'140 CHARACTERS' Set for Dixon Place Tonight

Tonight, May 28th at Dixon Place in NYC, Frack Theatre will debut 140 CHARACTERS, the story of Ferguson as told through Twitter.

Written and co-directed by Broadway veteran Daniel J. Watts and Frack Theatre, 140 Characters is a new documentary play exploring one of the defining moments in this nation's recent history. The death of unarmed African American teen Michael Brown galvanized the public conversation around police violence towards black men, and to a greater extent, the oppression still encountered by people of color on a daily basis. The shooting and ensuing public outcry captured the attention of America and the world through social media. Using tweets from real life characters, 140 Characters moves this hashtag war out from behind the screen and brings it to life on stage.

Frack Theatre is a New York theatre company founded on the principle of utilizing theatre as a means of community empowerment. Using techniques of verbatim and documentary theatre, Frack aims to use storytelling as a means of investigation. Our theatre is one that digs deep, that puts pressure on the dominant discourse and exposes its cracks and fault lines. Underneath the thick crust of a homogenized society lie the deep, profound and moving stories that so often remain untold.

Daniel J. Watts has appeared in seven Broadway shows, five of which he was an original company member including After Midnight, Motown, Ghost, Memphis, and The Little Mermaid. TV/Film credits include Boardwalk Empire (HBO); Person of Interest (CBS); Broad City (Comedy Central); Crime (HBO); & Smash (NBC). Breakup at a Wedding; Among Brothers; & Freedom.

An accomplished spoken word artist, in 2012 Watts launched WattsWords Productions. Fusing spoken word with live music, song, dance and multimedia, he encourages audiences to focus on social similarities opposed to differences. BFA Graduate Elon University Music Theatre Program. 2011 Young Alumnus Award Recipient.

For more, visit: dixonplace.org/performances/140-characters-tweets-from-the-streets-of-ferguson-plus-hi-princess-12-variations-on-a-catcall/.