Commissions. Co-missions.
Going on journeys of creation, together.
Our love for collaborating and devising new work has given us a repertoire of original music, visuals, and live performances developed bespoke for our artistic partners. From new and adapted plays, to musical guest spots on children’s shows, and even original music for fine art gallery exhibitions, ILL DOOTS has a wide range of commissioned works. Check some of it out here.
Got an idea? Maybe your commission can be next? We’re daaaaaaamn good.
But don’t take our word for it…
“In 2020 I embarked on a 2-year process of creating a play with community members about what defines the place they live and the people who live there. I knew ILL DOOTS would be the perfect collaborators. As composers, musicians, and creators, ILL DOOTS has wide-ranging and eclectic sounds that capture the spirit of any place. They were phenomenal throughout the process—always listening first, inviting participation from people ages 5-98, and generating music with anyone who was game. The songs they created were a highlight of the show and represented the people who made them. ILL DOOTS’ talent is limitless and the positive energy they bring into any room is invaluable. ”
“I commissioned ILL DOOTS for sound design on my storytelling podcast. From process to product, ILL DOOTS brought a palpable commitment to the give-and-take of collaboration to support and elevate my vision. They worked efficiently and were responsive to every revision asked of them, and we ultimately created an award-winning set of visionary sonic collages that felt equally sprung from both of our sensibilities.”
“I had the utmost pleasure of working with ILL DOOTS on a film I directed a few years ago, and I have to begin by saying what a heartwarming experience that was, not just for me but also the cast and crew. Not only were the conversations incredibly friendly and fun, but the work they produced for the film was astounding and it lifted the film to a beautiful personal and communal level. Hands down a fantastic group to work with! ”
2023:
ALBIE’S ELEVATOR [WHYY]
We had the pleasure of contributing an original song to the WHYY Kids program “Albie’s Elevator”, you can check out the show for free on YouTube and you can hear “Workin’ Together” wherever you stream music!
Multitudes [pennsylvania academy of the fine arts]
World Cafe Live and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) present Multitudes, a multisensory event series. Hear world premiere works from some of Philadelphia’s top musicians and poets, all inspired by PAFA’s current exhibition, Making American Artists, and commissioned by World Cafe Live.
Landscape of the Body: Is inspired by John Brown Goes to His Hanging by Horace Pippin and The Rains by Sonja Sekula. It explores the relationship between Landscape and History. It questions the landscape of the body, how the body and the land both hold the score. How does one event change the landscape of a society? How does one individual's identity and struggles put on display act as a key that unlocks healing for contemporary audiences today? What does it mean that in the end both John Brown and Sonja Sekula suffered the same fate?
Sunday Afternoon: It’s about Framing, Context, and Juxtaposition, using Edward Loper’s painting Sunday Afternoon as the primary inspiration. We were particularly galvanized by the story of the painting's frame or initial lack thereof which inhibited it from being displayed in the gallery when it was originally acquired. Is art not worthy of being deemed art without a border that separates it from the rest of the world? Food for thought.
Check It Out [the bearded ladies]
CHECK IT OUT!!!! is a family-friendly show about libraries and the people who make them so wonderful. CHECK IT OUT!!!! celebrates Philly’s free libraries as places of freedom for all families with especial love to families who are queer, questioning, and learning who they are. Filled with songs, books (banned and not), drag, glitter, joy, and community, CHECK IT OUT!!! is hosted by former librarian and current rock star Sam Rise and features hip-hop collective ILL DOOTS and cabaret dream Lili St Queer. For bookworms of all ages, orientations, genders, and genres, this hour-long outdoor performance tours to library branches around Philadelphia this spring.
Ask Listen Do [The liv project]
The Liv Project is a non-profit organization that develops creative tools that encourage fearless conversations to turn the tide of youth suicide.
The Liv Project created an easy-to-remember and action-oriented tools for these difficult times: LIV (Listen, Identify, Vocalize) and ALD (Ask Listen Do.)
