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Broadway Serves: The “Change Beyond the Stage”

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Continuing in the tradition of many Broadway actors who give back to their communities, Broadway Serves is an organization created three years ago for those in theatre who want to be active in social issues.

In March 2012, during the Million Hoodie March in New York’s Union Square, members of the theatre world came together for a rally in response to the death of Trayvon Martin.  At the event, co-founders Dana Marie Ingraham, Dionne Figgins, and Kimberly Marable realized there wasn’t an organized group the need for such an organization, and shortly after, Broadway Serves was born.

The first project the group embarked was participating in the 2012 New York City AIDS Walk, followed by joining with BookPALS and the Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s program for Homes for the Homeless, and City Harvest’s Mobile Market produce distribution  events.  Later that same year, the BROADWAY SERVES “To Go” Program began, which allows national touring companies and regional theaters across the country to serve the community wherever they are.

In only a year, Broadway Serves helped areas all over the globe, including Canada, St. Maarten, and Uganda, and they inspired London’s WEST END SERVES, which also seeks to be the “change beyond the stage.”

On August 14 from 9:45am-4pm, Broadway Serves will stage manage 4th & 5th grade students from the Children’s Aid Society Summer Theater Intensive, as they perform original plays about health and nutrition in the community.  In addition, on  August 17 from 7pm to 7am, the group will raise funds and sleep outside in solidarity with the homeless youth of Covenant House NYC at the 3rd annual Broadway Sleep Out (eligible participants must be 23 or older, and have worked professionally either on Broadway, off-Broadway, or in a Broadway touring production; visit www.broadwaysleepout.org to RSVP).

For more information on how to volunteer, e-mail Dionne Figgins at broadwayserves@gmail.com.

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Events and Happenings

Erika Dickerson-Despenza Addresses Flint Water Crisis with Cullud Wattah

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Playwright Erika Dickerson-Despenza

There is limited seating left for Erika Dickerson-Despenza’s new play CULLUD WATTAH at The Public Theater. Opening today, Thursday, March 7th and running until Sunday, March 10th in the Public Studio is about three generations of Black women living through the current water crisis in Flint, Michigan.

“It’s been 936 days since Marion’s family has had clean water. When local activists file a class action lawsuit against the city, Marion—a third-generation employee at General Motors—must decide how best to support her two daughters, sister, and mother while lead seeps into the community, their home, and their bodies. As corrosive memories and secrets rise among them, the family wonders if they’ll ever be able to filter out the truth.”

2018 Relentless Award Semifinalist and poet-playwright makes her Public Theater debut with CULLUD WATTAH directed by Lilly Award winner Candis C. Jones; the cast includes Deonna Bouye (Marion), Alana Raquel Bowers (Reesee), Caroline Stefanie Clay (Big Ma), Nikiya Mathis (Ainee), and Kara Young (Plum).

The creative team includes Production Stage Manager Gregory Fletcher, Stage Manager Priscilla Villanueva, and Movement Director Adesola Osakalumi. Along with scenic design by Arnulfo Maldonado, Costume Design by Ntokozo Fuzunina Kunene, lighting Design by Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew, and sound design by Megan Culley

We believe in this work so much we’re giving away 4 tickets to the performances on March 10th. 2 tickets to the matinee and two the evening performance thanks to our founder Drew Shade and actress/playwright Jocelyn Bioh. Go to our Instagram to find out how!

Also, find out more about how you can help the Flint Water Crisis and support this show HERE.

Listen to Erika talk about her work on an episode of Off Book Podcast below

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Events and Happenings

Surely Goodness and Mercy by Chisa Hutchinson Begins Off-Broadway

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Performances begin today, Tuesday February 26th, for the New York premiere of  Surely Goodness and Mercy, presented by Keen Company. A story about an exceptional boy living a troubled life in Newark, NJ who does a good deed for an often unnoticed person.   Sarita Covington, Jay Mazyck, Brenda Pressley, Courtney Thomas, and Cezar Williams star under Jessi D. Hill’s direction.

Set in an under-funded public school in Newark, Surely Goodness and Mercy by rising playwright Chisa Hutchinson, tells the story of a bible-toting boy with a photographic memory who befriends the cantankerous old lunch lady. Against all odds, Tino and Bernadette help each other through the mess of growing up and growing old.  

Surely Goodness and Mercy has spent the last year charming audiences across the country: “Notably absent from Hutchinson’s frank and sobering story: cynicism” – Chicago Reader; “(Surely Goodness and Mercy has) a soul-stirring quality, touching audiences with its sincerity” – Daily Utah Chronicle; “it’s impossible not to like it” – The Salt Lake Tribune. Now, Keen is honored to bring this big-hearted new play to New York for the first time.

Performances for this limited Off-Broadway engagement of Surely Goodness and Mercy will continue through Saturday, April 13th only, with opening night set for Wednesday, March 13th.

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