Hanging with Hangela

Join Monèt Noelle Marshall, writer, performer and co-director of short film prophesy, for an intimate virtual facilitated session about the film. In this space Marshall will invite you to go even deeper into the material, the emotions it brings up and the ask it makes of us all. Come prepared with an open mind, willing heart and the commitment to do the work to build and be the world that is coming. During the workshop guests will be able to watch the short film. The facilitator asks that you please bring writing materials. This event is limited, so please register.

mama [rose.], an afro-futurist queer, circular time-traveling choreopoem, follows three familial relationships and their journeys toward healing intergenerational wounds.

through VHS archives of past-present-future times, an eighty-nine-year old trans archaeologist and oracle, Mama Rose, transmits indigenous wisdom and ways of knowing to her grandchild, a sixteen-year-old non-binary teen named Sid, as Sid navigates their own becoming and transforming relationship to their mother, Delores.

mama [rose.], an afro-futurist queer, circular time-traveling choreopoem, follows three familial relationships and their journeys toward healing intergenerational wounds.

through VHS archives of past-present-future times, an eighty-nine-year old trans archaeologist and oracle, Mama Rose, transmits indigenous wisdom and ways of knowing to her grandchild, a sixteen-year-old non-binary teen named Sid, as Sid navigates their own becoming and transforming relationship to their mother, Delores.

William Shakespeare’s Othello, adapted into modern language by a Black woman, directed by a Black woman and featuring an all Black femme creative team. This is not the Othello you’re used to. Monèt serves as both the Dramaturg and Intimacy Director in the production directed by JaMeeka D. Holloway.

William Shakespeare’s Othello, adapted into modern language by a Black woman, directed by a Black woman and featuring an all Black femme creative team. This is not the Othello you’re used to. Monèt serves as both the Dramaturg and Intimacy Director in the production directed by JaMeeka D. Holloway.

William Shakespeare’s Othello, adapted into modern language by a Black woman, directed by a Black woman and featuring an all Black femme creative team. This is not the Othello you’re used to. Monèt serves as both the Dramaturg and Intimacy Director in the production directed by JaMeeka D. Holloway.

William Shakespeare’s Othello, adapted into modern language by a Black woman, directed by a Black woman and featuring an all Black femme creative team. This is not the Othello you’re used to. Monèt serves as both the Dramaturg and Intimacy Director in the production directed by JaMeeka D. Holloway.

William Shakespeare’s Othello, adapted into modern language by a Black woman, directed by a Black woman and featuring an all Black femme creative team. This is not the Othello you’re used to. Monèt serves as both the Dramaturg and Intimacy Director in the production directed by JaMeeka D. Holloway.

Join the Acorn Chronicles, hosted by Emanuel H. Brown, for a discussion on Blackness, restoration, land, and freedom! The program is from 1 - 2 pm and 4:30 - 6 pm on Sunday, April 4th.

I, like most “good Black theatre folks”, have been critical of Tyler Perry’s work. It’s almost like we are trained that in order to be seen as legitimate Black artists we must denounce Tyler Perry and all of his contemporary urban theatre and film colleagues. And I did. I did it vehemently, espousing Perry for his use of stereotypes, religious dogma and, worst of all, “cooning”. But I was wrong. And I owe him an apology. 

In the last few days there has been a petition circulating on behalf of BIPOC theater artists telling “white American Theatre” to do better. I signed it because I agree with what is said. But if I am honest I don’t actually expect it to do anything. If I am honest, I expect that this will increase white tears and Black opportunities for maybe 3 seasons, maybe, before white theatres go back to business as usual. To be honest, I am tired of trying to convince white theatre that my life and my art matters.

And regardless of my disagreement with some of Tyler Perry’s artistic choices, I never felt like he hated Black people. Is there critique to be made about his characterization of Black women? Yes. Should he be challenged on the ways he uses LGBTQ+ characters? Absolutely. And we can do that. But I have never felt actively hated by Tyler Perry in the ways that I have felt despised, ignored and invisibilized in white theatre and arts institutions. Tyler Perry has  been creating work for Black people that mainstream (read white) media has considered worthless, predominately older Black women. He has been centering my grandma and my aunties in his work when no one else was, including me.

