Reverend Billy

...In this video, Jonathan Talat Philips, director of Evolver.net, talks to the Reverend Billy (aka Bill Talen) and his wife Savitri D. about the "revelatory experience" of "radical instability" that's created by visionary activism. The Church of Life After Shopping stages actions in "contested spaces" like Starbucks and uses a singing, dancing choir to deliberately confound the expectations of onlookers while inspiring them to resist "the dominant culture of our nation" and become more mindful of their personal consumption. This video was directed and edited by Tony Torn, one of the founding directors of the Church.

Billy Talen is a playwright and actor who invented “a new kind of American preacher” who took to the streets of Times Square in the early 90's specializing in exorcisms of sweatshop companies, and opposing the Disneyfication of the neighborhood. “Moral soap operas,” also called "Retail Interventions” were staged inside the chain stores, principally Disney, the GAP, Nike, and Starbucks. The preacher was soon accompanied by singers, and began staging whole “Worships” in the tradition of ritual-based interactive plays. The Reverend's developing theology became the “Church of Stop Shopping,” founded on a resistance to consumerism and a defense of independent shops, community gardens and local economies.

Under the direction of Savitri D., the Reverend and Choir have toured in Europe, Africa, South America and throughout North America. Bill Talen has won the OBIE Award, The Dramalogue Award, The Historic Districts Council's “Preservation” Award (for leading demonstrations to save the Poe House at 85 W 3rd Street) and has been jailed more than 50 times...