Exposed Brick Theatre presents the Through Our Eyes festival, featuring the world premiere of two plays commissioned in 2020, Freeing Assata and A Love Story in 8 Scenes; along with a variety of workshops and events celebrating the power of storytelling!

Both shows are performed on the same evening.

Freeing Assata, by Sterling Miller, explores the incarnation and liberation of the revolutionary political activist, Assata Shakur. Shakur, after being wrongfully incarcerated and subject to harsh/unconstitutional conditions as a political prisoner, escapes prison with the assistance of her ancestors. Freeing Assata is written to honor our black political and ethereal (s)heros who often manifest as one.

A Love Story in 8 Scenes, by Siddeeqah Shabazz, is about Ihsan, a teenage Muslim girl who thinks she’s got it all figured out…so far. And she light weight does – until Memo, a non binary teenager, moves in next door which turns Ihsan’s world upside down. When love and religion clash, which one do you choose?

Shows are performed by Jamaka T. Davis, Inayah El-Amin, Marci Lucht, Ninchai Nok-Chiclana, Valencia Proctor & Tazrae Jemeli Song’ony. Original Music by Umar Malik. Design work by Mitchell Frazier, Jada LaFrance & Yhantè Williams. Directed by Simone Williams, assistant direction by Simone Abraham, and stage managed by Mayra Gurrola Calderón.
In addition to the performances, a variety of workshops celebrating the power of storytelling will be offered throughout the festival.

Age Recommendation for performances, 14 & Up.

Content Warning: Freeing Assata includes depictions of abuse, harsh and unconstitutional prison treatment, racially fueled dialogue and adult language. A Love Story has some adult language.
(see below for age recommendations for the workshops & special events)

Tickets: Sliding Scale, $20 – Free
To purchase tickets: https://www.openeyetheatre.org/through-our-eyes-festival

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
Friday, September 9 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, September 10 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, September 11 at 2 pm
Thursday, September 15 at 7:30 pm
Friday, September 16 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, September 17 at 7:30 pm

WORKSHOP & SPECIAL EVENTS SCHEDULE:
WORKSHOP: Spontaneous Storytelling (Sunday, 9/11 at 3:30 following the 2:00 show)
Lauren Rae Anderson & Alex Barreto Hathaway will lead a 60-minute devising workshop that uses games and playful exercises to inspire spontaneous storytelling.
Age Recommendation: This workshop is for adults & high school-age youth.

WORKSHOP: Decolonizing the Artist (Tuesday, 9/13 from 7:00 – 9:00 pm).
In this workshop taught by Nora Montañez Patterson, artists will learn to decolonize and grow the American theater canon starting with self-exploration. We will expand the artistic self through writing, playful exploration and the power of performance as a tool for social change.
Age Recommendation: This workshop is for adults & high school-age youth.

SPECIAL EVENT: Patience & the Lion’s Whisker, a special performance by Speaking Out Collective (Saturday, 9/17 at 1:00).
This puppet show is an adaptation of an East African folktale. The story is about how trust and love grow in a Somali family that changes when a young boy meets his new step-mother. Followed by a puppet-making activity for kids and caretakers.
Age Recommendation: All ages welcome, created with early learners in mind ( children from birth to age 8 ).

WORKSHOP: Exploring Childhood Through Your Senses (Sunday, 9/18 at 1:00)
Using theater as a vehicle to unlock and explore the sight, sound, feel (and smell) of your childhood to celebrate, reflect, process and reconcile how childhood stories & experiences live (with)in us. Taught by Eliza Rasheed,
Age Recommendation: This writing workshop is for adults.

Our work is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. Additional support for the Through Our Eyes Festival is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts Challenge America Grant.