EMMETT, DOWN IN MY HEART Begins Tonight at Castillo Theatre

Emmett, Down in My Heart takes the audience on a haunting journey of race and violence in America. Historical text, music, and immersive staging interweave to tell the story of the horrific murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till in 1955 Mississippi. Till's brutal lynching, the acquittal of his killers, and his mother's insistence on an open casket exposed hidden truths of the Jim Crow South and stunned the world, striking a chord in the national conscience.

During this time of the Black Lives Matter movement and national unrest in the wake of the Ferguson verdict, Clare Coss' provocative and poetic new play resonates deeply with issues of race and injustice, responsibility and white silence. Featuring inventive staging by director Erica Gould and a dynamic ensemble cast of eight, Emmett, Down in My Heart brings this important story to soaring theatrical life. The creative team includes music director/sound designer Bill Toles, scenic designer Joseph Spirito, lighting designer Xavier Pierce, and costume designer LaToya Murray-Berry.

The Castillo Theatre is located at the All Stars Project's performing arts and youth development center located on West 42nd Street. With a 33-year history of producing plays that deal with contemporary and historical social issues and through its unique synthesis of art and activism, Castillo brings experimental political theatre to the heart of New York's commercial theatre district. Since 1983, Castillo has produced close to 200 shows for its diverse audience base, drawn from the many communities that make up the city.

This New York premiere of Emmett, Down in My Heart, written by Clare Coss and directed by Erica Gould, will run from tonight, April 17 through May 17 at the Castillo Theatre, 543 West 42nd Street (Dan Friedman, artistic director; Diane Stiles, managing director). Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $35 for adults, $15 for seniors and $10 for students. Group rates are available. Tickets can be purchased through the Castillo Box Office at 212-941-1234 or go to www.castillo.org.