boom Operator: Shaun Irons
Production- Director: Elizabeth LeCompte
- Designer: Jim Clayburgh
- Sound Design: James "J.J." Johnson, John Collins
- Video Design: Christopher Kondek, Philip Bussmann
- Lighting Design: Jennifer Tipton
- Music: John Lurie
- Costumes: The Wooster Group
- Stage Manager: Clay Hapaz
- Master Electrician: Georg Bugiel
- Production Manager: Jim Findlay
- Master Carpenter, Rigger: Ruud van den Akker
- Audio System Design: John Collins
- Engineering Consultant: Bill Ballou
- Costume Construction: Kate Valk, Ellen McCartney
-
Performers
- Robert Smith, "Yank": Willem Dafoe
- Paddy: Daniel Zippi
- Long: Dave Shelley
- Mildred Douglas: Kate Valk
- Her Aunt: Peyton Smith
- Prisoner: Roy Faudree
- I.W.W. Secretary: Scott Shepherd
- Stage Assistant: Ari Fliakos
- Boom Operator: Shaun Irons
Production- Director: Elizabeth LeCompte
- Designer: Jim Clayburgh
- Sound Design: James "J.J." Johnson, John Collins
- Video Design: Christopher Kondek, Philip Bussmann
- Lighting Design: Jennifer Tipton
- Music: John Lurie
- Costumes: The Wooster Group
- Stage Manager: Clay Hapaz
- Master Electrician: Georg Bugiel
- Production Manager: Jim Findlay
- Master Carpenter, Rigger: Ruud van den Akker
- Audio System Design: John Collins
- Engineering Consultant: Bill Ballou
- Costume Construction: Kate Valk, Ellen McCartney
-
Performers
- Robert Smith, "Yank": Willem Dafoe
- Paddy: Daniel Zippi
- Long: Dave Shelley
- Mildred Douglas: Kate Valk
- Her Aunt: Peyton Smith
- Prisoner: Roy Faudree
- I.W.W. Secretary: Scott Shepherd
- Stage Assistant: Ari Fliakos
- Boom Operator: Shaun Irons
Production- Director: Elizabeth LeCompte
- Designer: Jim Clayburgh
- Sound Design: James "J.J." Johnson, John Collins
- Video Design: Christopher Kondek, Philip Bussmann
- Lighting Design: Jennifer Tipton
- Music: John Lurie
- Costumes: The Wooster Group
- Stage Manager: Clay Hapaz
- Master Electrician: Georg Bugiel
- Production Manager: Jim Findlay
- Master Carpenter, Rigger: Ruud van den Akker
- Audio System Design: John Collins
- Engineering Consultant: Bill Ballou
- Costume Construction: Kate Valk, Ellen McCartney
-
On Stage
- Robert Smith, "Yank": Willem Dafoe
- Paddy: Scott Renderer, Daniel Zippi
- Long: Dave Shelley
- Mildred Douglas: Kate Valk
- Her Aunt: Peyton Smith
- Prisoner: Roy Faudree
- I.W.W. Secretary: Paul Lazar, Scott Shepherd
- Boom Operator: Shaun Irons
- Stage Assistant: Rolf Heim
Off Stage- Director: Elizabeth LeCompte
- Set: Jim Clayburgh
- Lighting: Jennifer Tipton
- Music: John Lurie
- Sound: James "J.J." Johnson, John Collins
- Video: Christopher Kondek, Philip Bussmann
- Costumes: The Wooster Group
- Assistant Director: Clay Hapaz
- Production Manager: Jim Findlay
- Master Electrician: Georg Bugiel
- Rigger: Ruud van den Akker
- Costume Construction: Kate Valk, Ellen McCartney
-
On Stage
- Robert Smith, "Yank": Willem Dafoe
- Paddy: Scott Renderer
- Long: Dave Shelley
- Mildred Douglas: Kate Valk
- Her Aunt: Peyton Smith
- Prisoner: Roy Faudree
- I.W.W. Secretary: Paul Lazar
- Stage Assistant: Ari Fliakos, Rolf Heim
- Boom Operator: Shaun Irons
Off Stage- Director: Elizabeth LeCompte
- Set: Jim Clayburgh
