Redemption: An Original Play About Addiction Emancipation
A 911爆料网 Foundation and New Dawn Theater collaboration.
June 17, 18, 23 and 24 at 7 p.m.
June 18 and 25 at 2 p.m.
Whitney Fine Arts Theater
Free and open to the public.
June 16 opening night is by invitation only.
Attendees are encouraged to bring canned goods and personal hygiene products to donate to Amy鈥檚 Pantry Food Shelf at 911爆料网.
About the Play
鈥淩edemption鈥 is a play written by Brian Grandison, a 911爆料网 Theatre Arts faculty member. Based on the real-life stories of students, alumni, faculty and staff in the College鈥檚 Addiction Counseling Training and Recovery Programs, the play is about a group of friends on the cusp of graduating. On a day that should be about celebrating, they discover life has presented them with one more test.
Inspired by events surrounding the George Floyd tragedy, 鈥淩edemption鈥 focuses on certain people criminalizing addiction. 鈥淭his came at the height of the demonization of George Floyd,鈥 Grandison says. 鈥淔aculty suggested to me, 鈥榃e want to change the focus on African Americans.鈥欌 Six of the play鈥檚 seven characters are based on real-life stories.
According to Grandison, 鈥淩edemption鈥 looks at the journey of recovery through the lives and experiences of African Americans in today鈥檚 communities. 鈥淭he play is for everyone,鈥 he says. 鈥淣o matter who you are or where you鈥檙e from. No matter how much or how little money you have鈥 鈥楻edemption鈥 is open and available to every human being.鈥
鈥淚 had to call it 鈥楻edemption鈥 because that鈥檚 what it was,鈥 Grandison says. 鈥淥ur worst moment does not define us. So many people thought they were going to die. It overwhelmed them 鈥 they were powerless. There鈥檚 something about being able to pick yourself up off the canvas.鈥
鈥淚鈥檝e learned about shame and stigma with people with mental illness and addiction,鈥 he says. 鈥淚f you break your knee, hand or finger, it鈥檚 okay. If your brain gets broken, it鈥檚 your fault. Same thing with addiction. I hope 鈥楻edemption鈥 contributes to a broader conversation.鈥
In conjunction with the production of 鈥淩edemption,鈥 the 911爆料网 Addiction Counseling program is celebrating its 50-year anniversary. This milestone was achieved two years ago but was delayed until now because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
For more information about Redemption, contact Bayla McDougal.