Hansberry Project At ACT Presents 'the break/s: a mixtape for stage' 6/17-7/12

The Hansberry Project at ACT is thrilled to present the break/s: a mixtape for stage by Broadway veteran and GOLDIE Award-winner Marc Bamuthi Joseph, June 17 through July 12, 2009 in the Falls Theatre at ACT.

Marc Bamuthi Joseph, one of America's Top Young Innovators in the arts and sciences according to Smithsonian Magazine, brings his Hip-Hop art to ACT in the break/s, an 80-minute multimedia excursion, complete with movement, music, percussion, and spoken word. the break/s dramatically realizes the living history of the Hip-Hop generation through the performed personal narrative of poet Joseph, who is also the artistic director of the seven-part HBO documentary Russell Simmons presents Brave New Voices.

the break/s is a deeply honest investigation into the conflicts between Joseph's public identity as successful spoken word artist, and his private identity as young man coming of age in our globalized, multi-everything era. A life-long performer, he leaves it all on stage-simultaneously devouring the space with everything from shamrocks to attitude turns and eloquently spitting rhymes spoken from the heart.

"My goal is to embody theater's connection from Shakespeare's quill to Kool Herc's turntables; from Martha Graham's cupped hand to Nelson Mandela's clenched fist: a new voice for a new politic," said Joseph.

In selecting the break/s for The Hansberry Project 2009 mainstage production, both Artistic Director Valerie Curtis-Newton and Managing Director Vivian Phillips knew it to be the perfect choice.

"As soon as Bamuthi began, it was clear that this was something Seattle had to see. He was beautiful, and funny, painfully honest and insightful. The energy of his work is infectious. He literally throws himself into the storytelling, bringing all the elements not just of Hip-Hop culture but of the performing arts together in a way I have rarely seen, said Curtis-Newton.

Phillips added, "It is imperative that we play a part in bridging the gaps between this organic art form and traditional theatre and open this space for artists like Marc to continue his exploration, while inviting audiences to take part in the journey."

Joseph drew inspiration for the break/s from Jef Chang's 2005 American Book Award winning publication, Can't Stop Won't Stop, which definitively captures the birth of Hip-Hop as a local movement inspired by a generation's longing to make culture that impacts the world.

In the break/s, the medium is also the message. In this "mixtape for stage," Joseph performs in a call-and-response format with turntablist DJ Excess and beatboxer and percussionist Tommy Shepherd (aka Soulati). The multiple layers of meaning in their exchange are intensified by video projections, created by filmmaker Eli Jacobs Fantauzzi, composed of interviews and documentary footage of Hip-Hop culture throughout the world. A remarkable team of artists and creative advisors contributed to the break/s, led by director Michael John Garcés, and including dramaturg Brian Freeman, choreographer Stacy Printz, video and set designer David Szlaza, lighting designer James Clotfelter, and composer Ajayi Lumumba.

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