Photo Flash: The Movement Theatre Company Celebrates Opening Weekend of AND SHE WOULD STAND LIKE THIS

The Movement Theatre Company, a Harlem-based nonprofit committed to showcasing emerging artists of color, opened their production of And She Would Stand Like This by Harrison David Rivers, directed by David Mendizábal, choreographed by Kia LaBeija on July 23rd. The show continues its run until August 6, 2017 at the new A.R.T./NY Theatres in the Mezzanine Theatre, located at 502 West 53rd Street and 10th Avenue.

And She Would Stand Like This is an adaptation of The Trojan Women fused with the world of underground LGBTQ+ ball culture. The production, incorporating elements of ball culture, provides an upbeat, rhythmic environment that engulfs audiences from start to finish. Audience members danced on the set to celebrate the opening night performance and acknowledge the radical visibility of underrepresented voices being presented onstage. Icons such as RuPaul and Hector Xtravaganza were in attendance to lend their support.

The cast features Julienne "Mizz June" Brown* (O, Earth/The Foundry, Charm/Mixed Blood), Cornelius Davidson* (War/Yale Rep), Cherrye J. Davis (Bintou/The Movement), Darby Davis (As You Like It/Cradle Theatre Co.), Florencia Lozano* (Narcos), Ashton Muñiz* (Esai's Table/The Cherry Lane), Michael-Anthony Souza*(Standby the Musical/NYC Fringe), Dasan Turner, Reggie D. White* (Hundred Days, The Last Tiger in Haiti), and Tamara Williams (Street Children).

The creative team includes Paul Tate DePoo III (Scenic Design), Brian Tovar (Lighting Design), Anitra Michelle (Costume Design), Sinan Zafar (Sound Design), and Byrell the Great (DJ/Composer).

Performances are Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 5:00pm. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door and can be purchased at www.themovementtheatrecompany.org. With this production, The Movement is adopting Radical Hospitality methods and taking a lead on making theatre accessible by ensuring that a minimum of 15 tickets per performance will be pay-what-you-can.

Founded in 2007, The Movement Theatre Company creates an artistic social movement by developing and producing new works by artists of color. Our work engages a multicultural audience in a rich theatrical dialogue, enlightens communities to the important issues affecting our world, and empowers artists to celebrate the many sides of their unique voice. Past production successes include their breakout NY Times lauded production of Bintou, the workshop production of Look Upon Our Lowliness by Harrison David Rivers, and the tour production of Hope Speaks. Past programming successes included numerous Harlem Nights events, which have featured work by playwrights Dominique Morriseau (Pipeline, Detroit '67), Christina Anderson (Good Goods), and Colman Domingo (Fear the Walking Dead, Wild With Happy), as well as actors Danielle Brooks (Orange is The New Black, The Color Purple), Xosha Roquemore (The Mindy Project), and Mykal Kilgore (Motown, The Wiz: Live!).

Photo credit: Ahron R. Foster