Team Sunshine Performance is a Philadelphia-based organization founded in 2010 by Benjamin Camp, Makoto Hirano, and Alex Torra, three artists of different cultural backgrounds with a range of performance expertise (physical theater, contemporary dance, and classical theater), who came together with the intent to create original, ensemble-generated works of experimental yet approachable performances. In operation for over a decade, Team Sunshine has honed an effective brand of collaborative play-making that incorporates wide-ranging aesthetic styles and ideas generated by a collective of performers, directors and designers alike, featuring ensembles ranging from 2-120 actors. Using playful tools of participatory, experimental theater, Team Sunshine’s performance works activate audience-as-community to create a dynamic experience of communal reflection and activation. Each new work builds on Team Sunshine’s rigorous approach to cultivating genre-defying, investigative performance works and events that balance joy with deep investigation, contend with urgent social issues, facilitate critical discourse, and pose creative solutions.
In 2019, Team Sunshine Performance refined its mission to build forward with increased urgency; charging its artists to be better citizens and braver creators by focusing on the intersections of art and activism. The company — led by the three co-founders with the support of two administrative positions — views its full-length performances as flagships of the company’s work, with each project milestone uniquely defined by how directly it speaks to its intended audience. In 2021, Team Sunshine began to develop educational initiatives that serve as an extension of the company work.
In 2019, Team Sunshine Performance refined its mission to build forward with increased urgency; charging its artists to be better citizens and braver creators by focusing on the intersections of art and activism. The company — led by the three co-founders with the support of two administrative positions — views its full-length performances as flagships of the company’s work, with each project milestone uniquely defined by how directly it speaks to its intended audience. In 2021, Team Sunshine began to develop educational initiatives that serve as an extension of the company work.
Check out Our Work for upcoming presentations
2024
December
The Sincerity Project #5 (2024), FringeArts
September
First workshop of Oir Mi Llanto or Hear My Cry, Mercury Store (NY)
December
The Sincerity Project #5 (2024), FringeArts
September
First workshop of Oir Mi Llanto or Hear My Cry, Mercury Store (NY)
2022
August
The Great American Gunshow work-in-progress, Asian Arts Initiative
The Great American Gunshow work-in-progress, Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble
June
Your Optimism is Not Required, Trade School, a program of The Philadelphia Thing, at the Village of Arts and Humanities
April
The Great American Gunshow lecture, Gibney Dance Center
August
The Great American Gunshow work-in-progress, Asian Arts Initiative
The Great American Gunshow work-in-progress, Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble
June
Your Optimism is Not Required, Trade School, a program of The Philadelphia Thing, at the Village of Arts and Humanities
April
The Great American Gunshow lecture, Gibney Dance Center
2021
December
The Sincerity Project #4: Cyclones, Schools, and Packs, Arch Street Meeting House
September/October
Your Optimism is Not Required, Bartram’s Garden
December
The Sincerity Project #4: Cyclones, Schools, and Packs, Arch Street Meeting House
September/October
Your Optimism is Not Required, Bartram’s Garden
2020
December
Your Optimism is Not Required, a virtual sharing via Trade School, a program of The Philadelphia Thing
February
¡BIENVENIDOS BLANCOS! OR WELCOME WHITE PEOPLE!, Cooper Series at Lang Performing Arts Center, Swarthmore College
January
The Regifting Party, Radio Kismet
December
Your Optimism is Not Required, a virtual sharing via Trade School, a program of The Philadelphia Thing
February
¡BIENVENIDOS BLANCOS! OR WELCOME WHITE PEOPLE!, Cooper Series at Lang Performing Arts Center, Swarthmore College
January
The Regifting Party, Radio Kismet
2019
September
Society of Civil Discourse, Amherst College (MA)
June
The Sincerity Project #3 (2019), High Pressure Fire Service Festival, FringeArts
Creative residency at The Orchard Project (NY)
September
Society of Civil Discourse, Amherst College (MA)
June
The Sincerity Project #3 (2019), High Pressure Fire Service Festival, FringeArts
Creative residency at The Orchard Project (NY)
2018
October
ZOMBIE DEFENSE CONSULTATIONS, Philadelphia Museum of Art
April
¡BIENVENIDOS BLANCOS! OR WELCOME WHITE PEOPLE! premiere, FringeArts
