New Work
Mad River believes in supporting the development of new works of theater and music. Notable productions that we have helped produce as of late include The Language of Dolls, We Were There: US Women in Vietnam, a community performance of Terry Riley’s 'In C’, No Visas: A Hip-Hop Journey from Jaffa to Jerusalem to Yellow Springs, the Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestra, Moira Smiley and the Rhizome Quartet, TRAD ROMP WKND, The Sound of Black Music and many more.
No Visas בלי רשות بدون جواز
A Hip-Hop Journey from Jaffa to Jerusalem to Yellow Springs
NO VISAS brought together five renowned hip-hop artists to perform both individually and collectively, the culminating performance after a multi-month collaborative artistic process. Mad River Theater Works partnered with Neta Weiner and Samira Saraya of Beit System Ali, a cultural educational movement based in Holon, whose activity is based on the belief in the power of artistic action to promote equality and generate socio-political change. After a year of preparation, Neta and Samira’s in-person tour in Ohio was cancelled in August 2025 due to no visas being issued for them by the current administration. This project hence pivoted to a remote collaboration with three Ohio hip-hop artists based in Yellow Springs: Jayswifa, Tronee Threat, and ArtGod. Through remote meetings, sharing inspiration and beats, and discussing what it means to make art in times of political unrest and turmoil, these five artists pushed themselves to create music together that speaks to the realities of life in America, Palestine, and Israel.
A behind the scenes look at the development of this international collaboration, edited by Kevin Lydy.
The Yellow Springs Speaker Series
Mad River Theater Works is grateful to the Ohio Arts Council’s Arts Next grant for supporting this program that brings interdisciplinary thought leaders to the village of Yellow Springs to present meaningful and stimulating lectures exploring the intersections of arts, humanities and global affairs. The Yellow Springs Speaker Series is also being supported by the Yellow Springs Community Foundation and the Yellow Springs Library Association. Books for author signings will generally be available on site. For a complete listing of Speaker Series events visit the Antioch College Foundry Theater Website.
Hanif Abdurraqib is a poet, essayist, and cultural critic from Columbus, Ohio. Hanif’s newest release, There’s Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension (Random House, 2024) is a poignant, personal reflection on basketball, life, and home. The book was a #1 national bestseller, a New York Times bestseller, the winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for Criticism, and longlisted for both the National Book Award and the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction. We were honored to host Hanif for the inaugural program of the Yellow Springs Speaker Series.
Global Programming @ The Foundry
Mad River Theater Works is proud to support the vision of the Global Roots Music programming through its production services and leadership. The ensembles represent a new generation of musicians who celebrate and preserve their culture, beauty, and heritage through art. More information on these programs, past and future, can be found on the Antioch College Foundry Theater website.
