Tarell Alvin McCraney Battles “High-Class” Homophobia with Music by Joseph Mutti “Choir Boy” illustrates how homophobia persists in the supposedly Christian world of the Charles R. Drew Preparatory School for Boys, an elite African American private school. Of course, it’s the scholarship student that the rich boys attack. Oscar-winning Oakland playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney…
Richmond/Maxwell’s Witty, Whimsical Musical Spotlights Stellar Ensemble by Kim Waldron The standard musical does not start with a death, let alone half a dozen, but there’s not much standard in this off-beat, yet upbeat production. Six teens killed in a carnival ride accident must compete for one chance to return to life in a…
Lisa B. Thompson’s Choreopoem Honors Black Women’s Stories by Lynne Stevens Balancing between the reality and the joy of Black women’s lives, Lisa B. Thompson’s choreopoem “The Black Feminist Guide to the Human Body” reminds us of the struggles Black women face every day. An omniscient voice recites the grim statistics on Black women’s…
Millennial Notes Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Manhattan Musical Springs to Life by Isa S. Chu The lights dim, and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Manhattan Latin barrio comes alive in front of our eyes. “In the Heights” sweeps us into the struggles, grief, and triumphs of Washington Heights, a neighborhood known for its Dominican pride, vibrant Latinx culture, and…