The acronym LIV was born from understanding what happens for those who struggle and what we so desperately want them to know. LIV provides a framework during difficult times, and prompts those struggling to try a different action: reaching out instead of isolating.
ALD was created to help those who sense their loved one or friend may be in a difficult place. Taking these three steps – Ask, Listen, Do – can make a huge difference for someone struggling. The Ask prompts someone to trust their intuition when they sense something is wrong, and helps alleviate the fear in asking. Listening to understand, and not feeling you have to solve anything. And Do: we provide resources to support you in helping them.
2022:
TOWN [Theatre horizon]
TOWN is Theatre Horizon’s largest-scale production in a nearly 20-year history. Helmed by director Nell Bang-Jensen and playwright Michael John Garcés this new play celebrates and interrogates small town American life. Featuring music by Philly-based artist collective ILL DOOTS and featuring an ensemble of community members and professional theatre artists, TOWN will focus on Death & Eternity, Love & Marriage, and Daily Life all inspired by stories from over 130 Norristown residents.
PHiLLY EDU STORIES [philadelphia student union]
The purpose of this project was to use a cultural strategy to deepen relationships between educators, students and organizers in Philly; explore experiences with schooling and the criminal punishment system, and amplify collective visions for a transformed education and world. Two visionary Sonic Collages paint the picture of students and educators’ dreams of thriving, safe and whole communities and schools, made in collaboration with local hip hop artists US and ILL DOOTS.
Snowy Day and other stories [arden theatre co.]
The Arden Theatre Company presents a brand new, filmed version of The Snowy Day and Other Stories, By Ezra Jack Keats, available via streaming. This filmed theatrical play was recorded in the Hamilton Family Arts Center and presents exciting performances from an all-Philadelphia cast, a set made using a little cardboard and a lot of creativity, and features original music from the popular local band, ILL DOOTS.
Care, Not Control [Care, not control]
Care, Not Control is a coalition of young people and youth advocates working to end youth incarceration in Pennsylvania.
Care, Not Control: The Album showcases the talents, hopes, and dreams of young people directly impacted by the criminal legal system who are part of the coalition. The album seeks to shift the narrative surrounding youth incarceration and promote investing in community-based alternatives.
2021:
Esteban Montejo; Say the Name a response to El Cimarron (Opera Philadelphia)
Opera Philadelphia planned to present El Cimarron, Hans Werner Henze’s political drama recounting the true story of Esteban Montejo, a Cuban born into slavery in 1860 who, as a young man, escaped bondage on a sugar plantation, survived in the jungle, fought for Cuban independence from Spain, and lived to tell about it all before dying at the age of 113. Our job was to create an entirely new work of art in reaction to said piece. This became an opportunity to blend forms incorporating poetry, music, and film while addressing issues of appropriation vs. appreciation, colonialism, racism, and honoring our ancestors legacy.
Perils Island [Shakespeare in Clark Park]
Peril’s Island is an original play written by AZ Espinoza. The world premiere production was an immersive experience presented free to the public in Philadelphia's Harrowgate Park.The story was inspired by Shakespeare's PERICLES and created through the collaboration of community members with professional theater artists.
2020:
Go with the Flow (THEATRE HORIZON)
The seed for Go with the flow started from an effort to stay connected during quarantine. US wanted to gather with other emcees via Instagram Live to discuss their craft, their inspirations, and astrology (lol). From there it bloomed into a new, evolved offering through Theater Horizon’s “Horizon at Home” digital programming platform; it became… a game. More specifically, it was a weekly livestream event in the spirit of "Whose Line is it Anyway" and "Wild'n Out" incorporating responses from the audience and turning them into fun, fresh freestyle hip hop entertainment. In this game everybody wins!
2019:
Kimmel cultural campus theater residency (kimmel center)
In June 2019, Anthony (US) was selected to participate in a two-week theater residency program provided by The Kimmel Cutural Campus, in partnership with Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater. This residency’s theme invited selected world class artists to create new work that invades one’s privacy and engage their communities in the process. Anthony called on the squad to partner on writing the music and developing the story.
