Roots & Wings Original Production of THE BLOOD ALWAYS RETURNS

What does it mean to be Black in Kentucky? This is the question that a group of young artists from Louisville tackle in their upcoming original production of "The Blood Always Returns."

The artists are part of Roots & Wings, a unique theatre project integrating art, poetry, dance, music and performance as catalysts for restoration of self and community. In 2015, the organization was awarded a $280,000 grant by ArtPlace America's National Grants Program. Roots & Wings has spent the last year working to link Appalachian, West African and urban arts in Louisville's "Zones of Hope," culminating into this amazing, thought provoking and emotional production.

"Roots & Wings gives young African American artists the opportunity to tell the story of their community from their own perspective - revealing, examining, challenging and inspiring change," said Roots & Wings co-director, Stacy Bailey-Ndiaye.

The play is about two young people struggling with their own identities and the issues they see in their community. These problems come to the forefront as they examine what it means to be Black in Kentucky. Exploring the histories of Africa, Kentucky and their own family, they develop an understanding of who they are and the roots of the challenges in their community. A culmination of dramatic events leads them to the revelation that the keys to transformation already lie within.

"And we were back...here...in America. In Kentucky. In Louisville. The reality hit us hard. Every call over the intercom in the NYC airport was painful, gut wrenching, reminding us that we were home. Yet this no longer felt like home. We were foreigners now in this land because we had stepped our feet into Zion, into Africa, into home. Our home. Where people looked like us and spoke like us and moved like us. For a moment we were free. If only for a moment. We embraced those moments. Knowing returning was inevitable. We came home to police brutality, death, athletes kneeling for freedom. How could we return here? How could we be Black in Kentucky?" - Poet and Author Hannah Drake

Two performances will be held at The Kentucky Center for the Arts - Bomhard Theater. An evening performance is scheduled for Saturday, November 5th beginning at 8:00PM followed by a matinee performance on Sunday, November 6th at 2:30PM. After each performance the audience will have the opportunity to interact with the performers through a talkback session. Tickets are $25 and are available at The Kentucky Center for the Arts, www.kentuckycenter.org or call 502.584.7777

To post a comment, you must register and login.