Kennie Dozier and Nambi E. Kelley (Writer/Co-producer on Season 2 on Peacock’s “Bel-Air”), founders of Kennie Playhouse Theatre and First Woman, LLC, respectively, present the We Up! Youth theater festival. The We Up Youth Theater Festival is a two week theater festival for youth ages 10 – 18 that features youth-oriented plays being performed multiple times.
The Festival plays run June 1 – 16 at The Looby Theater in the Z. Alexander Looby Center, located at 2301 Rosa Parks Blvd., Nashville Tennessee 37228. There is an Opening night Red-Carpet Reception on Saturday, June 1 at 5:30 p.m. Please come out and support the work of these young professionals. For details, performance schedules, and to purchase tickets, go to: www.kennieplayhousetheatre.org
The Festival is not only for kids who are interested in acting but also for those interested in working on the crew as Stage Managers, Light Techs, Sound Techs, Production Assistants. Also included in the Festival are Acting workshops for Youth on Film Acting, Theater Acting, and Auditioning.
The festival began with a two-day workshop May 10th and 11th led by Television and Film industry professionals. Nashville Native and TSU Alum, Tracey Bonner (“Sweet Magnolias”) taught Auditioning technique. Returning to Nashville Kamal Bolden (“Jitney”) taught Acting for Film. Keith Arthur Bolden (“Till”) taught Acting for Theater and Javon Johnson from Tyler Perry’s “The Oval,” did a panel discussion for parents and youth on the Acting Industry.
The four plays are “Oz” by Don Zolidis, “Amazing Grace” by Shay Youngblood, “Homebound” by Javon Johnson and “Freshman Year” by KT Curran.
Reeling from her sister’s death, Beth suddenly finds herself journeying through a world suspiciously resembling the film The Wizard of Oz in “Oz” a hilarious and heart-wrenching exploration of grief and perseverance on the road to acceptance. .” Ms. Youngblood says, “Amazing Grace is about a little girl who loves acting out stories, those told and read to her by her grandmother as well as ones she reads on her own.” “Homebound” is about four African-American youths in search of themselves within the confinement of a juvenile correctional facility as their struggles lead some to hope and others to their downfall. KT Curran says, “In this play I try to reveal the hidden cultural influences that can lead young girls into situations they are ill-equipped to handle.”
OnlyFam – A New Comedy by Mary McCallum runs June 7 – 15 at Darkhorse Theater
Directed By Shawn Whitsell, with Molly Breen, Alicia Haymer, Jene India, Mary McCallum, Tamiko Robinson Steele, and Shawn Whitsell, When Willow returns home after her mother’s funeral to clean out the family house, she finds herself at odds with her conspiracy-obsessed brother, who refuses to let the property go. Between uninvited visitors and sibling rivalry, the family must confront their past and present, and figure out if they can find closure and reconciliation. Performances are June 7th, 8th, 13th, 14th, 15th at 7:30 p.m.; June 9th at 2:00 p.m. at the Darkhorse Theater – 4610 Charlotte Avenue- Nashville, TN 37209. For more information and tickets, go to: tnplaywrights.org
