Upcoming events

A diverse group of artists sitting in theater seats — Whittier:
A play in portraits

by TyLie Shider
New Play Reading
Walker Art Center
Thursday, September 24
7pm - learn more

Whittier is a multimedia docudrama that chronicles 24 hours in the Whittier neighborhood of Minneapolis during the summer of 2020. The narrative unfolds as a series of portraits and vignettes, featuring a chorus of neighbors who communicate through a “Neighborhood Watch" group chat.

Dark Muse Healing Arts, with generous support from Venturous Theater Fund, will bring to life a full-scale production of Whittier: A play in portraits as an experimental, site-specific work in South Minneapolis. The interdisciplinary nature of this work organically blends theater, film, and community organizing. Stay tuned for updates on this timely, necessary project.

The play takes place on May 30th, in the days following the murder of George Floyd in 2020. Commemorating the 6th memorial anniversary, in partnership with Playwrights’ Center, our reading on Friday, May 29th celebrated the strength of our communities.

As we continue to uplift the residents of South Minneapolis, we are collaborating with Walker Art Center to present a reading of Whittier at their upcoming Neighborhood Night on September 24th. The reading is free with registration and will feature a talkback with Executive Producer and Founding Artistic Director, Vanessa Brooke Agnes.

“The intersection between art and current events, and cosmopolitanism and a modern civil rights movement. The play is made up of portraits of a neighborhood. Snapshots. Parts of a whole community.”

— TyLie Shider, Playwright

“The collective traumas we’ve witnessed cannot be healed in isolation, some work can only be done in community. A group of neighbors showing up & caring for each other makes this play a mirror that reflects our resilience back to us.”

— Vanessa Brooke Agnes, Director + Producer

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