This weekend, A Call to Conscious (C2C) — an interactive theatre for social change – will begin their latest season. It starts with a commemoration of the 10th anniversary of Michael Brown’s death.
“The New Black Fest’s HANDS UP: 7 Playwrights, 7 Testaments” premieres at 7 p.m. on Friday, January 31st and Saturday, February 1st at Pilgrim Congressional Church. The works featured are contributions from internationally renowned playwrights Dennis A. Allen II, Idris Goodwin, Nambi E. Kelley, Nathan James, Nathan Yougerberg, EricMicha Holmes, and Nsangou Njikam.
“I’m hoping that people will write letters or join some type of organization to put laws in place that combat police brutality,” said C2C Producing Director Fannie Lebby regarding the series of monologues that celebrate Brown’s life and the impact of his legacy.
Typical of C2C productions, this weekend’s performances will conclude with a talk back. The audience will have the opportunity to sound off with Michael Brown Sr. and wife Cal Brown as they discuss Chosen For Change, the organization created in his son’s honor.
“We try to give people not only a narrative that will spark a conversation but something to think about when they leave the theatre and provide resources and places to go if they need it.” Lebby said of C2C. She describes her work with the organization as an “edu-tainment” experience for all ages.
Lebby, Linda Nance and Linda Smith founded C2C in 2012 after performing an adaptation of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech at the Julia Davis Library. The response was overwhelming – and inspired them to continue. With their work they strive to build strong communities by sharing resources and inspiring people to get involved. Their selections also highlight the history many of us have forgotten or never learned.
For Lebby, C2C is how she combats injustice, with each piece being a form of protest.
“I can’t hit the pavement like I used to,” Lebby said. “So, this is a wonderful way of protesting the injustices that are prevalent and still affecting us today.”
In previous seasons, C2C collaborated with the HEAL Center for the Arts and allowed their jazz band to play the score in a production of “Live at the Riviera.” The audience was fascinated to learn how The Riviera, a night club that sat at Delmar and Taylor, rivaled The Cotton Club in New York City. For the last five years C2C has also brought Black History to the St. Louis History Museum, sharing the stories of Theodore McNeal, the first Black state senator elected in Missouri and Jordan Chambers – the unofficial Black Mayor of St. Louis.
“Hopefully the people that come to the theater will go away talking about whatever issue resonated with them,” Lebby said of their upcoming production. “Or will see themselves differently and raise their conscious level.”
She finds the most stirring monologue to be “Abortion” written by Nsangou Njikam. In it he reads a letter to his son reflecting on the many life lessons he is eager to teach him. It ends on a sorrowful note. Because of pervasive injustice in our nation, this child can never be born.
“Theatre is a great way to start a conversation”, Lebby says, “Even if they feel they can’t do nothing about it. There’s a lot of people who feel hopeless with our current administration and this play has a lot of healing.”
Each play A Call to Conscious performs addresses some form of social injustice be it colorism, urban renewal, and in this case police brutality. The play and conversation that follows is intended to inspire you to take some sort of political action.
“We encourage you to do whatever you can,” Lebby said. “Even if you don’t want to join an organization you can always support [them] because they are the boots on the ground getting the work done.”
“The New Black Fest’s HANDS UP: 7 Playwrights, 7 Testaments” premieres at 7 p.m. on Friday, January 31st and Saturday, February 1st at Pilgrim Congressional Church, 826 N. Union. For more information, visit acalltoconscience.org