The Project [theatre] Encores HIP HOP WON'T SAVE YOU at Bardot Tonight

Tonight, September 19th, The Project [theatre] returns to Bardot for a final encore performance of HIP HOP WON'T SAVE YOU giving audiences another chance to catch a glimpse into the world of Miami's hip-hop music scene. The show explores issues of race and cultural appropriation while giving audiences a behind-the-scenes look at a biracial rap duo's rise from local legends to the top of the charts. Bardot, one of Miami's hottest music venues, is the perfect backdrop for this site-specific and fully immersive experience.

The story moves audiences around Bardot, alternating between a staged play, live hip-hop performances and film to tell the story of a Miami hip-hop duo's rise and fall from fame. Original music created by acclaimed b-boy Rudi Goblen with lyrics and performances by actors/rap duo Stephen Kaiser and Marquise Rogers, will bring the audience out of their seat and moving their feet. Rudi Goblen also plays a featured role and doubles as the evening's emcee. The encore performance will feature performances by local hip-hop artists Rocky and Christy Love from Roc Sol. Award-winning filmmaker Max Rousseau teamed up with The Project [theatre] to create the filmed segments. Kalyn Chapman James, host of WPBT's "Art Loft", makes an on-screen appearance as the host of "Behind The Beats" -- a fictional television documentary that will play alongside the staged production.

"Hip Hop Won't Save You" hits the stage tonight, September 19, 2015 for one final performance at Bardot, 3456 N Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33127. Doors open at 7:30 pm, performance at 8:00 pm. Tickets are $25.00 in advance, $30.00 at the door. Tickets may be purchased online at hiphopwontsaveyou.com. Visit project-theatre.com for more information.

"During the original performance, we felt the audience's energy in the room and knew we had to find a way to bring it back," said director and co-writer Gladys Ramirez. "The audience raved that this show fully immersed them in the world of Miami hip-hop and was unlike anything they'd experienced," Ramirez added. "This is a story about friendship. It's about two kids that grow up together and share a creative bond. ...themes about race and cultural appropriation make their way into the story too and that really resonates with the audience," said actor and co-writer Stephen Kaiser. "Our mission is to create theatre for the next generation by showcasing the stories of our community in an engaging and entertaining way, we hope to reach a wider audience and pave the way for the future of theatre," adds co-creator Elayne Bryan.

The Project [theatre] is Miami's theatre alternative. Since 2010, The Project has approached storytelling in a very different way, taking theater out of the confines of its traditional setting and keeping the audience experience paramount in the creation of the work. Since being awarded the Knight Foundation's Knight Arts Challenge Grant in 2012, The Project has brought stories to life, creating theatrical events that immerse audiences inside the world of the play - a world where anything is possible. To learn more, please visit www.project-theatre.com.

Pictured: Marquise Rogers and Stephen Kaiser in The Project [theatre] production of Hip Hop Won't Save You. Photo by Nelson Queralta.

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