Photo Flash: WE MUST BREATHE at Chicago's Victory Gardens Theater

Victory Gardens Theater hosted We Must Breathe: A Response from Chicago Playwrights and Poets, a special event gathering members of Chicago's artistic community to share their views on discrimination, race and inequality and engage Chicagoans in a discussion about these social issues. We Must Breathe featured performances from poets and playwrights directed by Victory Gardens' Associate Artistic Producer Joanie Schultz, and a forum discussion on the performance topics, moderated by Congo Square Theatre's Artistic Director Samuel Roberson. The event was held last night, December 18, 2014 at 7:00pm at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue. Scroll down for photos!

In recent months the deaths of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Oscar Grant, Tamir Rice, John Crawford, Sean Bell, Rekia Boyd, and countless others have brought to light ongoing national issues of race, discrimination and inequality. Droves of individuals across the country have taken to the streets participating in rallies, riots and die-ins. During this one-night-only event, members of the Chicago artistic community addressed these topics through artistic expression.

We Must Breathe started with performance pieces from a diverse group of artists, including Victory Gardens Ensemble playwrights Marcus Gardley (The Gospel of Lovingkindness; Black Odyssey) and Tanya Saracho (El Nogalar; Mala Hierba), Nambi Kelley (Native Son), Andrew Hinderaker (Dirty; Suicide Incorporated), Kristiana Colón (Octagon; Lack on Lack), Calamity West (The Peacock, The Gacy Play), Damon Williams (Lack on Lack), Nikki Patin (Surviving the Mic), Javon Smith (Louder than a Bomb), Kevin Coval (Young Chicago Authors) and Malcolm London (Young Chicago Authors) and several others. Performances were directed by Joanie Schultz. Following the performances was an open forum, moderated by Samuel Roberson exploring the social issues expressed by the featured artists.

Photo Credit: Tyler Core, Michael Courier