Malika Oyetimein Directs Seattle Premiere of HOODOO LOVE at Sound Theatre Company

Sound Theatre Company joins forces with The Hansberry Project to present the Seattle premiere of Katori Hall's Hoodoo Love, the second play of Sound Theatre's 2017 Season: AMPLIFY! - Raising Women's Voices, devoted to women playwrights and directors, directed by Malika Oyetimein.

Set in the Depression era Memphis, Tennessee, Hoodoo Love is a story of resilience, longing and passion set to the blues music of the American South. It follows Toulou, a girlish black woman looking to find her own song despite falling for a rambling, silver tongued, blues lover, Ace of Spades. Candylady, a conjurer, guides Toulou to put her trust in the supernatural when her bible-thumping, huckster brother, Jib, arrives with other plans. The term "Hoodoo" refers to the traditional African American folk spirituality and healing traditions from West Africa, that can be used to alter the fortunes of its practitioners.

Sound Theatre Company is proud to partner with The Hansberry Project for this production, which is inspired, in part, by last year's Black Women Wisdom collaboration with Intiman Theatre Festival to celebrate the extensive extant cannon of work by black women playwrights.

"We are so excited to join Sound Theatre in bringing Katori Hall's lovely play to Seattle audiences. Not only is this a chance to connect with a new and generous collaborator, it is also chance to support presenting the work of another Black Theatre artist. It is at the heart of our mission. We welcome allies like Sound Theatre Company.

Sound Theatre Company, coming off their second Gregory Award win for Outstanding Theatre Company of the Year, is thrilled to continue its 11th season with a bold powerful story of the female African American experience in the 1930s. This Seattle premiere from Katori Hall will be presented under the direction of the talented, Malika Oyetimein, having honed her skills from the MFA directing program at the UW School of Drama. Malika is an outspoken champion for exploring the truths of African America experience and leading discussions of the role that female artists of color can have in the American Theatre. Malika will join Sound Theatre for Hoodoo Love this summer after directing Barbecue at Intiman then she is set to direct Maya Angelou's, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings with Book-It Repertory Theatre this fall.

For Oyetimein, "this play is about the tenacity and perseverance of black women. This play is about surviving. Today, everyone is using this word, 'resilience' because for maybe one year things have been slightly uncomfortable in America. The year is 2017 and we're just supposed to be resilient. That's an understanding from a very young age or even birth as a black person. Over and over and over in the themes of the plays that I am doing now, it actually comes back to the definition of 'resilience.' Resilience is a way of life if you are a black woman in America."

"Malika Oyetimein joins a group of local professional women theatre artists who are deeply respected and rising as leaders in the American Theatre; the future is bright for all of us with this next generation of smart, strong, creative and thoughtful theatre makers" says Teresa Thuman, Sound Theatre Company Producing Artistic Director.

Sound Theatre Company is proud to partner with The Hansberry Project for this Seattle Premiere of Hoodoo Love. Under the artistic direction of Valerie Curtis-Newton, The Hansberry Project seeks "to celebrate, support and present the work of black theatre artists" through partnerships with Seattle area theatre companies. Previous collaborations have included productions with Intiman Theatre, Seattle Public Theatre, ArtsWest Playhouse, ACT Theatre, Theatre Off Jackson, CD Forum and the UW School of Drama. Friday, July 14 will be Hansberry Night and all tickets will be $20 with the proceeds going to benefit The Hansberry Project.

Tickets - www.soundtheatrecompany.org

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