Prosperous Fools

A Juvenalian satire on cultural philanthropy, longing to be a comédie-ballet about liberation.

Prosperous Fools premieres at Theatre for a New Audience, June of 2025, Brooklyn, NY; Producing Artistic Director, Jeffrey Horowitz.

The production credits are as follows:

Written by Taylor MacDirected by Darko TresnjakMusic: Oran EldorChoreographer: Austin McCormickScenic Designer: Alexander DodgeCostume Designer: Anita YavichLighting Designer: Matthew RichardsSound Designer: Jane ShawVideo Designer: Aaron RhyneFight Choreographer: Rocio MendezVoice Director: Andrew WadeHair & Wig Designer: Tom WatsonProperties Supervisor: Jonno KnustProduction Dramaturg: Jonathan KalbScript Dramaturg:  Morgan JennessProduction Stage Manager: Shane Schnetzler.

Cast:  Sierra Boggess, Kaliswa Brewster, Aerina Park DeBoer, Megumi Iwama, Taylor Mac, Jason O'Connell, Ian Paget, Jennifer Regan, Cara Seymour, Jennifer Smith, Em Stockwell 

Excerpt from play:

ARTIST:  Real quick I'd like to say one thing.  

An epilogue to ease the sting

Of awkwardness you might have felt

From this odd ending, which we've dealt.

At times, when actors bow, they see

Some audiences start to flee

The theater to beat the rush

Of exodus.  Perhaps the crush

Of bodies and slow waddling herd,

Which always seems a bit absurd

And makes one feel that they're a cow

Who should then moo, is why the bow

Is when they prematurely leave.

It could be though, they must relieve

Their bladders and well then please go

But usually, I think we know,

They skip the bow 'cause they are fraught

To win the race to parking lot.

I get it but still find it rude

That some should leave and so preclude

A unified and gracious thanks.

If it's a hit or if it tanks,

The etiquette is clear and sweet,

We thank the effort on our feet.

For yes, by now the standing O's

An obligation after shows.

We in this work though have decided,

Though it might be a bit lopsided,

To skip the bow because you cheered

After the dance and being revered

Two times, though yes it is effulgent,

Still frankly is a bit indulgent.

And also praise is just exhausting

And not the point and not the frosting

Upon the cake that we have built.

The frosting is the simple lilt

We offer that allows a theme

To be more than a little dream

That passed the time and is replaced

With dinner talk or just erased.

A lilt, a spark, a devil's grin

That was the point, our goal wherein

You then can share and are inspired

To contemplate what has transpired

And what's at risk, and what's to change.

What is the depth and what's the range

Of our ideas and form and style?

Not only if it's good or vile.

But actual discourse, thoughts and care.

Though questions are sometimes a bare

They are what's left us in the end.

So to these thoughts please do attend:

Do you deserve because you try?

And do you own what you can buy?

Does charity absolve your greed?

Does wanting much make others need?

Should you be thanked for being wealthy?

Should you be shamed, is that unhealthy?

Are naming-rights worth boos and hissing

Because they're like a dog that's pissing

Upon a spot to mark what's his?

If so consider you this quiz:

That if the goals to be of, for,

And by the people, is the chore

To reframe what deserves the laurel

And learn: philanthropy’s immoral?

For when we sang the Yankee Doodle

Did not we sacrifice the feudal?

Should billionaires decide what's seen?

And should we make art slight and lean

So what you want is what you get?

Or is this all an idle fret,

That money and the gauche are ruling?

Should jingling Fools all cease their fooling?

If so are details then the topic?

What's best when being philanthropic?

Philanthropist who are genteel

Are they the thing that is ideal?

Is there some room for the bourgeois

To say their truths sans our guffaw?

Are you a snob and if so why?

Or are you more the other guy?

The one who wants the snobs endorsement

So much he'll get it through enforcement.

Is selling-out what you deplore?

And how then have you been a whore?

But if you think there is no thicket

Consider how you got your ticket.

And whose excluded from this show.

For who can pay is who can go.

And who can go is who partakes

And who partakes is who then makes

The rules based on their own reflections

And so we're kept within our sections?

Could theater be emblematic

Of all the ways we're autocratic?

Could be our meta play is not

So self-involved but food for thought?

So rather than applaud us please,

Do talk amongst yourselves and seize

This opportunity of sharing.

And use your exit, now, for airing

Out all your thoughts and your suggestions,

Your hopes and mostly all your questions

Regarding our disparity.

Our rich slash poor polarity.

And curtain call escapers, well,

You must depart amidst the hell

That is your fellow man.  The muck.

So bon voyage.  I wish you luck.