About
Project Creator - Drew Petersen
“West Coast Style PUnk ROck”
This was how The Orphans, the first band Drew played in was described by a small underground zine circulating in the mid-90s around the Greater Philadelphia area. The Orphans formed in 1994 in West Chester, Pennsylvania, and the cops showed up halfway through the second song of their first show. Armed with some tapes, spray-painted stencil patches and an eventual 7” on Creep Records, they played as fast as they could in basements, rented halls, and even some backyards.
The clandestine, frenetic, and sometimes dangerous energy of these squat house basement and club shows were the inspiration for The Electric Doyenne. Wanting to create a narrative music theater experience for young people, the same age that Drew was when he was immersed in the punk rock scene, was the driving force behind pulling from punk rock roots and fusing it with unsung women in music. Punk Rock is a celebration of subculture and walking against the beaten path. The Electric Doyenne, like its punk rock ancestor, brings that same electricity to unsung stories of trailblazers in artistry.
Drew Petersen is a New York City based artist and creator of live cultural experiences for all aged audiences. He is the Artistic Director for Trusty Sidekick Theater Company, a theater company devoted to creating high quality, original work for young audiences and their families. He has been commissioned by, presented at, and created original work for Lincoln Center Education, The Kennedy Center, Park Avenue Armory, New Victory Theater, Classic Stage Company, Abrons Art Center/Henry Street Settlement, Wallis Annenberg Center in Beverly Hills, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Miami Theatre Center, Cleveland Playhouse Square, PACE University, The Tank, The Wildrence, and Curio Theater Company in Philadelphia. He is the 2018 and first recipient of the National TYA/USA Artistic Innovation award.