Bull Family Orchestra

Homepage Photo: Katie Bull and Edelen McWilliams in WHERE ARE YOU NOW; photo by Carolina Kroon

The Bull Family Orchestra is an inter-arts theater company, co-founded in 1989 by Artistic Director Katie Bull, and actors Leslie Kincaid, Bob Walsh, Paul Witter, and Harry Prichett. BFO is a playwright driven ensemble. Katie wrote, directed, and
performed in numerous original works including: YOUNG LILAH (Warren Street Performance Loft), SMALL TOWN NEW YORK CITY (29th St. Rep. Theater One Act Fest.), THE BEAT CAFE (Perf Loft), A VEGETABLE FROM THE SEA (William Redfield Theater), LUDUS: LET US PLAY (Washington Square Church), CATERPILLAR CROSSING (Greenwich St Theater), WALTZING IN THE WONDER (Tribeca Lab), & SOMETHING SHE ATE (Greenwich Street Theater). Connected by an in-common ensemble craft approach that is physically based, the work is characterized as being "...like nothing you've seen before!" (Punch-In), with "...fine ensemble acting..." (Columbia Radio), and "...extraordinary performances..." (Downtown Press).

In 1999 BFO joined the new IAE Consortium. In it's first performance under the IAE umbrella BFO premiered INTO THE RIDDLE, Katie's inter-arts story of the birth of her daughter Hannajane and the simultaneous dying of her stepmother Cynthia. For RIDDLE, Bull was joined by performer Matthew Beisner; the duet played multiple characters, exploring the continuum of life force that flows through the altered time/space "window" between two worlds. Sculpture Art was constructed by Jebah Baum. Aaron Streb of Alieron made a cameo appearance with live electric guitar.

Since BFO's premiere under the IAE umbrella in 1999 Katie has written and directed new works including the cell-phone satire WHERE ARE YOU NOW?; two short movement-theater explorations: VICTORY HUG, the "moment" of an Olympic equestrian triumph, & AGE OF PRECARIOUS, a solo inspired by the Firestone tire scandals; and a preview excerpt from her upcoming full length inter-arts performance work SHE HAS SUCH A VIVID IMAGINATION.

BFO's WAX performances in June have been cancelled and
She Has Such A Vivid Imagination will remain in development to make way for

the Bull Family Orchestra premiere of.........

THE 29 QUESTIONS PROJECT

Starting on May 24th and appearing all Monday nights, Performance 7-8pm
Post-Show Audience Gathering with world music and light refreshments included 8-8:30
through the end of July
(break in August, returning Sept and Oct)

The 29 Questions Project
The answer is in the question.

29 Questions by Hillary Rollins directed by Leslie Kincaid Burby & companion plays in response by Katie Bull directed by Kathryn Alexander, and Katie Bull at Yaffa's, on the corner of Harrison & Greenwich In Tribeca, New York City

Audiences and art critics alike are calling for theater that will respond to 9/11 without clobbering us, manipulating our emotions, or forgetting the larger picture of what is still happening and probably was happening all around us here and abroad. The 29 Questions Project offers a unique and necessary new balance in the post 9/11 body of theater works. The project, which has as its' centerpiece 29 Questions by Hillary Rollins, does not force answers. We are given space to have our own reactions; opinions are not thrust at us with a fist, and conclusions are not tied up with a ribbon. Rollins' play lets us hear the very human relationship between two American women, one a writer (Rollins), the other, her friend Laura who worked in the South Tower of the World Trade Center on 9/11. The writing is edited from their actual inter-net email conversation as they traded a silly inter-net questionnaire back and forth, one of those "time-wasters" about your "favorite things in life". In the wake of the loss, their dialogue takes on a beautiful and haunting poetic power.
In response to 29 Questions, writer Katie Bull wrote three short companion plays that further explore themes of intimacy, trust, and dialogue. The companion works fan our perspective beyond American boarders, without fanning flames... we hear other voices - an American GI, a Pakistani Taxi Driver, a Working Mom, a teenaged Anti-War protester, an American college-age tourist lost in the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem, and the Young Palestinian who brings her to safety. Post-show audience receptions festooned with fresh flowers, fragrant candles, live world music and light refreshments offer those who attend a chance to mingle; many find themselves sharing their own stories - asking their own questions....and so the questions continue, life-affirming story-telling ritual invoking community.

We are honored to bring this project to Tribeca, only blocks from Ground Zero, into the private room of Yaffa's, the only restaurant to remain open on 9/11, and in the weeks following, providing meals and a place of respite for rescue workers and the local Tribeca community. Owner Yaffa Sror Faro's unique restaurant setting is lilke an oasis, draped with velvet curtains, hung with beaded chandeliers and surrounded by murals of sand dunes and ancient Middle Eastern motifs. A pre-fixe package will be available for those who want to arrive at 6pm and dine before the performance as part of their evening of theater. A post-show menu discount for audience who stay after the show to dine is also an option.

Post-Show gathering with refreshments and live world music by Ayelet Rose Gottleib & Yoel Ben Simhon included in price of admission.

For Reservations:

or call: 212-352-3101