"LEAVES" at Theater for the New City

‘LEAVES’ is a full-length, ninety minute play, written and directed by Victor Vauban Junior. Mr. Vauban finds inspiration for his narratives in the works of artists like August Wilson, Tennessee Williams, Henrik Ibsen, Tennessee Willliams and the late Nina Simone, who said, “the artist’s duty is to reflect the times.” The primary themes of this play include assimilationism, colorism, the importance of family and mental health.

In this domestic drama, we are introduced to Muriel, a devoted housewife living happily ever after with her beloved husband, Curtis and their two children, James and Rhonda. They are a quintessential middle-class, African American family living a normal life in Syracuse. However, despite their content and conventional appearance, this family also has its secrets. Before long, we witness to their unraveling, with heated accusations and discussions that involve everything from loyalty, jealousy and colorism to assimilationism and mental health, all of which are still controversial subjects within the African American community.

About the playwright:

Mr. Vauban Júnior is a Brazilian-born former circus performer in love with the art of writing. This award-winning dramatist has had his works featured at the Writer’s Guild. His plays have had readings at the Classical Theater of Harlem’s workshop and he is a constant presence in theater festivals in NYC. He started writing in 2012 at the “Writers in Performance” at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center under the tutelage of Mario Giacalone, Program Director of the BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center.

As a circus performer he has taught at the social program of Cirque du Solei, Cirque du Monde and performed with a number of international circus companies such as: UniverSoul Circus, Gran Circus Norte-Americano, Beto Carrero Show, Gran Bartholo Circus and Circus Amok.

His work has been gaining recognition for its involving and conscious approach to delicate themes that are still somewhat taboo in African American circles, such as assimilation, colorism, mental health, and the mass incarceration of people of color. His main goal as a writer/director is to advance social change by encouraging a safer, better informed, and more cohesive community.

CAST Starring: Ria Alexander Ben Rowe Soyini Cranshaw Felix Omozusi Valerie Donaldson Natalie Djondo Malynne Smith Travis Barbour John Jackson Christopher W. Clayton

PRODUCTION Playwright-Director: Victor Vauban Junior Associate Producer, Costume Designer: Everett Clark Set design: Victor Vauban Junior. Set Supervision: Mark Marcante and Lytza Colon. Set Construction: Jon McHatton, Lola Saenz, J.C Augustin Light Design: Lucky, Victor Vauban Junior Light and Sound: Lucky, Geoffrey Christopher, Victor Vauban Junior