Woolly Mammoth to Host Staged reading of 'FACING OUR TRUTH,' 2/5

In commemoration of the birthday of the late Trayvon Martin, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company will join theatres across the country in producing a staged reading of Facing Our Truth: Ten-Minute Plays on Trayvon, Race, and Privilege on Wednesday, February 5 at 7:30pm in the Melton Rehearsal Hall at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. Activities will also include an activism fair to begin at 6:30pm and a post-read panel discussion. The reading, discussion, and activism fair will be co-presented with African Continuum Theatre Company.

A project of the New Black Fest, Facing Our Truth is a collection of six pieces written by seven multicultural playwrights, each exploring race and privilege in the United States in the wake of the Trayvon Martin case. Playwrights include Dominique Morisseau, Winter Miller, Dan O'Brien in collaboration with the musician Quetzal Flores, Marcus Gardley, Mona Mansour and Tala Manassah, and A. Rey Pamatmat. Eric Ruffin, Lecturer in the Department of Theatre Arts at Howard University, will direct a cast comprised of Howard students, Woolly Company Members, and noted DC actors.

"We hope to build upon the dialogue from our Trayvon Martin Town Hall last August and draw attention to the prevalent issue of violence against black and brown youth in our community," says Woolly Connectivity Director Jocelyn Prince. "This season, two of our plays, Appropriate by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and We Are Proud to Present a Presentation About the Herero of Namibia, Formerly Known as South West Africa, From the German Sudwestafrika, Between the Years 1884-1915 by Jackie Sibblies Drury, address historical and contemporary race relations in the context of American slavery and an African genocide that has stained our world history. We cannot forget past bloodshed, as it informs how we interact with each other in the here and now.

Following the reading, a panel discussion will be facilitated by Thembi Duncan, African Continuum Theatre Company's Producing Artistic Director. Panelists will include Rev. Dr. Lennox Abrigo, President of the Washington DC Chapter of National Action Network (NAN); Rev. Carolyn L. Boyd, Chief Organizer of Hannah Mothers Campaign and Adjunct Pastor and Minister of Organizational and Ministry Development at Plymouth Congregation United Church of Christ; Soyica Colbert, Associate Professor of African American Studies and Theater and Performance Studies at Georgetown University; Kymone Freeman, Director of the National Black LUV Festival (NBLF) and a Washington, D.C. Mayor's Art Award Finalist for Excellence in Service to the Arts; Charis A. Goff, President of Thursday Network, the young professionals' auxiliary of the Greater Washington Urban League; and Dany Sigwalt, Program Manager and Helga Herz Peacemaking Fellow at Washington Peace Center.

Prior to the reading, Woolly Mammoth will host an activism fair on peace in its lobby. Organizations including Greater Washington Urban League, Hannah Mothers Campaign, The Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics at Georgetown University, the DC Chapter of the National Action Network, Washington Peace Center, and We Act Radio will attend and provide attendees with opportunities to engage in DC activism.

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