Tribes USA is a concept musical about the cultural-political dynamics polarizing contemporary American society. Its central message is that the overheated rhetoric and conflict engendered by today's political tribalism will lead to tragedy if left unchecked. We need to recognize and celebrate all we share as citizens of a particularly wonderful country if we hope to continue to thrive.
The Tribes USA Project is an effort to get this entertaining musical and its urgent message from the page to the stage as quickly as possible.
Synopsis: If the musical 'Hamilton' and the 'Jerry Springer Show' had a baby, its name would be 'Tribes USA'.
On Election Day, November 2016, a charismatic, ambitious young reporter, Jason, is scheduled to host a focus group of voters at a polling station. He selects ten voters who represent the American cultural-political spectrum from extreme left to extreme right and points in-between. To boost ratings, Jason promotes contentious debate among the panelists by seating them in chairs color-coded to signify their cultural politics – blue for liberals, red for conservatives, and purple for centrists. The show is successful, so Jason brings the same ten voters back for debate every two years on election day for the next six years. Each time, they spar over the hot-button issues of the day - from abortion, LGBTQ rights, and immigration, to Covid policy, gun control, and police use of force. The bi-annual showdown attracts a growing television audience.
To keep the viewership rising, Jason ensures successive debates become more tribal and more heated, going so far as to ply the panelists with alcohol before each session. His efforts pay off and the ratings go through the roof. However, escalating passions eventually boil over into tragic violence on the set of the show. This shocks everyone into recognizing our fixation on political differences leads to conflict and blinds us to all we share as Americans. Additionally, the tragedy drives home the point that we must acknowledge and celebrate our common humanity if we ever hope to thrive.
Learn More: https://tribesusa.com/