- Sound Design: James "J.J." Johnson, John Collins
- Video Design: Christopher Kondek, Philip Bussmann
- Lighting Designer: Jennifer Tipton
- Costumes: The Wooster Group
- Music: John Lurie
- Assistant Director/Dramaturg: Clay Hapaz
- Production Manager/Master Electrician: Georg Bugiel
- Technical Director: Jim Findlay
- Master Carpenter/Rigger: Ruud van den Akker
- Audio System Design: John Collins
- Engineering Consultant: Bill Ballou
-
On Stage
- Robert Smith, "Yank": Willem Dafoe
- Paddy: Fisher Stevens
- Long: Dave Shelley
- Mildred Douglas: Kate Valk
- Her Aunt: Peyton Smith
- Prisoner: Roy Faudree
- I.W.W. Secretary: Paul Lazar
- Stage Assistant: Rolf Heim
- Boom Operator: Shaun Irons
Off Stage- Director: Elizabeth LeCompte
- Set: Jim Clayburgh
- Sound Design: James "J.J." Johnson, John Collins
- Video Design: Christopher Kondek, Philip Bussmann
- Lighting Designer: Jennifer Tipton
- Costumes: The Wooster Group
- Music: John Lurie
- Assistant Director/Dramaturg: Clay Hapaz
- Production Manager/Master Electrician*
- Technical Director*
- Master Carpenter/Rigger*
- Audio System Design: John Collins
- Engineering Consultant: Bill Ballou
- Assistant Lighting Designer: Jeremy Stein
-
On Stage
- Robert Smith, "Yank": Willem Dafoe
- Paddy: Scott Renderer
- Long: Dave Shelley
- Mildred Douglas: Kate Valk
- Her Aunt: Peyton Smith
- Prisoner: Roy Faudree
- I.W.W. Secretary: Paul Lazar
- Stage Assistant*: Rolf Heim
- Boom Operator: Shaun Irons
Off Stage- Director: Elizabeth LeCompte
- Set: Jim Clayburgh
- Sound Design: James "J.J." Johnson, John Collins
- Video Design: Christopher Kondek, Philip Bussmann, Amy Lisewski
- Lighting Designer: Jennifer Tipton
- Costumes: The Wooster Group
- Music: John Lurie
- Assistant Director/Dramaturg: Clay Hapaz
- Master Electrician*
- Technical Director*: Eric Dyer
- Master Carpenter/Rigger*: Ruud van den Akker
- Audio System Design: John Collins
- Engineering Consultant: Bill Ballou
- Assistant Lighting Designer: Jeremy Stein
-
On Stage
- Robert Smith, "Yank": Willem Dafoe
- Paddy: Scott Renderer
- Long: Dave Shelley
- Mildred Douglas: Kate Valk
- Her Aunt: Peyton Smith
- Prisoner: Roy Faudree
- I.W.W. Secretary: Paul Lazar
- Stage Assistant : Rolf Heim
- Boom Operator: Shaun Irons
Off Stage- Director: Elizabeth LeCompte
- Set: Jim Clayburgh
- Sound Design: James "J.J." Johnson, John Collins
- Video Design: Christopher Kondek, Amy Lisewski
- Lighting Designer: Jennifer Tipton
- Costumes: The Wooster Group
- Music: John Lurie
- Assistant Director/Dramaturg: Clay Hapaz
- Master Electrician*
- Technical Director*: Eric Dyer
- Master Carpenter/Rigger*
- Audio System Design: John Collins
- Engineering Consultant: Bill Ballou
- Assistant Lighting Designer: Jeremy Stein
- Lightboard Operator: Philip Bussmann
- Production Assistant: Jim Findlay
Additional Credits
Conceived, designed and choreographed by The Wooster Group under the direction of Elizabeth LeCompte
Music performed/recorded by the John Lurie National Orchestra. Alto and soprano saxophone: John Lurie. Percussion: Billy Martin. Drums: Calvin Weston.
Special thanks to Teddy Atlas and Courtney Hammel.
Produced by special arrangement with Dramatist’s Play Service, Inc.