by National Coalition on School Diversity
The NYC-based EPIC Theatre Ensemble will be offering free performances of two of their original plays, NOTHING ABOUT US and DEFAULT, throughout the California Bay Area on August 22, 23, and 24. Performances are being hosted in collaboration with the National Coalition on School Diversity.
A list of public performances is available at https://school-diversity.org/epic-in-the-bay
NOTHING ABOUT US (30 minutes)
“Nothing about us without us is for us.”
NOTHING ABOUT US is a rigorous, passionate and hilarious exploration of educational segregation researched, written, and performed by those most affected and least consulted: NYC Public High School students. What does separate but equal mean to us today? Transformation, empathy, and youth voice drive the conversation in this thirty-minute touring play by Epic NEXT.
This piece was commissioned by New York Appleseed.
DEFAULT (30 minutes)
“The master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house.” – Audre Lorde
What difference does it make to students if their school’s curriculum reflects the history, experiences and knowledge of their communities and families? DEFAULT is a funny and moving original play created by the youth researchers/writers/artists of Epic NEXT that examines the impact that Ethnic Studies courses and Culturally Relevant Pedagogy have on students, teachers, administrators, and families.
This piece was commissioned by Teachers College, Columbia University.
Additional details:
- The running time is 1.5 hours (Two 1/2 hour shows + 1/2 hour of talkback with student actors)
- Please arrive 10 minutes early to find seating
- Contact Jim Wallert at [email protected] for additional details
About EPIC Theatre Ensemble
EPIC’s mission is to create bold work with and for diverse communities that promotes vital discourse and social change.
EPIC accomplishes this mission by:
- Inspiring students to be creative and engaged citizens
- Presenting compelling topics that transform the way people think
- Collaborating with artists, students and thought leaders to produce plays about key issues
About the “EPIC Next” Program
NOTHING ABOUT US and DEFAULT were both created through the EPIC Next program, a youth development program designed to develop young thinkers, actors, and leaders.
EPIC Next pairs professional artists with selected students from partner schools beginning in a summer lab and extending throughout the school year. Each EPIC ensemble artist mentors 2 to 3 students a year in the theatre-making process as well as in leadership development, civic engagement, and college readiness. As the culmination of their work in the summer intensive, the students integrate the ideas and concepts explored in the program to create a full-length theatre piece.