Social justice and human rights through hip-hop

February 16, 2017
Contact:
  • umichnews@umich.edu

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT

DATE: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23, 2017

EVENT: “Dreamscape: An Evening of Hip-Hop Theatre and the Stage”

“Dreamscape,” written by Rickerby Hinds, a professor of playwriting at University of California-Riverside, depicts the death and inner life of a young woman Myeisha Mills.

The play, winner of four NAACP Theatre Awards, is a reimagining of the night of Dec. 28, 1998, when 19-year-old Tyisha Miller was shot by four Riverside police department officers and left unconscious bleeding in the car.

As each of the 12 bullet wounds is described in clinical detail, Myeisha reminisces about her life, using each body part as a jumping off point, walking us through the impact of the bullets that killed her, though spoken word, dance and beatboxing.

After the play, there will be a talkback with the playwright, students and faculty of University of Michigan. It will be moderated by Magdalena Zaborowska, U-M professor of American culture and Afroamerican and African studies.

“This moving and deeply thoughtful performance creates a healing space, propels artistic inquiry, discussion across communities, and sharing of feelings concerning the irreplaceable value of each human life,” Zabrowska said.

The event is free to the public.

PLACE: Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre, 911 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor

SPONSORS: Department of Afroamerican and African Studies; School of Music, Theatre and Dance; College of Literature, Science, and the Arts; Residential College; Department of History; Department of American Culture; Institute for Research on Women and Gender; Institute for the Humanities; Department of English Language and Literature; Department of Screen Arts and Culture; Rackham School of Graduate Studies

INFORMATION: myumi.ch/Lz0OG