RAT THEATRE PROJECT NEWS

[Bobby Mrozek <bby@earthlink.net>]

A VOICE I WILL SEND: SISTERS TALK ABOUT THE MILLENNIUM

opens Friday, February 19th and runs for 3 weekend only, through March 7
at THEATRE PROJECT 45 W. PRESTON STREET (across Cathedral St. from the
Meyerhoff Symphony Hall). The creators of last season's acclaimed
performance "mediations/from the ash" conjure a journey through poetry
and dance as African-American women. Tickets are $14 general admission
and $8 for students. Call the Theatre Project Box Office at
410-752-8558.

"A Voice I Will Send" brings to the live stage, 3 one-act performances,
which give breath and light to our lives from the view of
African-American women. "Under the Veil of St. Theresa," written and
performed by Denise Gantt, expresses a powerful voice of affirmation and
descent. Like the headlight of a barreling freight train cutting through
a stormy night, "Under the Veil of St. Theresa" comments on contemporary
life in Baltimore with stunning clarity.

Lakia Green's "Grey" explores cross-cultural identity with black women
who are racially black, but culturally white --  the experience of being
smart, black and female. Perhaps America has produced a third race; not
necessarily black or white, but expected to be, at different times both,
and yet, ultimately to be a shining example of the self-made individual.

"Let the Truth be told Under Quiet Veils", a choreopoem created and
performed by Muslim Artist and Activist, Ieasha Prime, uses the palate
of dance, poetry and music to disentangle the perceived and
unadulterated truth about the Muslim women practicing the religion of
Islam in the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave. "Quiet Veils" is an
exquisite and direct presentation from a rarely heard and frequently
misunderstood voice.

Professional, Quality Theatre, "A Voice I Will Send" is produced by
Medusa Theatre Company and The Artistic Connection with the MFA in
Theatre at Towson University and Theatre Project.  The artistic team
features some of the best and brightest new voices from the Baltimore
and Washington area. Tanisha Brady Christie, producer and actor is
currently Assistant Director at the Living Stage Theatre Company in
Washington and has been an Actor-Educator for three seasons. Denise
Gantt, producer, playwright and actor is the director for Theatre for a
New Generation series at Center Stage. She also founded Medusa Theatre
Company which highlights the work of young African-American female
artists.  Her play "meditations/from the ash" was awarded "best one-act
play" by Artscape97.  Lakia Green, production manager, playwright and
director has worked with Source Theatre Company, Williamstown Theatre,
Maryland Stage Company and Center Stage. She is currently production
manager at Living Stage. Ieasha Prime, actor and playwright, is a
graduate of the Duke Ellington High School of the Performing Arts. She
has performed with Concord Dance Company, and Living Stage Theatre
Company in Washington.

Food for Thought, Theatre Project presents new work in dance, music and
theatre which often seeks to do more than entertain. As a contemporary
live venue, artists and audiences come together at Theatre Project
around images and ideas that are not necessarily made as a response to a
marketplace.  Weeks after Medusa Theatre Company's last performance at
Theatre Project, people were writing, phoning and emailing messages in
reaction to "meditations/from the ash" -- most were impressed with the
sheer rarity of such a provocative and intellectual portrayal of
African-American women, some others took strong exception to more than a
few of the points within. Nonetheless, all seemed to quite invigorated
by theatre that asked something more of an audience, than just nods,
smiles, and applause.