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Our Productions II
The Battle
The Battle addresses drug trafficking, broken homes, and teen violence. July 2003 - The Battle- performed at Connecticut College The Battle, written and performed by area students from all parts of New London County will take you on a lyrical journey through lives of urban youth. Constructed solely with spoken word poetry and rap, this production contains no scripted dialogue but relies solely on the power of poetic lyrics to help students convey their story. The Battle is about their struggle. It’s about Flow, a 16 year old black male trying to pave a way for himself and find his future—trying to find his flow. Will he join 70% of his peers and end up dead or in prison before graduation, or can he make it through the challenges of the street? It’s about Faith, Rippa, Spirit, Holla, Lyric, DJ Booty, Ice, Mind Control (aka M.C.)—just a few of the cast, their names provide a peek into their roles and their souls
Chastity's Choice
Chastity’s Choice addresses teen-age pregnancy, promiscuity, peer pressure and gang violence. August 2004- Chastity’s Choice- Performed at Eastern Connecticut State University Summary: The production focuses on the world of Chastity a 15 years old struggling to find herself. She struggles with her appearance and is always trying to please others and fit in. Chastity lives with her father Bloc because her mother is unfit. Chastity wants to be accepted and feel loved more than anything, but confuses love and physical intimacy. Her relationship with her father is strained, and he is very distant and detached from what’s going on in her life. She quietly yearns for his attention (or attention from any adult), but he is too busy hustling and dating to truly realize her needs. Though her father has forbidden her from dating until she turns 16, Chastity has a boyfriend named Jay, who has big dreams for the future. Chastity is frustrated that Jay seems to put work and school before her needs.
Center Stage
Center Stage addresses teenage suicide and drug abuse, peer pressure and family dysfunction. June 2004- Center Stage- performed at Mitchell College Summary: Center Stage explores the social dynamics of youth, friendships, peer pressure and suicide. Set at Block High (a small urban school) in the present day, the production focuses on the interdependence of aspiring young hip-hop artists in a band called Versatyle. Dephinite, the leader of Versatyle, had an older brother named Street who was dealing drugs and gunned down the day he got signed to a major label. Dephinite is determined to make it big in honor of her brother’s memory. Center stage is an exploration of choices and group dynamics, illustrating the power of the individual and the group and the importance of friendships and faith.
Warriors Don't Cry
Warrior’s Don’t Cry addresses racism, poverty, segregation, hate crimes and war. February 2003- Warrior’s Don’t Cry (in collaboration with The Garde Art’s Center Institute for Creativity- Performed at the Garde Arts Center) An adaptation of Melba Pattillo Beal’s personal account of school integration in the late 1950’s, Warriors Don’t Cry is the story of the Little Rock 9—some of the first black students to integrate Central Highschool in Little Rock, Arkansas. Student writers and performance poets from local schools reflected upon Melba’s experiences in the late 50’s and to create an original product that addresses and compares present-day issues of racism, poverty, and discrimination.
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