Daniel Beaty to Bring One-Man Show MR. JOY to Omaha, 8/27

Daniel Beaty, the multiple award winning writer & performer of Emergency and Through the Night returns to Omaha this month with Mr. Joy. Beloved characters from Emergency return with new stories to tell along with a host of new players. Mr. Joy is a Chinese American immigrant who has run a shoe shop in the heart of Harlem for the past 25 years when an unexpected occurrence causes several of his customers to reflect on the impact he has had on their lives through their shoes. What has happened to this community's joy and what will it take to reclaim it? Using Beaty's signature blend of comedy, poetry, music, and multi-character transformation, Mr. Joy is a hilarious and heart-warming exploration of one community's journey to heal in order to dream again and discover boundless joy.

"My work speaks about the urgency of issues facing communities of color in our urban centers. I come from a similar environment," Beaty says. "These communities are not often understood. Part of my goal is to give voice to the people I understand and recognize. Mr. Joy speaks to how we are connected to each other in ways we can't even imagine," Beaty adds. "It poses the idea that even in the midst of tragedy and brokenness there is hope and possibility."

Mr. Joy plays Omaha's Holland Performing Arts Center on Thursday, August 27, 2015 at 7:00pm. Tickets priced $10 are currently on sale. Tickets are $5 each for groups of 10 or more. Tickets may be purchased via TicketOmaha.com, 402-345-0606, or at the box office at 13th and Douglas Streets. Due to its thought-provoking nature, the performance is recommended for audiences ages 13 and older.

Earlier this year, Beaty facilitated workshops with participants from Impact One, Banister Leadership Academy, NorthStar, R.A.W.D.A.W.G.S. and the Robinson Family Advocacy Center focusing on the effects of gang violence on gang members, ex-members, and their families and friends. He then compiled the stories into a scripted performance titled I Dream of an Omaha Where... The production, performed by current and former gang members and victims, debuted at The Rose Theater in mid-August. An excerpt of I Dream, as well as a short segment from a documentary that was created to chronicle the experience, will also be part of the evening's program.

Daniel Beaty's engagements in Omaha, including this performance of Mr. Joy, are supported by The Sherwood Foundation.

Daniel Beaty is an award-winning actor, singer, writer, and motivational speaker. His critically acclaimed plays Through the Night, Emergency, Mr. Joy, and The Tallest Tree in the Forest - Paul Robeson, have been performed at venues ranging from Lincoln Center to the White House to the Mark Taper Forum, and garnered numerous awards including an Obie award for writing and performance and two NAACP Theater Awards.

A highly requested keynote speaker and thought leader, Beaty has worked throughout the U.S., Europe, and Africa speaking and performing on programs with luminaries such as Deepak Chopra, Hill Harper, Jill Scott, Donnie McClurkin, and Ruby Dee. An adjunct professor at Columbia University, diversity trainer, and youth development specialist, Beaty has spoken at all staff retreats and led leadership training for myriad non-profits and corporations. In fall 2013, Beaty launched a nationwide initiative using the tools of storytelling to help individuals and communities heal trauma funded by W.K. Kellogg and Ford Foundations among others.

Beaty holds a BA with Honors in English and Music from Yale University and an MFA in Acting from the American Conservatory Theatre. His poem Knock Knock became an Internet sensation receiving millions of views and has been transformed into a children's book, also titled Knock Knock, published by Little Brown Books. Penguin-Random House will published his empowerment book Transforming Pain to Power in March 2014.

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