Broadway Advocacy Coalition has revealed the lineup for the final performance of its Arts in Action Festival, titled We Tell the Story. The show, free and open to the public, is set to play Manhattan School of Music July 24 at 7 PM with Liza Jessie Peterson (The Peculiar Patriot) and advocate Khalil Cumberbatch serving as hosts.
The show will feature performances from Tony nominee Kara Young (Clyde’s), Tony nominee Ato Blankson-Wood (Slave Play), Asmeret Ghebremichael (The Book of Mormon), and Nora Schell (Jagged Little Pill).
Also set to appear are Andrea Ambam, Ricardo Bustamante, Teronia Campbell, Biko Eisen-Martin, Selina Fulford, Brandon Michael Nase, Miss Olithea, Dunasha Payne, Yolanda Peterkin, Robert Pollock, Brian Quijada, Geena Quintos, Alejo Rodriguez, Heather Alicia Simms, Alan Wiggins, and Cheryl Wilkins.
Each music, dance, spoken word, and monologue piece performed during the evening is created by or with individuals impacted by the criminal justice system. The evening will also include the world premiere of a collaboration between the Parole Preparation Project and activist and singer-songwriter Arianna Afsar (Sony’s Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile).
Works and words will be by Afsar, Andrea Ambam, Sterling Cunio, Sarah Dahnke, Dushaan Gillum, Kenyatta Hughes, Zhailon Levingston, Tony Meneses, Lynn Nottage, Dunasha Payne, Ben Wexler, and Dances For Solidarity. Additionally, pieces will be presented by Brian Stevens, Tracy Leigh, Izell Robinson, George Wilkerson and Santonio D Murff Bey, five currently incarcerated poets and active members of PEN America’s prison writing program.
Jess McLeod (Hamilton) has curated the evening, which will feature music direction by Sheela Ramesh (SIX). The Freedom Trap will perform a pre-show act featuring Ivan Calaff on percussion, Ugonna Okegwo on bass, Robert Pollock on vocals, Isaias Umali III on guitar, and Chris Washburne on trombone.
The Arts in Action Festival’s mission to provide a space for organizations and individuals to collaborate on combining arts and advocacy, celebrate the resilience of the justice-impacted community, and bring attention to how the justice system fails to create real justice for New York City’s inhabitants.
To learn more, visit ArtsInActionFestival.com
