Hoodies Up! - Theatre for the Right Here / Right Now

Witness if you will the reactions of two anonymous members of the community when The Stranger’s Slog recently publicized the casting call for  Hoodies Up!: The Trayvon Martin Protest Plays:

1

I am skeptical there are any new insights on the Trayvon Martin affair left that theater can illuminate

Posted by Zebes  on April 24, 2012 at 5:49 PM

2

It seems premature to go on about making theater about a tragic event that NOBODY in the theater group knows anything about (except for media reports - which are notoriously unreliable).

Only two people know what happened that night, and one is dead. It seems like they should wait for the outcome of the trial to begin a production on the story... After all, they don't have the story yet, nobody does.

Posted by scratchmaster joe on April 24, 2012 at 5:54 PM

 

I find these reactions fascinating and telling beyond their surface trollishness.  In fact, they exemplify attitudes shared by artistic administrators at big regional theatres here in Seattle and across the country.  Boiled down, the core ideas shared by these trolls and Big House leaders are:

• No one has anything new to say in the theatre
  (i.e. anything happening in any 21st century location can be easily addressed with a play from 16th Century England, 19th Century Norway, or 20th Century New York City.
• If someone does have something new to say, we should wait to say it until it is old.
  (i.e. keep working on that adorable play you’re developing about the culpability of key Seattle executives in the U.S. Mortgage Meltdown. Maybe we’ll take a look at it when enough time has passed to guarantee not upsetting anyone.)

Thank goodness  that Tyrone Brown, Brownbox Theatre, and the artists working on Hoodies Up! have chosen to ignore this advice when it comes to greeting the Trayvon Martin tragedy with something nobler and stronger than empty-headed posturing and/or meaningless violence. 

Here’s the press release with all the information you need on this amazing event.  I hope to see you there.

HOODIES UP!

Brownbox Theatre
Contact: Tyrone Brown
[email protected] / (253) 486?5974
www.facebook.com/#!/events/214431845324268/

For Immediate Release
End Date: May 18, 2012

HOODIES UP!: THE TRAYVON MARTIN PROTEST PLAYS
An Awareness and Fundraising Event for the Trayvon Martin Family

Seattle, WA – April 18, 2012. Brownbox Theatre presents HOODIES UP!: The Trayvon Martin Protest Plays, featuring original short plays by nine Seattle-based playwrights. The production will be presented for one performance at 7:30pm on Friday, May 18, 2012 at the Rainier Valley Cultural Center in historic Columbia City.

The playwrights charge for HOODIES UP: The Trayvon Martin Protest Plays? Write a short play inspired by the Trayvon Martin tragedy, no more than 10 minutes in length, utilizing any writing style, and include at least one “hooded” character. These playwrights answered the call:

Kathya Alexander
Jose' Amador
Mallery Avidon
Reneschia Brown
Najee Sui-Chang
Lois Mackey
Paul Mullin
Nick Stokes
Sharon N. Williams

 

HOODIES UP: The Trayvon Martin Protest Plays will be directed by Jose’ Amador, Tyrone Brown, Maggie Holmes, and Andy Jensen. The production will feature the talents of 10 to 15 local actors, designers, and community members representing a variety of social, political, and cultural backgrounds.

HOODIES UP: The Trayvon Martin Protest Plays is an “awareness and fundraising” event. All ticket sales and funds collected will be donated to the Justice for Trayvon Martin Foundation - http://justicetm.org/ - as part the Advocacy Campaign for Truth by Sybrina Fulton & Tracy Martin.

Performance and Ticket Information

Date: Friday, May 18, 2012 at 7:30pm

Venue: Rainier Valley Cultural Center, 3515 South Jackson Street, Seattle, WA 98118

Web and Phone: www.rainiervalleyculturalcenter.org / (206) 725?7517

Purchase Tickets: 1?8—838?2006 or www.brownpapertickets.com/event/244954

Advance Tickets: $15.00 / $5.00 (17 and under) At The Door: $20.00 / $7.00 (17 and under)

Comments

[Louise Penberthy]

I'll be there.

[German Munoz]

I'm actually in Seattle that week. I'm so going to be there! :)
Three cheers for theatre that dares to make comments about current events and what they say about us.
Can I bring my own hoodie?

[Paul Mullin]

I'm delighted I'll be seeing both of you there. And yes, ABSOLUTELY bring your hoodie!

[Kate Kraay]

Hey Paul, did anyone get any footage of these?

[Paul Mullin]

Kate, it hasn't happened yet. Not sure if Tyrone has plans to film it or not. Let me find out and get back to you.

[Tyrone Brown]

Paul,

Nice post.

Here is the Brown paper Tickets number 1(800) 838-3006.

Can you change the venue address from "Jackson" to "Alaska."

I am working out having the evening recorded.

Tyrone

Tyrone