Strange Fruit Redux is a 30-minute, one-act play that is composed of a series of spoken word monologues mixed with music and socio-political, pop culture sound bites geared to show the fears and frustrations of the modern-day black man.

As part of the show, an original piece of art is created on the stage. Strange Fruit Redux had its premiere at Manhattan Repertory Theater in 2015. In 2016 the play participated in the Midtown International Theatre Festival and Downtown Urban Arts Festival in Manhattan and played in festivals in Queens, Brooklyn, Winston-Salem, Detroit and San Francisco.

Spoken word is the ancestor of hip-hop, with artists like Gil Scott Heron and The Last Poets being its forefathers. Born in Newark, New Jersey, Afrika Brown is a playwright, screenwriter, director and poet. In 2014, Brown’s play, “The Outing,” was featured at Open Hydrant’s Spring Festival, Manhattan Repertory’s Summer Festival, and The Strawberry Festival. In 2015, Brown premiered “Strange Fruit Redux “at Manhattan Repertory Theatre’s 10th Anniversary Event. In 2016, Brown premiered “Slow Bullet, My Three Loves” at Manhattan Repertory Theatre. In 2017, Brown was invited to participate in Can Serrat’s residency in Barcelona, Spain and became the Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights Fellow for 2018. In 2018, Brown’s “A Thing of Beauty” had a feature reading at the Living Room Theater’s New Play Incubator series. Brown won the 2019 Lovesick Film Festival for her short film script “After…Suite 220” and released “Flame, ” her second volume of poetry, in 2021. Currently Brown is working on bringing her latest play “THE FIGHT” to the stage following several successful industry readings, The Apollo’s New Work’s Salon Series.

 

ains constant. Written and performed by Camille Upshaw.

For more information including the full listing of festival events, please visit newarkartsfestival.com

This is a partnership between The Newark Museum of Art and Newark Arts Festival.

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