Open Fist Theatre Company presents Blood at the Root. Written by Dominique Morisseau. Directed by Michael A. Shepperd. Co-artistic directors Martha Demson, James Fowler and Amanda Weier produce for Open Fist Theatre Company.
Dominique Morisseau based her play on the true story of the “Jena Six”, a 2006 incident in Jena, Louisiana. Blood at the Root shows how volatile interracial relationships can be and how intolerance can quickly escalate into physical violence. In a hot autumn day, Raylynn (Nychelle Hawk)is at her high school and decides to sit under an oak tree in an area reserved for White students. The next day, 3 nooses are hanging from that same tree. Those actions trigger a series of events including beatings, arrests, and criminal charges. The way the school and the justice system reacted to these actions ignited the already fraught relationship between the White and Black communities.
The tense environment is specially challenging to three of the characters. Raylynn feels attracted to Colin (Jeremy Reiter ll), a White student who gets beat up by Raylynn’s brother DeAndre (Nicholas Heard). Raylynn is now at a crossroads. She wants to keep a good relationship with Colin, who has confided to her that he is gay, but she also needs to ask him to drop the charges against DeAndre so he doesn’t get sentenced. It is also hard for Colin to show compassion towards Raylynn when he has been a victim of discrimination for being gay.
For Raylynn’s friend, Asha (Caroline Rose), she is confused as what to do. She is White, but when her parents divorced, she went to live with her dad and new wife, a Black woman. Asha found happiness with her Black cousins and feels so much at home with them that she calls herself Black. However, her “Blackness” is put to test when she is asked by Raylynn to support the Black students’ protests after the nooses incident.
The complexity of experiences and identity growing up in a divided society is also exemplified in the characters of Toria (Grace Soens) and Justin (Azeem Vecchio, A Midsummer Night’s Dream). Justin is the Editor-in-Chief of the school’s newspaper. He is Black, but refuses to take sides with his fellow Black students in the protests. On the other hand, Toria is one of the reporters. She is White and is eager to seek racial justice through her journalism. Toria and Justin butt heads when it comes to take sides. Justin’s case is interesting in the sense that it takes a toll on a person’s identity growing up in a racist environment. When incidents of racism happen, would you stay silent to avoid confrontation with the other party? Or would you stand up to racists, even if that aggravates friends or acquaintances?
Asha is challenged by Raylynn. Justin is challenged by Toria. Colin is challenged by Raylynn. The community is challenged by intolerance. The play delves into history, but history repeats itself. And here we are, with a story that seems taken not from the past but from the present.
Michael A. Shepperd creates a stunning and dramatic production with choreography, music, and endearing performances that explore the intricacies of intolerance, racism, friendship, and justice. Scenic designer Joel Daavid and lighting designer Gavan Wyrick add an impressive effect to the scenery, creating visually stunning elements to heighten the conflict, the danger, and the drama depicted in the script. This is a high-caliber staging that moves, inspires, and makes us think of how much progress we have achieved in our search for justice and tolerance.
Blood at the Root
Atwater Village Theatre
3269 Casitas Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90039
FREE parking in the ATX (Atwater Crossing) lot one block south of the theater.
Sept. 9 – Oct. 28
Fridays at 8 p.m.: Sept. 22; Sept. 29; Oct. 6; Oct. 13; Oct. 20; Oct. 27
Saturdays at 8 p.m.: Sept. 9 (Opening Night); Sept. 16; Sept. 23; Sept. 30; Oct. 14; Oct. 21; Oct. 28 (dark Oct. 7)
Sundays at 3 p.m.: Sept. 17; Oct. 1; Oct. 15 (no matinees on Sept. 10; Sept. 24; Oct. 8; Oct. 22
Sundays at 7 p.m.: Sept. 24; Oct. 8; Oct. 22 (no evening performances on Sept. 17; Oct. 1; Oct. 15)
Monday at 8 p.m.: Oct. 9 ONLY
Tickets: openfist.org
Written by Dominique Morisseau. Directed by Michael A. Shepperd. Starring Malik Bailey, Deandra Bernardo, Emma Bruno, Nychelle Hawk, Nicholas Heard, Jeremy Reiter II, Caroline Rose, Jack David Sharpe, Grace Soens, Amber Tiara, and Azeem Vecchio. Presented by Open Fist Theatre Company, Martha Demson, artistic director. Creative team: Scenic designer Joel Daavid; lighting designer Gavan Wyrick; sound designer Marc Antonio Pritchett; costume designer Mylette Nora; and chorographer Yusuf Nasir, promises a visually and emotionally immersive experience. The assistant director is Debba Rofheart, and the production stage manager is John Dimitri. Co-artistic directors Martha Demson, James Fowler and Amanda Weier produce for Open Fist Theatre Company.
