Silk Road Rising (Co-Artistic Executive Directors Malik Gillani and Jamil Khoury) is proud to announce Black Teen Lives Matter, written by students in Silk Road Rising’s Empathic Playwriting Intensive Course (EPIC) program, and directed by Jarrett King. The video performance will be screened twice, once on Saturday, November 14 at 2:00PM CST and again on Monday, November 16, 2020 at 7:00PM CST.
Synopsis
Black Teens Lives Matter is a virtual project in four acts—drawing on monologues and short plays written by Black teens in the EPIC program from 2017-2020. The project honors the stories of Chicago’s young people and situates the voices of Black teens within a legacy of storytelling and activism that predates today’s civil rights organizing and continues to adapt as new challenges emerge.
This presentation is the first of four acts and features student-written monologues performed by professional actors.
Cast/Crew
The creative team for Black Teen Lives Matter: Monologues includes Jarrett King (Director), Corey Pond (Associate Producer), Tracy Strimple (Director of Education), Alex Groesch, Butterfly Productions (Editor), Brianna Buckley (Actor), and Londen Shannon (Actor).
Black Teen Lives Matter: Monologues features monologues written by EPIC students at Galileo Scholastic Academy of Math & Science (Classroom Teacher Diana Zurawksi, Teaching Artist Jarrett King), John Hope College Prep (Classroom Teacher Keith Givens, Teaching Artist Lindsay Hopkins), and Mark T. Skinner West Elementary School (Classroom Teacher Jennifer Christiansen, Teaching Artists Levi Holloway and Jarrett King).
Black Teen Lives Matter: Monologues was curated by Jarrett King, Krystel McNeil, Corey Pond, Tracy Strimple, and Londen Shannon.
About the Artists
Jarrett King (Director) is an actor, writer, and educator based in Chicago. Performance credits include roles at theaters across the country, including Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Penfold Theatre Company, Mary Moody Northen Theatre, and Salvage Vanguard among others. As a teaching artist, he has worked with Silk Road Rising, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Auditorium Theater, Bravo Performing Arts Academy, and Unsilence. He previously served as the Education Associate for American Mosaic at American Theater Company and is currently the Youth Education Director at Vagabond School of the Arts. iamjarrettking.com
Brianna Buckley (Actor) is a Michigan born, Chicago taught, actor, teaching artist, and director. She obtained her BFA in Theatre from Michigan State and has called Chicago home for the past 5 years. A few of her Chicago acting projects include Black like Me (virtual - The Rep Theatre), The One and Only Ivan Tour (Lifeline Theatre), Romeo and Juliet (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), Queen of the Mist (Firebrand Theatre), Othello (Babes With Blades Theatre), and Crumbs From The Table Of Joy (Raven Theatre). Looking ahead, she hopes to create more work that uplifts All Black voices. Creates productive change as well as authentic laughter. Black exists in the future. Represented by Gray Talent.
Londen Shannon (Actor) is a former Chicago actor currently based in Los Angeles. He is so excited to still be working with Epic and everyone at Silk Road! In Chicago he worked with The Goodman Theatre, A Red Orchid Theatre, Victory Gardens Theatre and many others. It brings him so much joy to help Epic student's work come to life!
Performance Schedule
Black Teen Lives Matter: Monologues will be screened twice, each followed by a talkback with the creators. After that, the video will be made available to the public for free.
- Saturday, November 14, 2020 at 2:00PM CST
- Monday, November 16, 2020 at 7:00PM CST
Tickets
Tickets are free and can be reserved at www.SilkRoadRising.org or by calling the Silk Road Rising Box Office at 312.857.1234 x201.
Black Teen Lives Matter Sponsors and Supporters
The following donors make it possible for us to bring EPIC to Chicago Public Schools:
- Lloyd A. Fry Foundation
- Innovation 80 at The Chicago Community Foundation
- Polk Bros. Foundation
- The Siragusa Family Foundation
Location
All performances will take place on Zoom. A link to join the call will be sent to registrants prior to the screening
About Silk Road Rising:
Silk Road Rising is a community-centered art-making and arts service organization rooted in Asian, Middle Eastern, and Muslim experiences. Through live theatre, digital media, and arts education, we challenge disinformation, cultivate new narratives, and promote a culture of continuous learning. Learn more at: https://www.silkroadrising.org
About Empathic Playwriting Intensive Course (EPIC)
Silk Road Rising’s Empathic Playwriting Intensive Course (EPIC) brings teaching artists—actors, directors, and playwrights who are experienced educators—into Chicago’s schools to help each student practice empathy and address complex social issues.
Teens are taught the fundamentals of playwriting while gaining a greater appreciation and understanding of their peers through storytelling practices. Many of our BIPOC students choose to discuss racism, oppression, and activism in their pieces because it represents their daily lived experiences.
Silk Road Rising applies the same model of empathy-building through the EPIC program to our greater Chicagoland community. We amplify the voices of under-represented communities and experiences, and remain steadfast in our commitment to racial justice for all.