8th Bronze Collective Theatre Fest

The Bronze Collective Theatre Fest: 2022 Rising From The Muck and Mire

The Rochester Bronze Collective* announces the 8th Annual Bronze Collective Theatre Fest: 2022 Rising from the Muck and Mire from Feb. 17-19, 2022. Shows run 7:30 PM Nightly with two performances on February 19 at 2 PM and 7:30 PM at the MuCCC Theater. Tickets are on sale at muccc.org.

Proof of vaccination and mask required.

Thursday, Feb 17 - 7:30 PM Mr. Soul!  Play Reading Development Series   $5

Friday, Feb 18 - 7:30 PM Anansi Tales REDUX                                                         $15 advance $20 door

Saturday, Feb 19 - 2 PM Spotlight on Jonah  Play Reading Development Series $5

Saturday, Feb 19 -7:30 PM The Legend of Double Ax Max                                $15 advance $20 door

The last time the Bronze Collective Theatre Fest was live and in-person, the 6th Annual Bronze Collective Theatre Fest offered a week of theater with eight different performances. The pandemic has reduced their offerings, but their commitment to African American theatrical programming has not waivered.

This year's 8th Annual Bronze Collective Theatre Fest spans three days but four different productions. These theatrical offerings range from children's theater to new play development reading to weightier social introspection and folklore subjects. Local African American producers showcase variations of African American life through the vehicle of theatrical drama.

WHAT'S THE 2022 LINEUP?

Thur., February 17, 7:30 PM – "Mr. Soul!" by Laura A. Thomas, a full-length play reading, based upon some events surrounding a black television show called Mr. Soul! which ran on public television from 1968-1973 and the producer and host of the show, Ellis Haizlip, a gay black man. A talkback and inquiry about the play will follow the play.

Fri., February 18, 7:30 PM- "Anansi Tales REDUX" by {theater}+{náfsi} FOR YOUTH teams up the stories of Anansi the Spider and Br'er Rabbit to provide fun for the family with a lesson tucked inside. The REDUX edition combines African, Caribbean, and African American folklore presented in interactive theatre, storytelling, and puppetry. These stories or folktales are traditionally passed from generation to generation orally to teach a lesson, gain insight on specific situations, or as a pass-time. 

Sat., Feb. 19, 2 PM Matinee-"Spotlight on Jonah" by Almeta Whitis is told from the perspective of the young African-American male, Jonah. His actions are in the spotlight, but his real identity is invisible. From a ledge, we journey with him to the dark depths of his soul and savor his introspection fraught with pain and promise. Together we watch and root for this archetype striving for societal value.

Sat., February 19, 7:30 PM -"The Legend of Double Ax Max" by Karen Culley brings theater in the tradition of campfire stories, radio dramas, and spooky American legends (i.e., Legend of Sleepy Hollow) and mixes in a bit of suspense. The souls of the departed and enslaved assist "runaways" to navigate the wild terrain to escape the slavecatchers. The Legend of Double Ax Maxand the Shadow People will have you wondering about those sounds that go bump in the night and what happens to the tortured departed soul. For America, slavery was only the beginning. It created a debt that the Shadow People aim to help collect!!!

The Bronze Collective* is an organization seeking to encourage, facilitate, and promote the collaboration of projects, marketing, and financing among Black/African Diasporic theatrical producers, producing artists, and organizations in the Greater Rochester Area. Starting in 2014, as a way for theater producers to collaborate, The Bronze Collective offers the "Fest" as an outreach tool to reach future Black/African Diaspora producers, artists, volunteers, and audiences.