QUEEN ME by Schonte Hamilton Debuts in the New York New Work Theatre Festival

This festival is known for having a panellist of Broadway Industry professionals. Queen Me explores the challenges of children raised in the foster care system. This show will follow the lives of 4 women and display how an act of kindness from a caring foster mother, changed their lives and gave them the courage to overcome their turbulent past. Queen Me is scheduled to open on September 8, 2016 at 7 pm at the Elektra Theatre, 300 W 43rd St., New York, NY 10036.

The play was created due to Schonte's experience when starting the foster care process. Schonté discovered that in her state, children that were minorities were considered to have special needs due to their race, ethnicity and age. This discrimination appalled her and through this experience Queen Me was born.

Schonté felt that it was important to bring awareness to this issue as there are many children waiting for good homes but due to this label, many potential families abandon the idea of foster care feeling that they are not equipped to handle children with special needs. In addition to that revelation, she also identified issues with the way children who have experienced severe emotional and physical trauma are introduced to potential foster parents. Many times these children are presented as damaged individuals and due to these labels the self-esteem of these beautiful children are affected. The cast is composed of four girls and five women. This upcoming show in September will be the debut performance for this play. The play is expected to continue beyond the festival with plans to tour nationally, empowering women to never let labels define you.

Schonté wants women to know that the past does not dictate your future. Through this play, Schonté wants to educate people on the dangers of discrimination and the lifelong affects it has on the victims. Despite the mistreatment and abuse that these characters have endured, they emerge as queens. Schonté wants to celebrate women that have overcome insurmountable odds and have exceeded societal expectations.