Everybody has a plan, and Day is no exception. He has a plan for his baby brother Brian. Trouble is Brian is off plan. He’s taking a break from school and picking up the family business, stripping the Roseland community to the bone. This decaying community is being pillaged by its own inhabitants, its politicians, and its few remaining businesses. As Day and Brian work to find their place in a community that is literally being picked clean, they struggle to come to grips with whether they are hastening the process, or part of the restoration.
QUARK embraces love, death, and the stars when Dr. Alexandra Seabold, an astrophysicist, and her husband Terry, a kindergarten teacher, wrestle with personal tragedy, commercial space travel, and feeding our starving planet as they wonder, "Is a taste of space worth it?
Without Trace
When Trace Sullivan goes missing from his family's inner-city apartment, his sudden return with a case of amnesia raises more questions than answers. Trace's father, a suspected Radical leader, grows more paranoid, while his mother, a loyal teacher, grows more worrisome. Amidst a crumbling America, political ties and emotional trauma all complicate the question: What happened to Trace?
For the past twenty years MPAACT has brought world premiere productions to Chicago that explore the vast experiences of the African Diaspora. Through our mainstage productions, touring shows, and arts education programming we have touched lives throughout the region and the country. The 2011/12 season has been particularly fruitful. MPAACT has produced another outstanding season of world premiere productions garnering two Joseph Jefferson recommendations for outstanding quality of production with Shepsu Aakhu's Speaking in Tongues and Carla Stillwell's Bodies. Additionally the company is a double nominee for best new work (Joseph Jefferson citation) with Keith Josef Atkins' Last Saint on Sugar Hill and Shepsu Aakhu's Speaking in Tongues.
In support of performing artists across the country, we have also expanded our programming to include 30 new shows in our Solo Jams series and 2 new productions in our Extended Jams series. These programs greatly increase opportunities for artists venturing into the arena of production and they also mark a new era in MPAACT, an era that embraces our role as a mentor of artists and art-making.
In support of the quality of our work and the impact of our effortsThe Joyce Foundation has announced a challenge grant to MPAACT in the amount of $30,000. The Joyce Foundation has been a generous supporter of our efforts for the last five years. With this challenge grant The Joyce Foundation hopes to encourage our supporters to help us further our mission to nurture, and sustain Afrikan Centered Theatre, an artistic expression grounded in the many cultures and traditions of the Afrikan continent and its Diaspora. The Joyce Foundationwill match dollar for dollar all individual and corporate contributions up to $30,000.
We are excited by this opportunity and are endeavoring to reach the halfway point by June 30, 2012. With the support of individuals like yourself, we hope to meet this challenge and ensure a bright future for MPAACT as well as the artists and communities we support.
Today, you can make an immediate difference in the health and vitality of the arts. I hope we can count on you to assist us in meeting the challenge.
You can contribute to MPAACT in the following ways...
MPAACT is a 501(c) 3 not for profit corporation. All contributions are tax deductable to the full extent allowed by law.
With grateful appreciation,
Reginald Lawrence
Executive Producer
MPAACT
We look forward to seeing you at the theatre!
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During the fall and winter season of 2012-2013 MPAACT will offer a diverse set of programs available to tour institutions throughout the United States and abroad. The performancecollection features: Looking Black: Questions of Identity in America and BlaQ Market Monologues and Scenes. In addition, MPAACT offers a host of Master Classes and Workshops. To find more information on the shows and master classes please click the link below. Tour Shows 2012-13.pdf
]]>Opening: Monday, February 6th @ 7pm
Closes: Sunday, March 11th
Showing every Thursday, Friday and Saturday @ 8pm, Sundays @ 3pm
The Greenhouse Theater Center 2257 N. Lincoln Ave
Written By: Keith Josef Adkins* Directed By: Kimberly Crutcher*
Strange things are happening in Sweet Home. A once thriving black town, it is now an urban wasteland with a peculiar problem: all the black boys are missing. When Demus, a quirky young genetic engineer, stumbles into Sweet Home seeking refuge, he quickly finds himself tangled in the bizarre mystery. He also must make a choice—become the next missing black boy, or engineer the perfect indestructible black boy and save Sweet Home forever.
*Denotes Resident Artist
CLICK HERE to read the latest 'We Are MPAACT' blog!!!
Opening: Sunday, September 25th @ 3pm
Closes: Sunday October, 30th
Showing every Thursday, Friday and Saturday @ 8pm, Sundays @ 3pm
The Greenhouse Theater Center 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.
Written By: Shepsu Aakhu*** Directed By: Andrea J. Diamond*
Culled from hours of interviews Speaking In Tongues: The Chronicles of Babel explores the oral histories of an extended family living in Chicago’s now demolished Washington Park housing project. Three generations come together to chronicle the complex story of their lives, the life of their building, and the impact of this uniquely American social experiment. Speaking In Tongues is not a fictionalized account of the urban poor. Utilizing a documentary style of staging, this play endeavors to preserve the authentic voices of a population that is seldom allowed to speak for itself in the American conversation.
The Reviews: CHICAGO READER
***Denotes Founding Member
*Denotes Resident Artist
CLICK HERE to read the latest 'We Are MPAACT' blog!!!
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MPAACT also offers the spoken word show Blaq Market Monolougues and Scenes and a host of Master workshops and classes.
To book a performance at your college or community center contact Executive Director Reginald Lawrence at lawrence@mpaact.org
DOWNLOAD TOURING PRODUCTION (PDF)
CLICK HERE to read the latest 'We Are MPAACT' blog!!!
