An uncensored and brutally honest look into the lives of five black men in Secrets of a Black Boy

[Image Credit: Marc Lostracco]

TORONTO (October 11, 2016) – Timely, bold and unflinchingly honest, Secrets of a Black Boy returns to Toronto November 10th-20th for a 14 show run. Produced by PLAYINGwithCRAYONS, with the support of Theatre Passe Muraille (16 Ryerson Ave.) as part of their 2016.17 Season Guest Company Series, Secrets of a Black Boy focuses a lens on five young black men from Toronto as they come together for one last domino game at their local community centre before its permanent closure – a devastating result of the neighbourhood’s revitalization project.

Through a series of monologues mixed with musical interludes, Secrets of a Black Boy critically explores the underlying effects of common stereotypes faced by racialized men and delves into several controversial issues including police brutality and injustice, mental health, domestic abuse, infidelity, interracial dating, and sexuality.

Directed by Kimahli Powell, Secrets of a Black Boy features an impressive ensemble cast including original members Al St. Louis and Samson Brown, returnee Troy Crossfield, and newcomers Julien Hyacinthe and Mark Sparks. The cast is joined on stage by DJ O-nonymous, who sets the tone and provides a rhythmic backdrop to the performance. Having toured to New York’s ActNow New Voices in Theatre Series, North Carolina’s National Black Theatre Festival, Washington DC’s Black Theatre Festival and Single Carrot Theatre in Baltimore, Secrets of a Black Boy returns to Toronto for an unprecedented run, recently adapted to reflect authentic narratives linked to social issues of particular concern today.

“Secrets of a Black Boy is unapologetic in the stories it tells,” said creator and writer Darren Anthony, “but it goes there so audiences leave considering the range of issues and layers facing black men today.”

In this evolved remount of the production, Powell and the cast delve into sensitive issues and shed light on challenging subjects in which PLAYINGwithCRAYONS (Anthony and creative partner/Executive Producer, Shaka Licorish) believe there needs to be greater, healthier, discussions around. Following select performances, a notable guest host will moderate talk back sessions with the cast and crew, providing an opportunity for traditional theatre audiences and a new generation of urban, traditionally, non-theatre goers to engage in conversation and explore themes covered within the piece.

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About PLAYINGwithCRAYONS:

PLAYINGwithCRAYONS is a creative platform that aims to develop ground-breaking projects and creative content for the screen, stage, and various media platforms. Using a variety of art and culture muses layered with our own, defined lived experiences, we curate and produce culturally relevant and distinguished content for a dynamic audience of creative thinkers, innovators, influencers, and thought leaders alike.

About Theatre Passe Muraille:

“Canada’s First Theatre for New Work” Theatre Passe Muraille is a Toronto-based Canadian theatre company, mandated to develop and produce innovative and provocative new theatre works, while nurturing new and established artists and companies. Lead by Artistic Director Andy McKim and General Manager Régine Cadet, Theatre Passe Muraille is home to a repertoire of work that aims to be inclusive, eclectic and representative of Toronto; while creating new collaborative models for the myriad of relationships between independent artists & institutions. Theatre Passe Muraille values empowering artists in the creation and dissemination of their work, looking to help guide that work out into the world.  www.passemuraille.ca

About Theatre Passe Muraille’s “Within Our Walls” Guest Company Series:

Theatre Passe Muraille values collaboration in all its forms. As well as producing their own plays, TPM also hosts other companies “within their walls”. In this season’s Guest Company Series they have both chosen, and invited, two independent companies to produce at TPM, with their institutional support. They believe in these artists and are hosting them in order to help increase their profile and support the advancement of their plays, while introducing their work to TPM audiences.

Secrets of a Black Boy

Created & written by Darren Anthony

Director | Kimahli Powell

Cast

Biscuit | Samson Brown

Dwayne | DJ O-nonymous

Jakes | Troy Crossfield

Jerome | Mark Sparks

Sean | Julien Hyacinthe

Sheldon | Al St. Louis

Crew

Stage Manager | Kimberly Miller-Pryce