TNC's 'Scratch Night' Presents IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE...HELL, 11/17

Crystal Field and Theater for the New City (TNC) will present a varied schedule Scratch Night performance program, which offers the opportunity for artists to present work in progress to an audience for one night. Scratch Night started in the United Kingdom in 2000 as a way to show work in progress in an evolution of performances. At TNC, they put their own spin on the idea to best serve the theatre community and New York area audiences.

Scratch Night at TNC will continue on Tuesday, November 17th at 7pm with It Takes a Village to Raise...Hell by Michael A. Jones, and directed by Melissa Maxwell. Visit www.melissamaxwell.com for more information on Maxwell.

The year is 1989: the Steel Industry in America has declined by the tens of millions, a new genre of music called Rap is pushing Rhythm and Blues off the charts, and the U.S. faces new challenges with the changing times.

A 16 year-old African American girl, named Michelle, fights with the conviction of an abolitionist to free herself from the confines of her parents' restrictions, while trying to maintain a level of respect that had been instilled in her (probably before she was even born). She is a descendent of a South African warrior. At the onset, Michelle is paid a visit (in a dream) by the spirit of her ancestors, who like her grand mother, inspire her to adhere to that which bonds mankind. Michelle's perplexity with life increases as her assertion for independence manifests itself. Her struggle with what's really good and evil is personified through the characters R. J. and David: her suitors. These young men go to great lengths to prove their desire for Michelle. Her father, Major, who is a Vietnam War veteran, represents the modern day griot by shedding light on issues such as the Tuskegee Experiment and education reform, while acting as a buffer between Michelle and her, unrelenting, strong-willed mother, Darlene. Aunt Zora and Aunt Minnie fan the flames of contention, by supplying Michelle with advice about dating and life. This tale is a drama with music: some of the characters sing or dance at some point.

It Takes a Village to Raise...Hell was a finalist for the 2006 Many Voices Playwriting competition at Chicago Dramatists, in Chicago , IL . It was work shopped at The Crucible of American Theatre and at the Frank Silveras Writers' Workshop, both in New York . It was also a part of the National Black Theatre Festival's Reader's Theatre series in the summer of 2003.

RSVP for this event at literary@theaterforthenewcity.net and have a $5 contribution prepared.
For submission information visit http://www.theaterforthenewcity.net/submissions.htm and materials should be sent attn: Michael Scott-Price, Literary Manager of Theater for the New City .

Michael Jones is a New York City-based writer. His writing credits include the plays, It Takes a Village to Raise...Hell, 'Soiled Wings, Blood, Family Matters: A Play about Prostate Cancer, One Love, Akata, and Josh: The Black Babe Ruth, which was produced at Woodie King, Junior's New Federal Theatre, in New York. He has written the screenplays, Hind Sight is 20/20, Where's the Beef? and Love and Bondage: Sex and Genocide, based on his novel with the same title. He belongs to the Uptown Playwrights' Workshop and has studied at Gotham Writers' Workshop and Frederick Douglass Creative Arts Center , both located in New York. He was recently commissioned to write a play for ENACT, Inc, one of New York 's premier drama-in-education organizations.

Scratch Night is looking for a variety of the most daring artists to try out their most cool thoughts on stage and the audience will help in the development by way of TNC's scratch ballot. Scratch Nights will take place throughout the year on a varied schedule. All theatrical forms are welcome. All stages of development are welcome.

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