Every week, the culture critics at Token Theatre Friends bring their fresh perspectives to the performing arts on their podcast and video series. You can find the podcast on Spotify, iTunes, and Stitcher (look for the all-red logo). The video series is available on YouTube. The TTF theme song is by Sean Mason (with vocals by Angela Ramos). The video animation is by Brad Ogden, with logos by Jason Simon.
In this episode, Andrew and Brittani celebrate carnival and discuss their favorite soca musicians. This leads them to imagine, and cast, a soca-driven Broadway show. Make it happen, producers! Then they review two pieces. First they talk about iN-Hale MEGA VEE’s reading of All Boys Aren’t Blue, by George M. Johnson. This is followed by a review of Judas and the Black Messiah, a biopic of Fred Hampton, the revolutionary socialist and chairman of the Black Panther Party in Chicago, who was murdered by the FBI at age 21.
This is followed by an interview with Kwame Kwei-Armah, the playwright/performer/director who is also the Artistic Director of the Young Vic Theatre in London. The three talk about their Caribbean heritage and wonder why it’s taking so long for the “dam to break” when it comes to producing works by Black artists.
References:
- All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson at iN-Hale MEGA VEE.
- Judas and the Black Messiah on HBO Max.
- Young Vic Theatre, official website.