David Byrne’s American Utopia
David Byrne meets America’s fractious political moment with the transcendent power of song in this ecstatic documentary of the Broadway adaptation of his acclaimed American Utopia tour. Captured with immersive immediacy by director Spike Lee, this uplifting spectacle interweaves twenty-one songs, both new and classic, with Byrne’s singular observations on the state of the nation—its perils, promises, and possibility for transformation. Choreographed by Annie-B Parson with the inventive minimalism that has become a signature of Byrne’s live performances, David Byrne’s American Utopia moves between moments of communal exuberance and hymnlike grace, making the case for music as an agent of protest, change, and above all unity.
PRODUCER- AND DIRECTOR-APPROVED 4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
- 4K digital master, supervised by director of photography Ellen Kuras, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
- One 4K UHD disc of the film and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
- New documentary featuring Kuras, musician-producer David Byrne, dancer-vocalist Tendayi Kuumba, director Spike Lee, choreographer and musical stager Annie-B Parson, lighting designer Rob Sinclair, and bassist Bobby Wooten III
- Conversation from 2020 between Lee and Byrne
- Trailer
- English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing and English descriptive audio
- PLUS: An essay by critic K. Austin Collins and an appreciation by critic Jia Tolentino
New cover based on a collage by Annie-B Parson
PRODUCER- AND DIRECTOR-APPROVED 4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
- 4K digital master, supervised by director of photography Ellen Kuras, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
- One 4K UHD disc of the film and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
- New documentary featuring Kuras, musician-producer David Byrne, dancer-vocalist Tendayi Kuumba, director Spike Lee, choreographer and musical stager Annie-B Parson, lighting designer Rob Sinclair, and bassist Bobby Wooten III
- Conversation from 2020 between Lee and Byrne
- Trailer
- English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing and English descriptive audio
- PLUS: An essay by critic K. Austin Collins and an appreciation by critic Jia Tolentino
New cover based on a collage by Annie-B Parson
Cast
- David Byrne
- Jacquelene Acevedo
- Percussion
- Gustavo Di Dalva
- Percussion
- Daniel Freedman
- Percussion
- Chris Giarmo
- Vocals/dance and vocal captain
- Tim Keiper
- Percussion
- Tendayi Kuumba
- Vocals/dance
- Karl Mansfield
- Keyboard and bandleader
- Mauro Refosco
- Percussion and drum-section leader
- Stéphane San Juan
- Percussion
- Angie Swan
- Guitar
- Bobby Wooten III
- Bass
Credits
- Director
- Spike Lee
- Produced by
- David Byrne
- Produced by
- Spike Lee
- Director of photography
- Ellen Kuras
- Edited by
- Adam Gough
- Choreography and music staging by
- Annie-B Parson
- Production consultant
- Alex Timbers
- Music mix
- Pete Keppler
- Lighting designer
- Rob Sinclair
- Executive producer
- Jeff Skoll
- Executive producer
- David Linde
- Executive producer
- Diane Weyermann
- Executive producer
- Len Blavatnik
- Executive producer
- David Bither
- Executive producer
- Charlie Cohen
- Executive producer
- Kurt Deutsch
- Executive producer
- Bill Pohlad
- Executive producer
- Christa Zofcin Workman
- Executive producer
- Jon Kamen
- Executive producer
- Dave Sirulnick
- Executive producer
- Meredith Bennett
- Executive producer
- Kristin Caskey
- Executive producer
- Mike Isaacson
- Executive producer
- Patrick Catullo
Trailer for David Byrne’s American Utopia
