Crossroads Theatre Company Presents World Premiere of FLY 10/1-10/17

Crossroads Theatre Company presents the World Premiere of FLY, written by Trey Ellis and Ricardo Khan and directed by Ricardo Khan October 1-17.  With a focus on hope, endurance, and accomplishment, FLY is a vivid play that brings to life the famed African-American Army Air Corp fighters known as the Tuskegee Airmen who flew over the skies of Europe during World War II. The on stage characters are joined by a griot-a traditional African story teller- who through his tap dancing reveals the inner emotions of the airmen as they train and prepare for flight. Punctuating the scenes with rhythmic sound, the griot engages the imagination through tap dancing that helps to move the audience beyond the confines of the stage and take flight along with the airmen. Originally commissioned by Lincoln Center Institute as an educational play, FLY premieres as a full length play that dramatizes the historic contributions made by the Tuskegee Airmen to the desegregation of the American military and furthering civil rights.

Hope. Endurance. Accomplishment. FLY brings to life the famed African-American Army Air Corp fighters who flew over the skies of Europe during World War II as a tribute to the dedicated, determined young men who accepted the challenge

Performances: Evenings at 8:00 Oct. 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, and 17 and Matinees at 3:00 Oct. 4, 10, 11, and 17. Press Night:/Opening Night: Saturday October 3 at 8:00 PM. Performances will take place at Crossroads Theatre, 7 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, NJ 08901

On Sunday October 4, a reception will be held to honor the Tuskegee Airmen who will be guests at the performance of FLY. They will be joined by retired airline captain and former Vietnam combat pilot Brian H. Settles for the launch of his book "No Reason for Dying".

 

Tickets: $40 - $75 may be purchased on line at www.CrossroadsTheatreCompany.org or by calling 732-545-8100. Season Membership is also available.

Crossroads Theatre Company, recipient of the 1999 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre in the United States, is the nation's premiere African American theater. The American Theatre Critics Association together with the American Theatre Wing and the League of Regional Theatres and Producers presented the prestigious Tony Award to Crossroads in recognition of its 22-year history of artistic accomplishment and excellence. Crossroads is the first African American theater to receive this honor in the 33-year history of this special award category.

 

 

Crossroads continues to lead the nation with its commitment to literary works that examine the African American experience so that it may be understood and appreciated by all people. Crossroads' recent Tony Award and 20th Anniversary celebration are both indicative of the perseverance and vision of those who continue to support the theater. Both are of great significance, not only to the immediate Crossroads family of staff, subscribers and patrons, but also to the City of New Brunswick, the State of New Jersey, the nation and the legacy of Black theater itself. When co-founders Ricardo Khan and L. Kenneth Richardson envisioned a space, where, as actors, the two young men could work on substantive, non-stereotypical roles. Little did they realize that their vision would grow into the major institution that it is today.

Crossroads has filled an otherwise empty space on the cultural canvas of the country and the world, with a collective body of work that remains unparalleled by any other theater in the nation. Crossroads forged its vision into reality through the development, production and touring of new works from throughout the African Diaspora, and positive imaging of African American life, history and culture. These honest theatrical portrayals helped move the consciousness of the nation forward and into the twenty-first century by building bridges of understanding and veracity between people of all backgrounds in this society and the world.

Crossroads' primary effort has been its four-play main stage season, where the many timbres of the African American experience have been given voice in full productions. Since it's founding in 1978, Crossroads has produced over 100 works, many of which were premiere productions by the world's leading African and African American artists. Crossroads' world premieres include: THE COLORED MUSEUM, which originated at Crossroads in 1986 and was then seen by millions on national public television when it was produced for WNETs "Great Performances," and SPUNK, both by Tony Award@ winner George C. Wolfe.

Crossroads received the National Governors Association Award for Distinguished Service in the Arts. The New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, from which it has also received funding annually since its inception, has also designated the Theatre as a Major Impact Arts Institution. The Minneapolis Foundation's Working Capital Fund Program supports crossroads for Minority Cultural Institutions through a grant from the Ford Foundation.

In addition, Crossroads has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, The Rockefeller Foundation, The Ford Foundation, The Nathan Cummings Foundation, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, The Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays, The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, The Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies, The Royce Family Fund, The Rockriver Foundation and AT&T Onstage, among other distinguished awards. For more information, please visit www.CrossroadsTheatreCompany.org.

 

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