What transpired was a solo ep "US vol. 1" and hunger to continue the journey of ILL DOOTS' original production, "It's Great To Be In A Place Of Learning".
2018:
Home Court [Village of arts and humanities]
The “Home Court” project is a collaboration between the Sixers Youth Foundation, the Philadelphia 76ers, LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation), The Village of Arts and Humanities and local Philadelphia artists to renovate the Hartranft Basketball Courts at 9th and Cumberland and to serve the community surrounding the courts through art and storytelling. The courts are a beloved cultural hub that have served many generations. However, after the closing of the adjoining Hartranft Community Center in the late 2000s, lack of funding and violence at the courts, it became difficult to maintain safe, healthy recreation for young people at the space.
The Village committed to performing an internal “renovation” of relationships, knowledge, and leadership while the external court renovations took place. The Village teamed community leaders up with photographer Shawn Theodore, ILL DOOTS, and composer Mike McDermott, nationally-renowned artists who have taught and practiced in the community for years. The team interviewed over 100 community members over 6 months in story circles, meals, pickup games and stoop conversations. Working alongside coaches, players, youth and parents, they then created a 2500 sq. foot participatory art exhibit in photo and audio exploring the past, present and future of the Hartranft courts.
Red Bike
Red Bike, by Caridad Svich, is a theatrical poem where we see the world through the eyes of an eleven year old with a red bike. Music and movement moves us through their inner observations as they grapple with seeing the world for what it truly is.
2017:
Bride Next [The painted bride]
The BrideNext residency was an artistic collaboration with the Painted Bride. Our project “Existence, Resistance and the Sounds of Surroundings” focused on racial justice as it relates to gentrification and its effects on the neighborhoods surrounding Temple University. Through personal interviews and group discussions with community members as well as providing songwriting workshops to communities affected by gentrification at the hand of Temple’s expansion. Using our platform within the music community and with the Painted Bride we hoped to amplify the voices and sounds of their grievances, their neighborhood/cultural pride, their stories, and their own ideas/suggestions for more effective cohabitation of their neighborhoods.
MOUTHFUL PODCAST [PHILADELPHIA YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS]
We had the pleasure of composing the theme and incidental music for the Mouthful podcast in partnership with Philadelphia Young Playwrights.
2016:
An Octoroon [The Wilma Theater]
Obie Award-winning playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins takes the plot of Dion Boucicault’s 1859 antebellum melodrama, The Octoroon, and smashes it with a 21st century sensibility. Presented through the eyes of the onstage playwright BJJ, this pre-Civil War tale set in the Deep South tells of a slave owner’s affections for a woman whose blood is one-eighth Black. Ignited by Joanna Settle’s bold direction, the production will feature choreography and original music by ILL DOOTS to create a theatrical event that is equally hilarious and moving, subversive and provocative. The Wilma’s An Octoroon promises to be ripe for audience conversation around race in today’s society, and the role that theater plays with this dialogue.
Voices of Voting [Committee of seventy]
“Voices of Voting” is a short play targeted for young and diverse audiences that takes as its source material and starting point the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which bans racial discrimination in voting practices and is widely regarded as enabling the enfranchisement of millions of minority voters and diversifying the electorate and legislative bodies at all levels of American government.
2015:
Hands Up [Flashpoint Theatre company]
Barrymore Award for Best Original Music
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Barrymore Award for Best Original Music 〰️
Hands Up: 6 Playwrights, 6 Testaments. Superiority Fantasy by Nathan James; Holes in My Identity by Nathan Yungenberg; They Shootin! Or I Ain’t Neva Scared by Idris Goodwin; Abortion by Glen Gordon; Walking Next to Michael Brown by Eric Holmes; and How I Feel by Dennis Allen II.
Joanna Settle directed. Commissioned by the New Black Fest and presented by Flashpoint Theatre Company.