BAM Announces Performance Dates For WHAT TO SEND UP WHEN IT GOES DOWN

BAM and Playwrights Horizons announce today the performance dates and updated location information for the spring presentation of Aleshea Harris's What to Send Up When It Goes Down, directed by Whitney White. Previews begin June 20 in the Fishman Space at the BAM Fisher, and tickets go on sale on June 15.

The play was originally scheduled to take place at Brooklyn Botanic Garden. With expanding health and safety regulations permitting safer indoor performances, the location change provides an opportunity for an extension in the production schedule and expands performances for more patrons to attend. The proclaimed play/pageant/ritual/home-going/celebration, which includes audience participation, will be presented in the BAM Fisher- the organization's intimate open space intended to respond to the creative needs of individual artists.

"With a safety plan in place, we're thrilled to take the opportunity to invite audiences and artists back to our indoor stages in the BAM Fisher and extend the run of performances for this engagement," said BAM Artistic Director David Binder. "We thank the artists and design teams for their wonderful work thus far and are excited to see their vision come to life in the BAM Fisher, where we can now showcase this important work to a larger audience. Brooklyn Botanic Garden has been an incredible collaborator, and we look forward to utilizing the groundwork laid here for a future project."

Presented by BAM and Playwrights Horizons, in association with The Movement Theatre Company, the groundbreaking work is a play, a ritual, and a homegoing celebration that bears witness to the physical and spiritual deaths of Black people as a result of racist violence. Setting out to disrupt the pervasiveness of anti-Blackness and acknowledge the inherent value of Black people throughout history, this theatrical work blurs the boundaries between actors and audiences, offering a space for catharsis, discussion, reflection, and healing. This co-production will also have a staging at Playwrights Horizons in the fall.

What to Send Up When It Goes Down is written by Aleshea Harris with direction by Whitney White. Scenic design is by Yu-Hsuan Chen, costume design by Qween Jean, lighting design by Cha See, and sound design by Sinan Refik Zafar. Stage managers are Genevieve Ortiz and Carolina Arboleda. It is performed by Alana Raquel Bowers, Rachel Christopher, Ugo Chukwu, Kalyne Coleman, Denise Manning, Javon Q. Minter, and Beau Thom.

All seats are $25 and sold as general admission in socially distanced pairs. Tickets will go on sale on June 15; details are available on BAM.org.