So why then would I continue to beg and plead with white institutions to give space to me and my stories when they do not honor and respect the people I make work for or about? Why would I invest my emotional, spiritual and artistic resources with those that can not, will not and do not invest in my living and thriving? Why would I forgive them for centuries of artistic malpractice and not offer grace and a loving challenge to Tyler Perry? 

Tyler Perry, I apologize for seeing you through the white gaze and not recognizing the model you are creating. Thank you for centering those of us that we forgot in our striving for “success” that turned out to be mediocre white praise. Thank you for casting and uplifting those of us that whiteness wants us to ignore and forget.  I am committed to creating Black art that centers Black people and divesting my dreams from white institutions and accolades. We have work to do and love requires that I challenge your representations of Black women and LGBTQ folks, but I am committed to doing that work with you if you will do it with me.

Black and artsy as eva,

This is for all the artists, creatives, designers, dancers, chefs, barista, bakers & bartenders, makers, moves, speakers, performers, actors and event planners. This is for anyone at home reevaluating their whole life. This is for you. This is for me.

Breathe.

Last Sunday at the Mobile Homecoming Sunday Service led by Sangodare and Alexis Pauline Gumbs, Alexis did an oracle reading from Toni Cade Bambara’s The Salt Eaters. She read a section where a drunk man recognizes a woman on the street and called out to her. “Hey teacher lady!” She was not teaching in this moment and yet, even in his inebriated state, he knew her.

Breathe.

Over the last week and a half I’ve been asking myself a question; why are so many of my dreams tied to fallible institutions? Broadway is shut down right now. As all the shows closed along the Great White Way I wondered, what if I never make it there? What if it’s gone before I’m ready? And if I don’t get to Broadway, I can’t win a Tony. And if I never win a Tony… It spirals from there. All the things that won't be available. All the ways I won’t be able to signal success and made-it-ness.

So when Alexis read this passage from The Salt Eaters and said “they will recognize you by your purpose,: I felt like she was talking right to me. If Broadway were to crumble and fall, if they never give out another Tony or Oscar or Pulitzer or Emmy, my purpose will remain.

And so will yours.

These institutions may fall away, your purpose will not. The people will still see you and say “Hey Artist/Chef/Dancer/Poet!” We will still recognize you. And we will expect you to fulfill your role. We will expect you to show up to your purpose. Because we don’t recognize you by the accolades or accomplishments, we recognize you by the impact you have on us.

MOJOAA Performing Arts Company presents the world premiere of Smoked by Thomas Brazzle. Part comedy, part drama, this play follows brothers Jake and Joe as they try to hold on to their daddy’s Austin, TX smokehouse as gentrification looms outside and family secrets and ghosts circle inside. It’s a story about family, change and forgiveness and we are so pleased to be the very first to produce it.

On Saturday, April 4 the BBQ will be on the stage and on your plate! Corner Boys BBQ will be smoking meat and serving dinner before the show. Included in this special ticket is a full BBQ dinner, nonalcoholic beverages, dessert and admission to Smoked!

MOJOAA Performing Arts Company presents the world premiere of Smoked by Thomas Brazzle. Part comedy, part drama, this play follows brothers Jake and Joe as they try to hold on to their daddy’s Austin, TX smokehouse as gentrification looms outside and family secrets and ghosts circle inside. It’s a story about family, change and forgiveness and we are so pleased to be the very first to produce it.

MOJOAA Performing Arts Company presents the world premiere of Smoked by Thomas Brazzle. Part comedy, part drama, this play follows brothers Jake and Joe as they try to hold on to their daddy’s Austin, TX smokehouse as gentrification looms outside and family secrets and ghosts circle inside. It’s a story about family, change and forgiveness and we are so pleased to be the very first to produce it.