We got there a little before 7:30 and were provided with free water (!!) before the doors opened and we were met with the rustic set. The location of the theatre, I think, added to its 1916 year backdrop the play provided and the seats weren’t your traditional proscenium stage but rather a thrust stage. That aspect made the play a lot more intimate and personal. I already knew what the play was going to be about so I came prepared, however I don’t think I was fully prepared for the extent to which this play was going to move me.

From beginning to end, I found myself enraptured in the storytelling happening before me on the stage. It was an emotional roller coaster for me as I found myself completely empathizing with Rachel and even seeing myself in her a few times. What’s most startling is that the show was written nearly 100 years ago, and even has traces of first drafts written as early as 1914, and it still resonates with what is happening in America today. A story that starts with a young optimistic black woman who cannot wait to bring a young black life into the world, then is soon hit with the sudden realization that being black in America is no easy feat. She finds herself struggling with what that means for her children and for herself as a mother.

Santoya Fields was absolutely captivating as “Rachel”. Her internal monologues coupled with the brilliant sound design that played audio footage from police related crimes and murders against black lives was particularly chilling. A detail that, once I recognized what was going on, I was suddenly brought to tears by because of the complexity of those moments. The supporting cast- Bonita Jackson, Damone Williams, Temesgen Tocruray, and Lauren Lattimore also had extremely strong performances that made the show even more enjoyable.

At the end of the production there was a talkback with the director and the actors to discuss the production which I found refreshing. I would recommend this show to anyone, whether they enjoy theatre or not, because it’s a story that has value, it’s a story that is real. If you are anywhere in the New York area come down to Brooklyn and go see Rachel, you will be glad you did. The show is open until August 29 and tickets are FREE.

The post We Were There: Rachel at New Brooklyn Theatre appeared first on Broadway Black.

Directed by Jonathan Solari, Las Meninas tells the story of the love affair between Louis XIV’s wife Queen Marie-Therese and Nabo, her African servant, as told through the imagination of their illegitimate daughter. Las Meninas stars Kelly Campbell, Rance Nix, Toni Ann Denoble, Samantha Levitt, Arnaud Spanos, Anne Nanette Hudson, Kestrel Farin, Leah Zach Wagner, and Christian Ryan.

Directed by Courtney Harge, Rachel takes us inside the home of a family attempting to cope with the aftermath of the lynching of a father and son. In a year when the streets ring with chants of “Black Lives Matter,” Rachel asks us to feel the quiet pain of a young Black woman who doubts whether she can bear to bring more lives into a violent world. Rachel stars Santoya Fields, Bonita Jackson, Damone Williams, Temesgen Tocruray and Lauren Lattimore. 

The New York Times calls the New Brooklyn Theatre a “flash point for the fusion of theatre and politics” and they aim to do just that with their mission.

New Brooklyn Theatre aims to democratize the American theatre, to broaden the space for unheard voices and repressed histories, to bring into the theatre those sometimes left out, and to use theatre to provoke much-needed public conversations.They are committed to producing challenging work of the highest caliber at no expense to our audiences, both at home and in the world. They seek to own and operate a permanent home for the arts in order to achieve these missions and ensure their lasting impact. New Brooklyn Theatre’s mission also includes restoring theatre to 1215 Fulton Street, a space known to many as the Regent Theater and the Slave Theater. To learn more about their efforts, click here.

Las Meninas will run August 2 – 29 and Rachel will run August 7-29. Tickets are completely free and can be purchased here, though a donation is recommended. The theatre is located at Irondale Center 85 South Oxford Street Brooklyn, NY 11217.

The post Las Meninas & Rachel At New Brooklyn Theatre appeared first on Broadway Black.