FEBRUARY 3-24TH
at THEATRE ON THE LAKE, HAMILTON PARK, KELVYN PARK, and LA FOLLETTE PARK
After a successful two week run at our home in Wicker Park, Collaboraction continues Encounter, a winter festival curated around the theme of Racism and Racial Healing in Chicago.
Collaboraction will tour select works of theater, visual art, music, video, dance and more that all debuted in January at Encounter to four Chicago Park District locations in different parts of the city for free performances every Saturday in February as part of the Chicago Park District’s Night Out In The Parks series.
HAMILTON PARK
Saturday February 10th at 3pm
Exodus: Sounds of the Great Migration
Directed by Lonnie Edwards
Executive Producer Robin Malpass
This new film about the Great Migration is a cinematic testament to the connection we will forever have with those who paved the way and continue to influence us.
Gwendolyn Brooks: Each Body Has Its Art
Music by Marcus Dunleavey
Directed by Taylor Barfield
Choreography by Elysia C. Banks, in collaboration with Michelle Reid and Jasmin Williams
Projections, live dance, and music by famed guitarist Marcus Dunleavey help capture some of the power, emotion and wisdom of Brooks’s poetry and bring new life to a reading of her words.
Featuring Marcus Dunleavy (guitar), Alex Groesch (cello), dancers Elysia C. Banks, Michelle Reid, with voice overs by Angela Jackson and Ebony Joy.
Of Wine and Chocolate
Choreographed by Elysia C. Banks
Racial healing can take many forms, but Banks likes to highlight open conversation. Her new dance piece Of Wine and Chocolate explores how women connect while honestly acknowledging and celebrating women’s different cultures, ideals and heritage. Performers include Sarah Baker, Erin Coffman, Michelle Reid, Jasmin Williams and Kariele Williams.
Dese Shoes
Written and performed by Loretta Hawkins
Harriet Tubman returns from heaven for one day to offer guidance to her people in this long-form poem, a fictitious narration of events in her life.
Sir Taylor and the Example Setters
The Example Setters, Chicago teens who set the example “all day, every day” with their spoken word, led by Collaboraction’s 2017 Artist Award Winner Sir Taylor, will blow audiences away with their poetry. Performers are Daquon Bakersville, LaShayla Bakersville, Ledell Johnson, Sebastian Stewart, Zachary Stewart, Montiara Taylor, Sir Taylor and Lee Wagner.
The Blue Eyed Devil
Written by Jharmaine Boyd
Directed by Ashley Williams
The theatrical story of a 1940s interracial Chicago couple: true love bears all things, but the burden of segregated Chicago may be too much. Featuring Joel Hunt and Jharmaine Boyd.
Racism 101
Directed by Dionne Hawkins
Director of Photography Alex Groesch
Racism 101 is a documentary film in which Chicagoans recount their first experiences of racism.
Be Aware
Written and Performed by Derrick Pouncey
Spoken word piece about the importance of our awareness from a member of the Peace House/I Grow Chicago family.
Of Wine and Chocolate
(Photo Credit: Joel Maisonet)
Dana N. Anderson in Soul in Suburbia
(Photo Credit: Joel Maisonet)
Jharmaine Boyd and Joel Hunt in The Blue Eyed Devil (Photo Credit: Joel Maisonet)
KELVYN PARK
Saturday February 17th at 3pm
Jets, Sharks, and Beckys
By Nancy García Loza
Directed by Laura Alcala Baker
Meeting up at auditions for West Side Story, a trio of theater artists—Latinx and otherwise—debate the play's racial elements and their own notions of inclusion and authenticity. This was a stand-out at Chicago’s Theater Community Coming Together to Fight Ism’s including Racism last September at Black Ensemble Theatre. Featuring Diego Colón, Erica Hernández and Maggie Scrantom.
D on the South Side
Directed by Diana Quiñones Rivera
A short film about a Puerto Rican woman's experience of race, privilege and hostility living in a predominantly black neighborhood in Chicago.
We are Revolutionary
Devised by Collaboraction’s Teen Peacemakers Ensemble
Directed by Luis Crespo
Written, devised and performed by Crystal Alagna, Aasiyah Bintu-Bilal, Briana Smith and Gyna Thomas
An original devised piece written and developed by the Collaboraction Peacemaker Youth Ensemble exploring how minorities have been traumatized, beaten and oppressed by ignorance, history, war, media and a myriad of systems that are geared toward spreading feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. We Are Revolutionary is a piece that examines the idea of persevering beyond the hardships and injustices from our past, future and present.
Soul in Suburbia
Written and performed by Dana N. Anderson
Directed by Sandra Delgado
Anderson’s autobiographical, one-woman show is Chicagoland as seen through the lens of a black family settling in 1980’s suburbia. Also featuring Eva Saha.
Dana N Anderson and Eva Saha in Soul in Surburbia (Photo Credit: Joel Maisonet)
Collaboraction's Teen Peacemakers Ensemble in We are Revolutionary (Photo Credit: Joel Maisonet)
LA FOLLETTE PARK
Saturday February 24th at 3pm
Loretta Hawkins in Dese Shoes
(Photo Credit: Joel Maisonet)
Ada Chang in Not Quite: Asian American by Law, Asian Woman by Desire (Photo Credit: Joel Maisonet)
Dese Shoes
Written and performed by Loretta Hawkins
Harriet Tubman returns from heaven for one day to offer guidance to her people in this long-form poem, a fictitious narration of events in her life.
The Blue Eyed Devil
Written by Jharmaine Boyd
Directed by Ashley Williams
The theatrical story of a 1940s interracial Chicago couple: true love bears all things, but the burden of segregated Chicago may be too much. Featuring Joel Hunt and Jharmaine Boyd.
Soul in Suburbia
Written and performed by Dana N. Anderson
Directed by Sandra Delgado
Anderson’s autobiographical, one-woman show is Chicagoland as seen through the lens of a black family settling in 1980’s suburbia. Also featuring Eva Saha.
Racism 101
Directed by Dionne Hawkins
Director of Photography Alex Groesch
Racism 101 is a documentary film in which Chicagoans recount their first experiences of racism.
Not Quite: Asian American by Law, Asian Woman by Desire
Written and performed by Ada Cheng
PEACEBOOK Fest standout Ada Cheng’s original solo show exposes the perils of living under Trump for immigrant women of color. The phrase "not quite" connects three main themes: meanings of home, the fractured nature of Asian-American identity, and the intersection of gender, race, sexuality and immigration. Not Quite is a complex, politically urgent mix of personal stories, monologues and theater performance, intended to be an intervention in and challenge to current politics.
