Notes from the Field
poster of HBO adaptation

Notes from the Field (also known as Notes from the Field: Doing Time in Education and Notes from the Field: Doing Time in Education, The California Chapter) is a 2015 play, which was written and performed by Anna Deavere Smith.[1] The play was first presented by the Berkeley Repertory Theatre, before touring and being adapted into a television movie.[2][3] It discusses issues revolving around the themes such as race, class and America's school-to-prison pipeline, to mention a few.

Background

The play is drawn from more than 200 interviews with students, parents, teachers and administrators caught in the school-to-prison pipeline.[4] Smith (the author/writer of the play) references several real-life events throughout the play, few of them such as the death of Freddie Gray and an incident where a 15-year-old black girl was restrained by police.[5]

Structure

The play consists of two acts: during the first act, Smith introduces the people in the school-to-prison pipeline, acting as each character herself. After the interval, she invites the audience to interact through call and response, culminating in Smith asking the audience to sing "Amazing Grace".[6]

The play makes use of real-life footage, which is projected onto the walls around Smith, such as the video of a 17-year-old black girl being flung across the room by a white male officer.[7]

Characters

Despite it being a one-woman show, the play has Smith act as 17 different people, each one telling their own story. Smith is also joined onstage by someone playing the double bass, a role originated by composer Marcus Shelby, though it is still a solo performance.[8]

Television adaptation

Notes from the Field was adapted into a television movie by HBO and premiered in February 2018.[9] It was directed by Kristi Zea, edited by Paul Snyder, and produced by Gary Goetzman and Smith.[10]

Awards and nominations

References

  1. ↑ "Notes from the Field: Doing Time in Education at Berkeley Rep". www.berkeleyrep.org. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  2. ↑ "Notes From the Field". HBO. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  3. ↑ "Notes from the Field". IMDb.
  4. ↑ "Anna Deavere Smith: Excerpts from Notes from the Field: Doing Time in Education". Lewis Center for the Arts. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  5. ↑ Hartigan, Pattie (26 August 2016). "In 'Notes,' an education in injustice from Anna Deavere Smith - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  6. ↑ "Notes from the Field: Doing Time in Education". ofa.fas.harvard.edu. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  7. ↑ Minamore, Bridget (18 June 2018). "Anna Deavere Smith's Notes from the Field review at Royal Court, London". The Stage. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  8. ↑ Akbar, Arifa (17 June 2018). "Notes from the Field review – searing exposé of the school-to-jail pipeline". the Guardian. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  9. ↑ Turchiano, Danielle (23 February 2018). "Anna Deavere Smith Depicts the 'Disturbing' Injustice of the School-to-Prison Pipeline in 'Notes From the Field'". Variety. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  10. ↑ Canfield, David (22 November 2017). "Anna Deavere Smith is bringing her essential play 'Notes From the Field' to HBO". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  11. ↑ "2017 | Obie Awards". Obie Awards. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  12. ↑ "GTA19 Nominees (2018) | Nominees Categories | Golden Trailer Awards". www.goldentrailer.com. Archived from the original on 26 September 2018. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
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