…Or Does it Explode?
A Premiere Zoom Adaptation
Written & Directed by John Dayo-Aliya
Performed by Austin Sasser, Benjamin Black, De Andre Hairston-Karim, & Dar’Jon Bentley
November 06, 2020 - November 21, 2020
November 6, 7, 12, 13, 19, 21 | 7:00pm (ET)
60 min
The virtual “house” will be limited to 35 “seats”
Tickets: $1
Suggested Donation: $1 to $99
This theatrical piece uses poetry, dance, and other contemporary theatre forms to explore questions of what it means to be Black, male, and young in the 21st century. …Or Does it Explode?, an unflinching portrayal of profound anger, hurt, and joy, blends stories gathered from men ages 16-35 in Akron, Ohio. Thought-provoking vignettes display social conditions and contradictions, and what it means to do justice to one another.
EVENT DETAILS
You must use Zoom to see this work. You will receive an email 1-2 hours before showtime with the meeting login information. Have questions? Email boxoffice@cptonline.org.
Content Warning: …Or Does it Explode? includes frank discussions of racism, bias, and violence, as well as adult content including derogatory language about the LGBTQ+ community. For details or additional content, please contact the Box Office at 216.631.2727 x501 or by emailing boxoffice@cptonline.org.
Please Note: Online sales for each performance will close at 5:00pm (ET).
The Creative Production Team Includes:
Raymond Bobgan - Producer
Beth Wood - Line Producer
Cole Sajovie - Stage Manager
KIX - Designer
About John Dayo-Aliya
John Dayo-Aliya is an Akron Arts Alive and Knight Arts Challenge Award-winning playwright, actor, and musician. He is a graduate of Kent State University where he studied Theatre Arts and Pan-African Studies. He is Artistic Director of the nationally-recognized theatre company, Ma’Sue Productions. With Ma’Sue, Dayo-Aliya has produced eight plays in the past 9 years that have received numerous accolades and press in local media such as The Devil Strip, Akron Beacon Journal, The Plain Dealer, Akronlife Magazine, and many other locally and regionally published media outlets. His work has been produced at Balch Street Theatre, Cleveland Public Theatre, and Akron Civic Theatre. His work explores various aspects of the Black experience and is specifically interested in Black modern lives and the questions arising out of the challenge of holding on to faith, love, community, and familial ties while living against a backdrop of structural racism. He creates work that provokes audiences to call out to their higher humanity in order to face social and cultural issues with intelligence, clarity, and empathy.