Company Cypher to open Katrina-themed play, September 24

Company Cypher announces the New York City premiere of award-winning Gutting, written by Jeremy J. Kamps and directed by Zoey Martinson. The play, inspired by events in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, addresses issues of gentrification and displacement.

When fourteen-year-old Kali returns home to New Orleans after spending two years as a Katrina refugee in Baton Rouge, she finds the neighborhood where she grew up to be changed almost beyond recognition.

Company Cypher’s non-profit work, dedicated to transforming the conversation about skin tone prejudice and race, goes beyond producing theater. Just as important as the show, our aim is to engage communities in conversation and direct action inspired by the production. To that end, Company Cypher’s Gutting and The Center for the Living City’s ‘Jane Jacobs Walk’ have launched an initiative that will engage community stakeholders in a conversation around urban development, displacement and the growing changes of local communities through a series of free neighborhood walking tours that help to put people in touch with their environment. 

See Gutting, September 24-26 and October 1-3: Thursdays-Saturdays at 7pm with additional afternoon matinees on Saturdays at 2pm.

Selected performances are followed by talkbacks with creative team and invited community leaders. Please check out the website for the full schedule. 

Tickets may be purchased at the door as well as online at gutting2015.org. Presales are highly recommended. For more information please email guttinginfo@gmail.com

Dr. Barbara Ann Teer’s National Black Theatre

2031 Fifth Avenue (between 125th and 126th Streets), Manhattan

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