Phoenix-Based Artists Create Theatrical Work to Promote Constructive Dialogue Post-Election

Soul Justice Project: Pendulum will premiere at Mesa Arts Center with performances Thursday, May 18 and Friday, May 19, 2017 at 8:00 p.m. Pendulum is an evening-length theatrical performance that follows the lives of seven Americans living in the margins of Democracy post-election night. Tickets are $15 and are on sale now at Mesa Arts Center's Box Office, at www.mesaartscenter.com or by calling 480-644-6500.

Pendulum blends the aesthetics of Hip Hop with multimedia, song and dance and is inspired by a quote by Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, "The true symbol of the United States is not the eagle, it's the pendulum - when it swings too far in One Direction, it will swing back."

Artists involved in developing the work share a goal of catalyzing conversation around issues that are particularly polarizing or hard to discuss. "Soul Justice Project performances are created collaboratively by the artists, and use theatre as a tool to create space for communities to share challenges, inspiration and resources," said Tomas Stanton, Founding Director of Soul Justice Project. "In creating Pendulum, we started with dialogue among the artists regarding issues of justice affecting their communities. Using collected personal histories and experiences as inspiration, we create an original theatrical performance intended to promote constructive dialogue and spur action towards change."

Most of the collaborating artists are based in the Phoenix-metro area, including Sean Avery (poet and performing artist), Allyson Yoder (dance), Carly Bates (music), Raji Ganesan, (performing and teaching artist), AJ Odneal (songwriter), Anna Flores (poet), and Xanthia Walker, co-artistic director of Soul Justice Project. Dahlak Brathwaite (writer/spoken word) is based in Los Angeles, CA.

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