Event || the Are We Free Yet? project by TS Hawkins
the Are We Free Yet? project
based on the book by Tina Strawn
curated, written & directed by TS Hawkins
curated, written & directed by TS Hawkins
October 5th; 1:30PM & 7PM
an elevated stage reading
at Theatre Exile
at Theatre Exile
TICKETING INFORMATION
COMMUNITY EVENTS
CAST/CREW/CREATIVES
Cynda Purnell as ANTIQUITY
Maria Genao Beltre as DESTINEÉ
Jordan Simone reading stage directions
Tina Strawn - author of Are We Free Yet? The Black Queer Guide to Divorcing America (Row House Publishing)
TS Hawkins - playwright, director, curator & dramaturg, marketing manager, and stage manager
AngelPirate Productions - producer
Gabrielle Corsaro - assistant stage manager
Ella Namour - light & sound operator
NaBrayah Jones - still photography
Prime Act Media LLC - videographer
LISTEN TO THE MOODLIST
ABOUT THE PLAY
Through sound and verse, we sojourn in an afro-future encapsulated within a Sunday dinner unpacking decades and dynasties of epigenetic memories. Will the future ever progress against the past? Sauté and serenade with ANTIQUITY and DESTINEÉ as they prepare a table of life, love, and a longing to still be free.
ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT & DIRECTOR
TS HAWKINS (they/them) is an international author, performance poet, art activist, playwright, trauma-informed & award-winning educator, and member of the Dramatists Guild. Plays, short works, and books include Seeking Silence, sweet bread peaches (formerly, Cartons of Ultrasounds), Too Late to Apologize, In Their Silence (formerly, They’ll Neglect to Tell You), #RM2B, The Secret Life of Wonder: a prologue in G, AGAIN, #SuiteReality, “don’t wanna dance with ghosts...”, #SuiteTea, the Are We Free Yet? project, Sugar Lumps & Black Eye Blues, Confectionately Yours, Mahogany Nectar, Lil Blaek Book: all the long stories short, The Hotel Haikus, and Becoming Saturn: a collection of rhymes, roses, and resistance. Hawkins’ works and powerful performances have been praised by the Barrymore Awards - Victory Foundation for Excellence in Theatre Education recipient, Philadelphia Magazine - Best of Philly, BroadwayWorld, Philly Voice, NPR, WHYY, WURD Radio, Philadelphia Weekly, Chicago Tribune, The Dramatist, and dosageMagazine. Featured playwriting opportunities include the Frank Moffett Mosier Fellowship for Works in Heightened Language Semifinalist & Dramatists Guild Foundation National Fellowship Finalist for 2024-25. Ongoing interactive projects: TrailOff, Community Capital: an Afrofuturism South Philly Walking Experience, and Becoming Saturn; Hawkins’s first studio poetry album with HawkHatt Music.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
TINA STRAWN (she/they) is a joy and liberation advocate, activist, author of Are We Free Yet? The Black Queer Guide to Divorcing America, and the owner and host of the Speaking of Racism podcast. The heart of her work is leading Legacy Trips, immersive antiracism experiences where participants visit historical locations such as Montgomery and Selma, AL, and utilize spiritual practices as tools to affect personal and collective change. Tina has three adult children, an ex-husband, an ex-wife, and an ex-country. She has been a full-time minimalist nomad since February 2020. Tina travels the globe speaking, writing, teaching, and exploring where on the planet she can feel safe and free in her/their queer, Black, woman-identifying body.
ABOUT ANTIQUITY - CYNDA PURNELL
CYNDA PURNELL (she/her) has a passion for bringing compelling stories to life whether on stage, in film, or in her daily doings. She was last seen portraying Cynthia in Wine in the Wilderness (EgoPo Classic Theater). Before that, she contributed to the local theater scene in West Philly Meeting (Theatre in the X). Following those productions, she took to life offstage, embracing the joys and challenges of parenthood. She is thrilled to break her hiatus to collaborate with TS Hawkins and AngelPirate Productions, once again!
ABOUT DESTINEÉ - MARIA GENAO BELTRE
MARIA GENAO BELTRE (she/her) is excited to be part of TS's new work "the Are We Free Yet? project"! With a background in acting and modeling, Maria brings a diverse range of experiences to the stage. She has previously showcased her talent during the fringe festivals in Philadelphia, as well as working with major brands such as Revlon, La Croix, and Almay through her modeling career. When she’s not in front of the camera Maria enjoys being behind the camera working with her friends in their upcoming production company LMNOProductions. Maria would like to express her heartfelt gratitude to her family and friends for their unwavering support and encouragement!
ABOUT STAGE DIRECTIONS - JORDAN SIMONE
JORDAN SIMONE (she/her) is a multi-hyphenated artivist and healer, who uses the art of storytelling as a way to hold space for others.
ABOUT LIGHT & SOUND - ELLA NAMOUR
ELLA NAMOUR (she/her) is delighted to join "the Are We Free Yet? project" as their light and sound technician. Outside of this project, she is currently employed as Theatre Exile’s Production Manager, where she’s hard at work on their upcoming season! Before this, she was a production assistant for Exile's '23-24 season, working on Camp Siegfried, A Case for the Existence of God, Philly Grit, The Ever Present, and any number of special events. She graduated from Haverford College, where she worked at Bryn Mawr's Goodhart Theatre in a wide variety of production roles. When not on the job, you can find her cross-stitching and watching bad TV with her beloved partner.
ABOUT ANGELPIRATE PRODUCTIONS
ANGELPIRATE PRODUCTIONS seeks to serve its community by exploring stories of culture, bias, privilege, and power. We create original performance pieces and assist in sponsoring and producing the artistic work of artists of the global majority, and particularly those of artists of color living and working in the Philadelphia area.
ABOUT PRIME ACT MEDIA LLC
Breaking barriers & creating opportunities for artists and creatives 40+!
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