The Ensemble Theatre Young Performers present a double feature children's theatre experience: ANANSI THE SPIDER AND THE MIDDLE PASSAGE by Frank Higgins and TIME AND TIME AGAIN by Yunina Barbour-Payne.
As seen through the eyes of a child, ANANSI THE SPIDER AND THE MIDDLE PASSAGE tells the story of an African mother and daughter who are kidnapped and sold into slavery. In prison and later on a slave ship coming to America, Shontay's mother calms her by telling her stories of Anansi and how he inherited the box of stories from Nyame the Sky God. The stories are about the bad things that greed can do and how every one of us is strong, even if we don't know it. Taking comfort in Anansi's stories, Shontay is no longer afraid and makes it through the grueling journey on the slave ship. When mother and daughter arrive in America as slaves, they carry with them the folktales and wisdom of their homeland - stories that make their lives bearable and give them meaning.
TIME AND TIME AGAIN follows three youths: Sandy, Mike and Trey -- young millennials of color, who live in various parts of the U.S. Each youth offers their differing views of the American Dream. Trey wants to be a pilot, Sandy wants to be a writer and Mike aspires to become a music artist. Set in urban spaces around the U.S., Time and Time Again chronicles the gifts and potential of each of the individuals while simultaneously depicting stereotypical limitations for young people of color in the present day. Framed by the words of the infamous African-American playwright, Lorraine Hansberry, this work offers an intimate interaction between historical perspectives on activism and present day realities sparking the Black Lives Matter Movement.
The Ensemble Theatre Young Performers have been working hard for four weeks and would like to invite you and your family to their performance. All ages welcome.
Performances of the 'ANANSI THE SPIDER' and TIME AND TIME AGAIN double feature are 6 p.m. Friday, July 29; and 11 a.m. Saturday, July 30. The Ensemble Theatre, 3535 Main Street. For information, call 713-807-4317 or visit ensemblehouston.com/programs/ypp_childrens_theatre.html. $10.
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