Peaches, February 23, 2007 ‘Membuh: Confessions of the Only Generation, February 24, 2007

The Abrons Arts Center Presents Nationally Acclaimed Touring Ensemble, Progress Theatre, For a Two Night Showing of their Works, Peaches and ‘membuh: Confessions of the Only Generation.

Peaches

Friday 23 February, 8 PM

‘Membuh: Confessions of the Only Generation

Saturday 24 February, 8 PM

The Abrons Arts Center is proud to present the nationally acclaimed Progress Theatre for a limited engagement on February 23rd and 24th, 2007. This ensemble of multi-disciplined performers produces bold, moving theatre that engages topics from African American culture to Muslim American identity, from HIV/AIDS to race and gender relations, from academia to pop-culture, exploring the social concerns of today’s young adult generation. With their commitment to using art to encourage social consciousness, cross-community dialogue and cultural awareness, they have inspired audiences internationally with dynamic performances fusing theatre, dance, blues, storytelling, spirituals, R&B and poetry. Founded by Cristal Chanelle Truscott, Progress Theatre’s style of musical theatre bridges African American cultural legacy with contemporary artistic genre giving the ensemble a multi-layered aesthetic and appeal to both old and new generations of theatergoers diverse in race, gender, spiritual background and age. As a playwright, Ms. Truscott re-examines widely held socio-cultural stereotypes by using themes of legacy, resistance and transformation to explore contemporary issues of African American identity.

Inspired in part by Nina Simone’s classic song, “Four Women,” PEACHES spans time from slavery to the present, confronting long-standing stereotypes of African American female identity through a series of lively, thought-provoking, moving and, at times, humorous vignettes. Alluding to academic and popular discourse on “Blackness” in America, PEACHES introduces audiences to a wide variety of unforgettable characters. Cristal Chanelle Truscott, the playwright and director explains, “I think the play has been successful in reaching diverse audiences because everyone on some level knows what it feels like to be boxed into a narrow-minded identity or to be judged before you speak and robbed of the opportunity to represent yourself because another’s perception of your cultural stereotype has already spoken for you.” PEACHES features an unforgettable musical score by Maiesha McQueen from Negro Spirituals to blues to R&B, blending poetic essay, traditional and nontraditional theatre into a piece that presents a rich, complicated portrait of Black female experiences in contemporary America.

‘Membuh: Confessions of the Only Generation is a high-energy, full-evening work that blends storytelling, music and movement to tell the poignant tale of a family of 20-somethings, left without elders, coping with the eminent AIDS-related death of one of their own. ‘Membuh (as in “Remember”) follows them through journeys of self-discovery as they uncover family legacies and struggle with which legacies to pass on or leave untold. The characters’ colorful, unpredictable journeys range from places of laughter and tears to deep thought and ultimately, inspiration. ‘Membuh brings issues of love, prejudice, family, history and memory to the stage, celebrating and privileging the often overlooked insights of today’s young adult generation. Progress Theatre’s sophomore piece continues in their signature a’capella musical theatre style by exploring the diversity of African American experiences through the character-driven script and multi-genre score by collaborators playwright Cristal Chanelle Truscott and composer Maiesha McQueen.

TICKET INFORMATION

General admission: $15 Adults, $10 Students with valid ID
Visit www.abronsartscenter.org or www.theatermania.com or call 212-352-3101

Julie Muller Stahl is Marketing Director for the Abrons Arts Center