Young Playwrights to speak out for immigrants
By hola | Published | No Comments
D.C.’s Young Playwrights’ Theater first conceived “Silence is Violence: What Now?” in response to the 2015 death of Michael Brown that sparked the Black Lives Matter movement. This winter, however, the nationally recognized youth theater is collaborating with area public schools and arts organizations to stage its third iteration of the social justice theater project—this time to shine light and love on our large local immigrant communities.
The theater group, also known as “YPT”, provides after-school and in-school arts education that reflects the city’s majority-minority African American and LatinX students and their unique cultures.
“With the frustration of the election, students feel that their voices are not being heard,” particularly since the group’s high school constituents are too young to vote, says Farah Harris, producer of YPT’s third annual “Silence is Violence” free shows scheduled for late February.
From its inception, the student-written “What Now?” performances have sought to give voice to youth perspectives that may otherwise get overlooked. The new immigration-themed production, for instance, will focus on pride in one’s heritage, using culture as a form of resistance to intolerance against minority communities that flared during the presidential election season and continues today.
“This is the political climate that we have been dealing with. We’re just becoming more aware,” says Elena Velasco, YPT’S director of production for “What Now?” She says, at its heart, the performances are about vocalizing experiences and reminding students that others in the community have the same fears. “This is their city, and we’re not going anywhere,” she says, whether the “we” is a group of students from Central America or the Muslim world, or residents facing discrimination or violence based on their sexual orientation.
The upcoming performances will engage the audience in social justice issues like combating islamophobia, xenophobia, racism, and other such “other-ing”. The lineup of the performances is still being determined, but there will be short theater pieces written by students in YPT’s after school program. Past “What Now?” productions have included theater pieces, as well as prose and poetry readings.
After the Feb. 28 performances, YPT will lead a panel discussion with officials from the D.C. Mayor’s Office of Latino Affairs on topics related to immigration and LatinX youth before opening the floor for audience participation.
Besides, MOLA, local institutions collaborating with YPT include Mundo Verde Public Charter School, Wakefield High School and the International Academies at Cardozo High School in the District, plus T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria. Also involved are arts organizations such as GALA Hispanic Theatre’s Paso Nuevo, an award-winning youth theater program; the SITAR Arts Center, a youth arts education organization; and Split This Rock, which teaches and celebrates poetry through a social justice lens.
YPT is still seeking professional LatinX musicians, dancers, poets and visual artists with original work related to the program’s themes. Those interested in participating may contact YPT Creative Programs Manager Farah Harris at fharris@yptdc.org.
Mon., Feb. 27, and Tues., Feb. 28, 7 p.m.
Anacostia Playhouse
2020 Shannon Place, SE, Washington, DC 20020
Tickets available on Eventbrite
Admission is pay-what-you-can / voluntary contribution.
Visit the Silence is Violence homepage for more information.
—Lucia Jimenez
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