Freedom: A Mixtape - Live and Unplugged

NAC Hip Hop Theatre Festival

2024-02-01 20:00 2024-02-01 21:30 60 Canada/Eastern 🎟 NAC: Freedom: A Mixtape - Live and Unplugged

https://nac-cna.ca/en/event/35006

In-person event

This multidisciplinary work blends original songs, stories, poems, anecdotes, and spoken word pieces from artists around the Niagara Region. Originally conceived as a digital compilation album, this will be its in-person premiere. An ensemble of actors and a live band will breathe life into this community conversation about joy, ancestral healing, generational trauma, police brutality, the complexities of Black identity, and the human right to be free. b current Performing Arts
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Azrieli Studio,1 Elgin Street,Ottawa,Canada
Thu, February 1, 2024
Thu, February 1, 2024

≈ 90 minutes · No intermission

Last updated: January 30, 2024

Creators' Note

“Through the demise, my heart is still alive. It looks awful outside, but it’s still worth a try.” - Yasiin Bey

Our identities are shaped by the echoes of our past. In the memories and experiences of our childhood, we discover our authentic selves.

Who am I? How am I?
Who are you? How are you?

Our development into who we are is a unique journey, molded by personal choices and experiences, yet it’s also a reflection of the environments that nurtured us. Understanding oneself begins with unravelling our true nature from the myriad influences that have defined us.

Freedom: A Mixtape arose from the streets of St. Paul, the benches of Montebello Park, and the forever-flowing water at 12 Mile Creek. Using the Niagara Region as the bookends, our story unfolds its pages to reveal tales of resilience, community, and an unwavering commitment to hope.

I invite you not just to be a witness, but to immerse yourselves in the stories you will hear. Reflect on your own paths, the passions that drive you, and what you stand for. Think about the connections between our shared histories and the narratives on stage. This isn’t just a staged reading; it’s a mirror reflecting our collective experiences and a window into the odyssey of life we are all on. As you sit here, I encourage you to ask yourself: What part of my story would I share in this mixtape? Let’s embark on this expedition together, discovering the ties that bind us in our relentless pursuit of freedom.

Program Notes

This multidisciplinary work blends original songs, stories, poems, anecdotes, and spoken word pieces from artists around the Niagara Region. Originally conceived as a digital compilation album, this will be its in-person premiere. An ensemble of actors and a live band will breathe life into this community conversation about joy, ancestral healing, generational trauma, police brutality, the complexities of Black identity, and the human right to be free.

b current Performing Arts

Founded by award-winning poet/performer and stage director ahdri zhina mandiela, b current Performing Arts was created to provide space for black artists to train, explore, challenge mainstream notions of theatre, and engage with the community. Over its 30+ year history, b current has expanded to support artists primarily from the black and brown diaspora and intersectional artists, developing scores of internationally celebrated artists and their works. As the “current” in their name suggests, the company is focused on contemporary and relevant approaches to performing arts that speak to the issues and interests of present-day racialized audiences and communities.

Artists

  • marcel-stewart-hs-2
    Artistic Director, b current Performing Arts Marcel Stewart
  • Executive Director, b current Performing Arts Kira Allen
  • Cast Alana Bridgewater
  • annika-tupper
    Cast Annika Tupper
  • Cast Amoya Reé
  • Cast Emerjade Simms
  • Cast Jay (EverythingOShauN)
  • peter-n-bailey
    Cast Peter N. Bailey
  • Cast Xpress aka DJXP
  • Stage Manager Jordan Guetter
  • Production Manager Leighton Smith

Credits

Company

Marcel Stewart
Kira Allen
Annika Tupper
Amoya Reé
Emerjade Simms
Jay Njoku
Jordan Guetter
Leighton Smith
Peter N Bailey
Xpress aka DJXP

NAC Production Team

Azrieli Studio Team  

Head Technician
Stephane Boyer

Assistant Head technician
Leigh Utley 

Technical Director   
Peter Lyne 

Projectionists, Wardrobe Mistresses, Masters and Attendants are members of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 471.   
  
The National Arts Centre is a member of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres and engages, under the terms of the Canadian Theatre Agreement, professional artists who are members of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association 

NAC English Theatre Team

Managing Director    
David Abel   

Artistic Director    
Nina Lee Aquino   

Senior Engagement Strategist, Community & Partnerships   
Rose-Ingrid Benjamin   

Learning Coordinator    
Aimee Bouchard   

ASL Interpreter Consultant    
Carmelle Cachero   

Marketing Strategist    
Bar Clement   

Communications Strategist    
Sean Fitzpatrick   

Senior Producer    
Alexandra Lunney   

Senior Marketing Manager    
Bridget Mooney   

Associate Producer, Artistic Programming and Environmental Projects     
Judi Pearl   

Company Manager    
Samira Rose   

Administrative Coordinator    
Monika Seiler

International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees