…premiered march 2008 // produced by MAPP International Productions
Created by The Living Word Project / Marc Bamuthi Joseph
Directed by Michael John Garcés
A multimedia excursion across planet hip-hop, the break/s dramatically realizes the living history of the hip-hop generation through the performed personal narrative of poet Marc Bamuthi Joseph. the break/s is a deeply honest investigation into the conflicts between Bamuthi’s public identity as successful spoken word artist, and his private identity as young man coming of age in our globalized, multieverything era. A life-long performer, he leaves it all on stage—simultaneously devouring the space with everything from shamrocks to attitude turns and eloquently spitting rhymes spoken from the heart.
Joseph is the real deal, swinging with such confidence that you grasp for adjectives to capture his skills.” -Star Tribune
In the break/s, the medium is also the message. In this “mixtape for the stage,” Bamuthi performs in a call-and-response format with turntablist DJ Excess, and beatboxer and percussionist Tommy Shepherd (aka Soulati). The multiple layers of meaning in their exchange are intensified by video projections, created by filmmaker Eli Jacobs Fantauzzi, composed of interviews and documentary footage of hip-hop culture throughout the world.
Bamuthi drew inspiration for the break/s from Jeff Chang’s 2005 American Book Award winning publication, Can’t Stop Won’t Stop, which definitively captures the birth of hiphop as a local movement inspired by a generation’s longing to make culture that impacts the world.
A remarkable team of artists and creative advisors contributed to the break/s, led by director Michael John Garcés, and including dramaturg Brian Freeman, choreographer Stacy Printz, video and set designer David Szlaza, lighting designer James Clotfelter, and composer Ajayi Lumumba.
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=ED6DF841DEC19853a few links…
MAPP International Productions
Schedule…
| Jan 8, 2009 New York, NY |
the break/s | Under the Radar @ |
| Jan 10 – Jan 11, 2009 New York, NY |
the break/s | Under the Radar @ |
| Jan 10, 2009 New York, NY |
Special Interest Session: break/s beyond the ballot,empowering
youth to use art to create social change 9-10am |
Sheraton New York |
| Jan 14 – Jan 17, 2009 New York, NY |
the break/s | Under the Radar @ |
| Jan 22 – Jan 24, 2009 New Haven, CT |
the break/s | Yale Repertory Theatre |
| Feb 20 – Feb 21, 2009 Miami, FL |
the break/s | Miami Dade College |
| Mar 26 – Mar 28, 2009 Chicago, IL |
the break/s | Museum of Contemporary Art |
| Apr 23 – Apr 26, 2009 Los Angeles, CA |
the break/s | REDCAT |
| May 15 – May 16, 2009 Pittsburgh, PA |
the break/s | August Wilson Center |
| Jun 17 – Jun 21, 2009 Seattle, WA |
the break/s: a mixtape for stage | ACT Theatre |
| Jun 23, 2009 Seattle, WA |
the break/s: a mixtape for stage | ACT Theatre |
| Jun 25 – Jun 28, 2009 Seattle, WA |
the break/s: a mixtape for stage | ACT Theatre |
| Jun 30 – Jul 3, 2009 Seattle, WA |
the break/s: a mixtape for stage | ACT Theatre |
| Jul 5, 2009 Seattle, WA |
the break/s: a mixtape for stage | ACT Theatre |
| Jul 7 – Jul 12, 2009 Seattle, WA |
the break/s: a mixtape for stage | ACT Theatre |
| Oct 24 – Oct 25, 2009 Troy, NY |
the break/s: a mixtape for stage | EMPAC at Rensselaer Polytechnic |
| Jan 29, 2010 Chapel Hill, NC |
the break/s: a mixtape for stage | Carolina Performing Arts |
| Apr 24, 2010 Madison, WI |
the break/s: a mixtape for stage | Wisconsin Union Theater |
For more information contact:
Cathy Zimmerman
Co-Director & Producer
MAPP International Productions
140 Second Avenue, Suite 502
New York, NY 10003
T: 646.602.9390
E: cathy@mappinternational.org
A big thanks…
Lead commissioning and development support for the break/s was provided by the Humana Festival/ Actors Theatre of Louisville, Walker Art Center, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, and National Black Arts Festival. Additional residencies were held at Painted Bride Art Center; University of Wisconsin at Madison, and Z Space. The project has received generous support from the Wallace A. Gerbode Foundation, The National Endowment for the Arts, Zellerbach Family Foundation, East Bay Community Foundation, Creative Capital, The James Irvine Foundation, Ensemble Theatre Collaborations Grant Program, The MAP Fund, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation Emerging Playwrights 2006 Initiative, and Association of Performing Arts Presenters Ensemble Theatre Collaborations Grant Program, a component of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Theatre Initiative.