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She Thinks She Grown By Shannon Matesky
Friday August 26th @ 10:30pm
This story is a journey of a young girls womanhood. What does being a woman mean in the context of the world? She asks this watching how womanhood is presented in the world around her through her mother, aunts, media and society. She's searching for the role she is expected to fill and how to properly fit into a woman's shoes. She Thinks She Grown, but is she really? Or just a child trapped in a woman's body?
Jamericanadian By Kevin Douglas**
Saturday August 27th @ 11pm
Written and Performed by Kevin Douglas
Costume Design by Kevin Douglas**
Set design by Kevin Douglas**
Lighting by Kevin Douglas**
Sound Design by Kevin Douglas**
Props by Kevin Douglas**
Edited by Tamberla Perry**
Jamericanadian is a funny look inside the mind of a Canadian born, Jamaican raised, naturalized American Citizen . . . and other things that shouldn't make sense. If you saw the show the first time you're welcome. The second time will be bigger, better, and . . . Jamericanadian--er.
**Denotes Company Member
CLICK HERE to read the latest 'We Are MPAACT' blog!!!
]]>A comedic narrative about an African-American male that examines life in the projects, romance within the Black Church tradition, and working in the inner-city public school system.
Friday August 26th @ 7:30pm,
Saturday August 27th @ 5pm and 9pm
Sunday August 28th @ 2:30pm
CLICK HERE to read the latest 'We Are MPAACT' blogs
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Directed by: Carla Stillwell – Resident Director
The family real estate business just gets tougher with the deteriorating economy. There are properties to maintain, addicts to evict, and family egos to manage. Napoleon Pedigrew works hard to preserve his rough and tumble reputation as a business mogul, but soon learns his sons Dexter and Z do not share his methods of persuasion. With the most lucrative real estate deal of their lives looming, how long can a father’s controlling grasp fuel the family business?
The Last Saint on Sugar Hill explores gentrification and family loyalty, and bodes the question…Who really pays the price for progress?
READ THE REVIEWS: Chicago Theater Blog, WBEZ Dueling Critics, Chicago Reader.
KEITH JOSEF ADKINS is a playwright and screenwriter. His plays include THE FINAL DAYS OF NEGRO-VILLE, a commission from ACT in Seattle, THE DANGEROUS, a commission from The Public Theater, SAFE HOUSE, a commission honoring August Wilson from the Alliance Theater (Goodman Theater New Stages), FAREWELL MISS COTTON (Black Dahlia Theater – Los Angeles), PITBULLS, (Bay Area Playwrights Festival- Honorable Mention), HOLLIS MUGLEY’S ONLY WISH (NYC Hip Hop Theater Festival), COBRA NECK (Humana Festival), ON THE HILLS OF BLACK AMERICA, among others.
His awards include a 2010 Gateway commission from the Obie Awardwinning Epic Theatre, a 2010 A Contemporary Theatre/Hansberry Project Commission, a 2009 New Professional Theater Playwright Award, a 2008 Kesselring Fellowship nomination, Richard Sherwood Distinguished Emerging Theater Artist Award, a Van Lier Fellowship with NYTW, and a Sloan Science Foundation Playwriting Grant. Keith has been published in Humana Festival 2003 – The Complete Plays, Playscripts, and The Best Women’s Stage Monologues 2005.
Keith worked as a writer on the CW hit comedy GIRLFRIENDS. His feature script THE DISAPPEARING is in development with SimonSays Entertainment (2010 Sundance’s Night Catches Us with Anthony Mackie).
He has blogged on culture and the arts for TheRoot.com and has made radio appearances on NPR, BBC Worldservice Radio, among others. Keith is also co-artistic director of The New Black Fest, a festival of new and provocative works from the Diaspora. Slated for October 2010.
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Tickets are: $7 for students and $10 for adults
We're preforming on the stage of the Jeff Recommended "Ghosts of Atwood" in the Greenhouse Theatre @ 2257 Lincoln Ave. All shows begin @ 10:30pm
JOIN US AS WE SHOWCASE CHICAGO'S MOST TALENTED DANCERS!!!!!
]]>That’s “jam,” and not “slam,” because a "jam" is a virtual love fest. Poets present their art in a non-competitive environment without fear or ridicule. Come underground and share the experience.
The Greenhouse Theatre Center
2257 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago
Directed by: Andrea J. Dymond – Resident Director
Atwood School for Boys--an ivy covered paradise tucked away in the rolling hills of Wisconsin. Quinn finds himself “alone with white people” for the first time in his life.
The challenges of isolation and racial tension greet him as he begins to navigate this new world.
But in the Ghost of Atwood, deeper questions erupt as Quinn discovers that there are far greater dangers lurching in the hallowed halls of the Academy.
CLICK HERE to see the latest review!!!
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Written by: Alonzo LaMont
Directed by: Chuck Smith – Resident Director
Teenage internet sensations, “The Blow-Up Sistas” decide to kidnap the black power advocate Jersey Jack Black from prison. The Sistas, their male cohort, and Jersey Jack Black all fall victim to a series of uncontrollable seizures Zulu Fits.
Zulu Fits appear to be connected to an enigmatic past and an uncertain future. When the The Sistas reach Jersey Jack Black his past, their present and the mystery of Zulu Fits all converge and forge a new fiction for those with a revolutionary spirit.
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Written by: Carla Stillwell adapted from the poetry of Orron Kenyatta
Directed by: Carla Stillwell
TAD IN 5th CITY walks us through the journey of young Tad Brown and his family. But this is just as much the story of a neighborhood, as it festers under the weight of poverty, gang violence and addiction in the aftermath of the ’68 Chicago riots.
The production features: David Goodloe, Shayla Jarvis, Eddie Jordan III*, Sidney Miller, Andre Teamer*, introducing Destin L. Teamer and Sati Word*
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