October awareness

October was a month to remember as Run Boy Run Productions of CultureTrust Greater Philadelphia had projects running in not one but two parts of Pennsylvania but also how both projects stand tall to be about social issues within communities of today and that is domestic violence and abuse.

Starting off with Boomerang as it previewed works from the performance piece at the Koresh Dance Showcase. With a story that has never been told, Boomerang is one to bring focus to how children are affected by abuse of in a family specifically African American male as it can often be something that molds them in belief that these actions are how you are suppose to be or want to treat someone even into adulthood. Truth is this story is not limiting and is real in many communities and whit every piece as they unfold many will watch and see someone in this maybe even themselves and understand the need of raising a family under a positive roof can be the true focus for a positive youth.

Our other play Mississippi Smiles has been making a move since its birth from paper a year ago. With a focus on domestic violence and abuse as it effects women that transition from heterosexual to the lgbtq community it brings a big focus as to how it’s often about what baggage we choose to keep in our lives then recognizing how to heal first.

With an all star cast and director to match, Mississippi Smiles was a sold out show and had many wanting more. The understanding of domestic violence and abuse awareness is to see that it’s effects can be felt in many ways, shapes and forms and for us we are glad to bring stories to life that generate not just thought but conversation.

It Begins 

  The cast made it down after a long haul 4hrs drive in a van and Nic in a car but they made it. I really wanted to get them settled in but because of time we had to get ready for the show. Everyone flipped around flopped around but changed into characters as fast as they got here and it was showtime.

  
The crowd was thin but this was with the right people to get more out. With journalist, photographs,vlogers and blogers on hand all this meant was Friday was going to be the turn up show. In the end all that came enjoyed and event shed tears. Last words said I can’t wait to see this again. Let’s get ready people more to come..

  

A Womans Rythm 

In a place that was once the Women’s Kensington Hospital the ancestry of women speak. Drum like a lady Latrice and Jamillah allowed the sounds of the drum to bring in the spirits as the crowd couldn’t help but participate as the heard the drum of the mothers like it was the heart beat of our beginning of rhythm. Showing us rhythm through beat boxing bring the people together through life of rhythm.  

But song can be created through woven rhythm as well as Lynda Grace shows in her she utilizes fiber woven vessels to create a medium ancestry speaking from a past life of mothers wombs to life’s moments of meeting individuals from scrap metal collectors to the black lives matters experience. Beginning from the grandmother showing her and watching her knit, her knitting was a form of community seeing that words can build a shield.
 
Although they have meet in conjunction with this project the art that speaks through Lynda’s has has extended into the photography of Sheenas.

Sheena Garcia speaks through pictures with stories ranging from single mothers protecting their sons and seeing the need to hold on to a sons life with a black and white imagery that leaves you understanding why these lives matter. 
  
The owner of this building Betsey Casanas maybe short in stature but her calling as an artist speaks to a higher level as she opens the doorway into her culture with demential artistry that looks as alive as the the cock story tale that began the piece.  Engulfed in enjoyment roots energy and culture the people came in the building getting a story fluid with diversity but in the end containing a wholeness that only these women could spin.

Sisters United

If you didn’t know runboyrunprod is involved in everything. Last night was about the stage play #mysisterskeeper part of the #thinkcreateinspire festival with director writer Jody ‘Tru Story’ Austin assistant directors Tiffani Dean and Antoine K D Stroman. With an all woman cast covering powerful and emotional subjects, these women proved that #poetictheater is here to stay.
  
For Jody this was a dream come true as she took the moments of pain noticed in all women’s lives and made it a journey of sisterhood that could not be denied. 

  
 
Covering matters of mental, physical and emotional abuse, self perseverance, body images, social awareness, equal rights and many more this play has answered the called that women have been waiting for and is the beginning of a journey that will go beyond the stage. 

  
Take a bow ladies for the night is yours and the road has just begun.

The Face

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To be a good actor you have to be something like a criminal, to be willing to break the rules to strive for something new.

“Nicolas Cage”

Join Andrew Chupa in his stage debut in “Redemption”

Bringing Andrew in to the cast has been a treat watching him give the role his all and every week bring a new facet to the character. Andrew takes acting serious and it shows as he takes in the process of understanding what the character is going through in a relationship that is tortured by his actions.

 

Rehearsal in a new year


We start the new year off the right way. Rehearsal is a scorcher and the UE actors showed that they came prepared with words as there weapons each members held their own. We also introduced new members to the core that showed this opportunity was one they could stand.

Actors Grind 

Week two was a good one as the UE cast began exploring the characters a little more. Beginning the session as usual,we had a discussion concerning how each person felt towards the character they would be portraying. For many they already saw the relation of how these characters can be someone in their lives. From utilizing life events many saw themselves as a mother loosing her child or a trash man or teacher talking to kids trying to help them onto a straight path. With the vision of stepping in these shoes life was able to be brought to these characters.

 
For the vets reprising roles was both easy and hard as it becomes a moment of generating that emotional felling back up but first it needed to be summoned through the memory of words to cast life once again.  

In some cases it became more of a call to stepping up that would prove to be the challenge as it would be more so about them being able to lead and getting others to follow. However as the path is laid out seeing the emotion of all will prove to be the tops of the actors grind. 

The Art of Telling a Story 

  
There is a place of understanding when it comes to writing and Kash has shown that when it’s in honesty people will come out to see it. Over the weekend I had the honor of taking in Mr. Goins play VtoX with an ensemble cast that showed they have what it takes to bring characters to life this show about the many faces that are placed into the judicial system all connect in someway as we learn that this is and always will be big business. What audience, this was definitely worth as wild as it was shown in and interactive state allowing them to be part of the action and with in the breath of the play for many it is probably ring true to home with stories surrounding rape molestation wrongful incarceration abuse and again business. These stories were made to make you cry make you laugh and more than anything make you think to wear as you only can see one thing and that is the truth within the story.

Wanted

  Photo by Julia Formisland Creation by Roxette words by Brorha Train
All he wanted was acceptance 
All she wanted was acceptance 
All they deserved was acceptance 
All they cared for was love 
All they wanted was love
All they got was bruises 
From the many that couldn’t understand 
All they got were bruises 
Submitted in ink saying words like abomination 
All they felt was pain 
Injected into everyday eye contact 

that had no reason to give a negative 
All they received was shunning 
Of those that swore they understood biblical scriptures but never took the time to actually read the script
All they cared for was acceptance 
In the form of an embrace embedded in a hug that in many ways managed to remove the bruises and pain
All she needs is your love
Her as a person 

Her as a woman 

Her as she is 

Not what you want her to be 

But as a person 

So remember this is all she needs..

Allen Brotha Train Clark 2015