Alumnus Andy Boyd ’18 Publishes ‘The Trade Federation’

The Trade Federation, or, Let's Explore Globalization Through the Star Wars Prequels by playwriting alumnus Andy Boyd ’18 was recently published by NoPassport Press. The Trade Federation is a metatheatrical deconstruction of the Star Wars prequels that seizes the means of narrative production away from giant corporations like Disney and encourages the audience to see themselves, collectively, as the hero they've been waiting for.

In The Trade Federation, a young experimental playwright named Andy Boyd pitches George Lucas his screenplay for a new Star Wars film. The concept: a prequel to the prequels that fleshes out the economic and social implications of the mysterious Trade Federation. Andy’s script is a full-on Marxist allegory where The Trade Federation is The International Monetary Fund, the Gungans are the Zapatistas, and the Jedi are an international community reluctant to push for any real structural change – the UN, basically. Lucas thinks the movie sounds really boring and unceremoniously kicks Andy out of his office. Then things really get weird. 

Andy Boyd is a playwright based in Brooklyn. He earned a BA in American History and Literature from Harvard University. His plays have been produced at IRT, Naked Theatre Company, and Epic Theatre Company and have been part of the New York, Capital, and Providence Fringe Festivals. His plays have been developed or presented by Pipeline Theatre Company, The Gingold Group, Roundabout Theatre Company, Dixon Place, and the Trunk Space. His play Os Confederados was a winner of the Columbia@Roundabout New Play Reading Series. He hosts podcasts, including New Books in Performing Arts and Better than Shakespeare. His plays have been published by NoPassport Press and YouthPlays and his essays have been published by Canyon Voices, San Antonio Review, Howlround, and US History Scene.

The Trade Federation can be purchased online at lulu.com.