THROUGH OUR EYES FESTIVAL

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THROUGH OUR EYES FESTIVAL

at Open Eye Theatre

featuring the world premieres of 

Freeing Assata by Sterling Miller &

A Love Story in 8 Scenes by Siddeeqah Shabazz

Both shows directed by Simone Williams

Both shows perform on the same evening.

Performed by Jamaka T. Davis, Inayah El-Amin, Marci Lucht, Ninchai Nok-Chiclana, Valencia Proctor & Tazrae Jemeli Song’ony. Original Music by Umar Malik. Design work by Mitchell Frazier, Jada LaFrance & Yhantè Williams. Stage managed by Mayra Gurrola Calderón, and assistant direction by Simone Abraham.

Freeing Assata explores the incarceration and liberation of the revolutionary political activist, Assata Shakur.  Shakur, after being wrongfully incarcerated and subject to harsh/unconstitutional conditions as a political prisoner, escapes prison with the assistance of her ancestors.  Freeing Assata is written to honor our black political and ethereal (s)heros who often manifest as one.

A Love Story in 8 Scenes is about Ihsan, a teenage Muslim girl who thinks she's got it all figured out...so far. And she light weight does - until Memo, a non binary teenager, moves in next door which turns Ihsan's world upside down. When love and religion clash, which one do you choose?

These two new plays will be presented back to back each night of performances, and a variety of workshops celebrating the power of storytelling will be offered throughout the course of the festival.

Location: 

Open Eye Theatre

506 E 24th St

Minneapolis, MN 55404

Age Recommendation for performances, 14 & Up

Content Warning: Freeing Assata includes depictions of abuse, harsh and unconstitutional prison treatment, racially fueled dialogue and adult language.  A Love Story has some adult language.

Tickets: Sliding Scale, $20 - Free 

To purchase tickets: https://www.openeyetheatre.org/through-our-eyes-festival

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:

Friday, September 9 at 7:30pm

Saturday, September 10 at 7:30pm

Sunday, September 11 at 2pm

Thursday, September 15  at 7:30pm

Friday, September 16  at 7:30pm

Saturday, September 17 at 7:30pm

WORKSHOP & SPECIAL EVENTS SCHEDULE:

WORKSHOP: Spontaneous Storytelling (Sunday, 9/11 at 3:30 following the 2:00 show)

Lauren Rae Anderson & Alex Barreto Hathaway will lead a 60 minute devising workshop that uses games and playful exercises to inspire spontaneous storytelling. 

Age Recommendation: This workshop is for adults & high school age youth.

WORKSHOP: Decolonizing the Artist (Tuesday, 9/13 from 7:00 - 9:00 pm).

In this workshop taught by Nora Montañez Patterson artists will learn to decolonize and grow the American theater canon starting with self-exploration. We will expand the artistic self through writing, playful exploration and the power of performance as a tool for social change.

Age Recommendation: This workshop is for adults & high school age youth.

SPECIAL EVENT: Patience & the Lion's Whisker, a special performance by Speaking Out Collective (Saturday, 9/17 at 1:00).  

This puppet show is an adaptation of an East African folktale.  The story is about how trust and love grow in a Somali family that changes when a young boy meets his new step-mother. Followed by a puppet making activity for kids and caretakers. 

Age Recommendation: All ages welcome, created with early learners in mind (children from birth to age 8).

Exploring Childhood Through Your Senses (Sunday, 9/18 at 1:00)

Using theater as a vehicle to unlock and explore the sight, sound, feel (and smell) of your childhood to celebrate, reflect, process and reconcile how childhood stories & experiences live (with)in us. Taught by Eliza Rasheed, 

Age Recommendation: This writing workshop is for adults