October
ZOMBIE DEFENSE CONSULTATIONS, Philadelphia Museum of Art
April
¡BIENVENIDOS BLANCOS! OR WELCOME WHITE PEOPLE! premiere, FringeArts
2017
September
Society of Civil Discourse, Amherst College (MA)
August
Society of Civil Discourse,, Ko Festival of Performance (MA)
July
¡BIENVENIDOS BLANCOS! OR WELCOME WHITE PEOPLE!, work-in-progress performance, Taller Puertorriqueño
April
Society of Civil Discourse,, FringeArts
January
The Regifting Party, PhilaMOCA
September
Society of Civil Discourse, Amherst College (MA)
August
Society of Civil Discourse,, Ko Festival of Performance (MA)
July
¡BIENVENIDOS BLANCOS! OR WELCOME WHITE PEOPLE!, work-in-progress performance, Taller Puertorriqueño
April
Society of Civil Discourse,, FringeArts
January
The Regifting Party, PhilaMOCA
2016
November
¡BIENVENIDOS BLANCOS! OR WELCOME WHITE PEOPLE!, Research trip to Cuba
September
The Sincerity Project #2 (2016) premiere, The Philadelphia Fringe Festival (curated)
April
Society of Civil Discourse,, FringeArts
February
Expert Night, Fleisher Art Memorial
January
The Regifting Party, Christ Church Neighborhood House
November
¡BIENVENIDOS BLANCOS! OR WELCOME WHITE PEOPLE!, Research trip to Cuba
September
The Sincerity Project #2 (2016) premiere, The Philadelphia Fringe Festival (curated)
April
Society of Civil Discourse,, FringeArts
February
Expert Night, Fleisher Art Memorial
January
The Regifting Party, Christ Church Neighborhood House
2015
May
Society of Civil Discourse, Underground Arts
April
Huddle Live, Fidget Space
January
The Regifting Party and premiere of Hypotheticals, Headlong
May
Society of Civil Discourse, Underground Arts
April
Huddle Live, Fidget Space
January
The Regifting Party and premiere of Hypotheticals, Headlong
2014
December
The Sincerity Project premiere, FringeArts
October
JapanAmerica Wonderwave excerpt, the National Asian American Theater Festival and Conference
August
Creative residency at SPACE on Ryder Farm
July
Henry V: Your Prince and Mine premiere, co-produced with Shakespeare in Clark Park
March
Huddle Live, Fidget Space
Society of Civil Discourse, Underground Arts
January
The Regifting Party, Fidget Space
December
The Sincerity Project premiere, FringeArts
October
JapanAmerica Wonderwave excerpt, the National Asian American Theater Festival and Conference
August
Creative residency at SPACE on Ryder Farm
July
Henry V: Your Prince and Mine premiere, co-produced with Shakespeare in Clark Park
March
Huddle Live, Fidget Space
Society of Civil Discourse, Underground Arts
January
The Regifting Party, Fidget Space
2013
December
TERRARIUM premiere, the Barnes Foundation
November
The Sincerity Project work-in-progress, First Person Arts
October
HUDDLE LIVE, Fidget Space
January
Creative residency at The Orchard Project (NY)
May
JapanAmerica Wonderwave premiere, Christ Church Neighborhood House
December
TERRARIUM premiere, the Barnes Foundation
November
The Sincerity Project work-in-progress, First Person Arts
October
HUDDLE LIVE, Fidget Space
January
Creative residency at The Orchard Project (NY)
May
JapanAmerica Wonderwave premiere, Christ Church Neighborhood House
2012
December
JapanAmerica Wonderwave excerpts, National Performance Network’s Annual Conference
September
DANCE OFF! v. Berserker Residents, Fringe Festival Late Night Cabaret
July
Creative residency at White Pines Productions
June
JapanAmerica Wonderwave, Commotion Festival, a project of Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority and PECO
March
Punchkapow, Passage Theater Company (NJ)
December
JapanAmerica Wonderwave excerpts, National Performance Network’s Annual Conference
September
DANCE OFF! v. Berserker Residents, Fringe Festival Late Night Cabaret
July
Creative residency at White Pines Productions
June
JapanAmerica Wonderwave, Commotion Festival, a project of Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority and PECO
March
Punchkapow, Passage Theater Company (NJ)
2011
November
PAUL SIMON PRESENTS: JapanAmerica Wonderwave, Asian Arts Initiative
October
ZOMBIE DEFENSE CONSULTATIONS, Arden Theater Company
September
ZOMBIE DEFENSE CONSULTATIONS, Philadelphia Fringe Festival (Underground Arts/Ruba Club)
January
Punchkapow, NET Microfest
November
PAUL SIMON PRESENTS: JapanAmerica Wonderwave, Asian Arts Initiative
October
ZOMBIE DEFENSE CONSULTATIONS, Arden Theater Company
September
ZOMBIE DEFENSE CONSULTATIONS, Philadelphia Fringe Festival (Underground Arts/Ruba Club)
January
Punchkapow, NET Microfest
2010
November
Punchkapow premiere, Underground Arts
September
Punchkapow excerpts, Philadelphia Fringe Festival Late-Night Cabaret
November
Punchkapow premiere, Underground Arts
September
Punchkapow excerpts, Philadelphia Fringe Festival Late-Night Cabaret