Devised Theater Takes Center Stage at The Rose Theater

The Rose Teens 'N' Theater program will present Young, Gifted & Black on Thursday, April 27 at 7 pm, Saturday, April 29 at 7 pm and Sunday, April 30 at 4:30 pm on The Rose Theater's Hitchcock Stage.

This is the second year that Young, Gifted & Black will be a completely devised show where each participant has a say in the topics. The actors hope that they will be able to convey their thoughts and emotions on real world subjects that are currently taking place not only in Omaha, but in the entire world.

This year the Young, Gifted & Black actors have picked various people from the Black experience in America and are presenting them to the audience. The young actors will become the person they have picked and then share what it meant to learn, research and delve into the struggle and reality for these Americans. They have selected people who have and are still inspiring. It is called "We Are The Dreamers."

"We gave them the concept of researching a person from Black America that resonates with them and then present them to the audience as if they are that person," said director Tyrone Beasley.

Beasley, along with Camille Metoyer Moten and Lanette Moore, lead the production. Their goal was to give the actors as much freedom in expressing themselves as they could. "Our maIn Focus is to get them to step outside of themselves and their world and step into another. Whether it is someone from the distant past or someone current, we thought it important for the teens to feel a new experience," said Moten, who is directing her second year of Young, Gifted & Black as a devised piece.

The cast of Young, Gifted & Black includes Rachel Deroma, Diondra Butler, Aimee Correa, IsiaaH Clark, Taurus Dismuke, Micah Moten, Kya Phillips, Taijah Carlisle, Elisha Moore, Imani Lamar and
Somer Young.

Schools represented include: Omaha Central High School, Papillion Lavista South High School, Creighton Prep High School, Burke High School, Bennington High School and Omaha North High School.

Young, Gifted & Black will be presented in The Rose Theater's Hitchcock Theater on Thursday, April 27 at 7 pm, Saturday, April 29 at 7 pm and Sunday, April 30 at 4:30 pm. Teens will be admitted for free at the Thursday night performance. Tickets are $6 each and available at The Rose Box Office, (402) 345-4849, or at the door the day of the show.

Young, Gifted & Black is sponsored by The Mukti Fund, Mammel Family Foundation, the Nebraska Arts Council Nebraska Arts Council and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment.

Teens 'N' Theater is open to middle/high school students who have not yet graduated. There is no cost to participate and the program is open to all interested students. For more information about Teens 'N' Theater, visit www.rosetheater.org/education/teens.

This program provides teens, ages 13 to 18, opportunities to roll up their sleeves and get active in world of theater. The Rose produces six teens-only shows each season, where teen participants are given opportunities to act, direct, write, design and stage manage. Students perform fresh, thought-provoking work at The Rose's Hitchcock Theater.

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About The Rose
The Rose Theater is one of the largest and most accomplished children's theaters in the nation, with a reputation for enriching the lives of children and families through top-quality professional productions and arts education. The Rose is committed to making the Arts Accessible to all children, providing opportunities for thousands of children throughout the community to attend shows and participate in classes each year.

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