The Return of the AMPLIFY Series
First Stage produced two new AMPLIFY works
last season, which streamed for free to the public between April 16 and May 30,
2021, and we are excited to have expanded the series this season with three new
productions. This season, the AMPLIFY Series is generously sponsored by Children’s Wisconsin and supported in part by a
grant from the Milwaukee Arts Board and the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds
from the State of Wisconsin.
If you didn’t have the chance to join us
in-person for these productions this fall, you can still experience them on
YouTube through December 5, 2021.
HOW TO ACTUALLY GRADUATE IN A VIRTUAL WORLD by Nikkole Salter and directed by Samantha D. Montgomery.
When Milwaukee High announces that graduation will
be virtual, TT gathers friends to come up with a way to make the ceremony
special. As they weigh their options—and battle invisibility, hopelessness and
indifference—we learn how the pandemic affected them all. Is an achievement an
achievement if it goes unacknowledged?
STEP KIDS by Tyrone L. Robinson and Postell
Pringle, and directed by Christopher Gilbert.
A group of seemingly unconnected high school
students find common ground in the most unlikely of places – the audition for
their school’s competitive step dance team. As the students become unified
through the power of rhythm and dance, experience the joy of finding your crew
in this energetic performance.
THE TALE OF
LA LLORONA AS TOLD BY CONSUELO CHAVEZ by José Casas and directed by David Flores.
Disappointed that a thunderstorm has stopped them from their traditional trick or treating, six middle-schoolers huddle together in a basement on what might be the last time they are together to celebrate All Hallow’s Eve. To pass the time, they share some of their favorite ghost stories... but are they just stories?
Please
note: the performance includes blackouts, loud noises, scary moments and
references to suicide and violence.
First Stage’s AMPLIFY Series grew out of
our Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Justice (EDIJ) journey and the work of our
EDIJ committee. The goal of the Series was to not only uplift the voices of
people who identify as Black, Indigenous and People of Color through
youth-focused stories, but to also build trusting artistic relationships. Many
of last season’s AMPLIFY playwrights, composers and directors were new to our
organization, and we are honored that several are returning to work with our
organization again.
Both the playwright and director of our
inaugural AMPLIFY Series production, COPPER HORNS IN WATER, will be returning
to work with First Stage again. Johamy Morales, director of last COPPER HORNS
IN WATER, will be directing our First Steps Series production of LAST STOP ON
MARKET STREET this season, and Ty Defoe, the playwright of COPPER HORNS IN
WATER, is being commissioned to write a full-length piece for our 2023/2024
season. Postell Pringle, the composer/arranger of STEP KIDS this season, is also arranging the music for LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET.
First Stage is dedicated to the creation
of engaging, enlightening and provocative works of theater and to the
development of young actors as they work and train alongside professional
artists. With that mission in mind, it is incumbent upon us to ensure that
the next generation of actors, and the artists with whom they work represent
the rich cultural and racial diversity of our country, and that we commit to
the creation of work that speaks to that future while also exploring classical
titles from fresh perspectives.
To learn more about First Stage’s EDIJ
journey, please see our video updates here.
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