Syracuse Stage is giving a behind-the-scenes peek at an upcoming production focused on housing. As part of a series of conversations, artist and aspiring playwright Juhanna Rogers will deliver a virtual discussion Monday evening about her project that's set to debut this summer.
Rogers, the third speaking the Stage's four-art series, said her work looks at geographic identity centered around the African American experience. Rogers also said areas like the south side of Syracuse, Newark, or Chicago aren’t typically portrayed in ways that show how policy has shaped them.
“We can talk about poverty, crime, or drug use – but we don’t often talk about what has caused the high unemployment rates or the decaying of the neighborhoods because the lack of financial infrastructure provided to individuals living in urban communities.”
Place-based storytelling in urban communities has a power to activate systemic empathy & accountability. How do we ensure voices don’t get lost? How can stories redefine current models of policy & community engagement?
— Syracuse Stage (@syracusestage) February 1, 2022
Free, pre-registration required: https://t.co/1ZgkDnyGKl pic.twitter.com/WIZqzrJume
Rogers said she hopes people of all backgrounds can identify in some way.
“If you are of a certain socioeconomic level, and you live this experience, if you come from this environment in art of color, that could be another layer of a trigger. Or was raised by a single mom, you know there’s so many layers of it that sometimes just thinking about--okay, how can we recreate this experience and bring it in a different way.”
Rogers said she applauded Syracuse Stage for finding creative ways to unpack and explore these topics. This summer’s production is called “The Most Beautiful Home…Maybe," and will bring together artists, local residents, community organizations, and others.
Director of community engagement and education Joann Yarrow said it’ll be highly unorthodox and interactive.
“You’re not going to come to the theatre and sit down. You are going to walk through the experience of looking at housing in a different way. It is taking something that is serious, but your narrator is a tap-dancing zebra.”
The virtual discussion with Rogers will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 7. Registration is at syracusestage.org. The play is scheduled for June 15-18.
