STATELESS
Inspired by a true story that weaves German, Jewish, and African American history with contemporary Hip Hop music and vaudeville, Stateless is a wildly inventive fusion of performance and history. This dynamic production explores the lives of performers, the bonds of brothers , and the interplay between past and present. At its heart, Stateless connects these artists with the legacy of the Gebrüder Wolf, a famed 1920s German-Jewish vaudeville troupe
When Dan finds a 42-page letter from his grandfather he tries to avoid what is about to surround him - his history. At the urging of his friend Tommy they they follow the melody of a traditional song to Hamburg, Germany and find out what it means feel 'stateless' in this world.
History and Hip Hop meets Vaudeville
Inspired by Dan Wolf’s discovery of his great-grandfather's vaudeville fame in pre-WWII Germany, Stateless is a bold blend of personal history and cultural homage.
🎥 Featuring: Dan Wolf & Tommy Shepherd
🎵 Music by: Tommy Shepherd
✍️ Written by: Dan Wolf
🎭 Directed by: Sean San José
📍 Produced & Performed at: Intersection for the Arts (446 Valencia Street, San Francisco) 2005
🎬 Video by: Fatbelly Productions
In 2009, Stateless evolved into Stateless: A Hip Hop Vaudeville Experience, produced by Traveling Jewish Theater in San Francisco. This reimagined production brought together Dan Wolf, Tommy Shepherd, and new ensemble member Keith Pinto, as well as Director Ellen Sebastian Chang.
Alongside Brooklyn-based band One Ring Zero, Shepherd and Pinto collaborated with the spirit of the Gebrüder Wolf to create an innovative, genre-blending musical score that amplified the show’s vibrant fusion of Hip Hop and vaudeville.
