MINNEAPOLIS — A performing arts group representing the Minneapolis area will soon accept a prestigious invitation to participate in an international fringe festival.
The young Black leaders have based their production on their lived experiences during the crises of the last two years.
“It’s all of us reflecting on that very dark time and getting our grievances out. And also, it gives another shed of light on the Black mind,” said Antonio Brooks, a senior at Southwest High School in Minneapolis and a member of the Legacy Arts Group.
Brooks joins Moziah Thomas of North High School, Judah Gardner of Minnetonka High School and Danielle Roberson of Park Center Senior High School to make up the group's youth ensemble.
Legacy Arts Group begins — then responds to crises
Tamiko French — then a teacher at North High School in Minneapolis — first learned her Legacy Arts Group had earned the attention of a prestigious international fringe festival in 2019. A year later, and as her cast was crafting their production, the pandemic derailed their plans and their lives.
“We were on a wonderful trajectory all through 2019 and 2020 and then March 17 happened,” French said, referring to when the students — and greater community — moved to distance learning and social isolation.
Just a couple months later, another crisis rocked the performance group — and the world. Each of the high school artists struggled with the murder of George Floyd and the aftermath in their city. Months later when it was finally cleared to safely reconnect, the group used their passions and pain to revise their art and create: “The Beautiful Ugly.”
“It helps a lot. It helps you. It keeps you, it keeps you occupied, so that you’re not always thinking of the sad things going on. You’re trying to make life better,” Thomas said.
“I vented it out on that stage,” Brooks said, adding, “I cried through every scene that I felt was real to my life.”
Their truth now taken to a global stage
This year, and with their original production in hand, the group is now capitalizing on their exclusive invitation. The students and director will represent the first All-Black group from Minnesota to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
“The Edinburgh Fringe is the first one. It is the originator of every fringe across the world,” French said, adding, “It just opens the world for them. It allows them to see world theater in a different way. It allows them to feel that global citizenship versus just being in their school or participating in a school play.”
How you can support the Legacy Arts Group
You can learn more about the Legacy Arts Group – and how you can support them — here.
And to support the group’s participation in the August International Fringe Festival, please see the following from the Legacy Arts Group:
There will be a The Legacy Arts Gala coming up on May 14 at The Real Magic House in Hudson, Wisconsin.
Join for a special evening where you can experience the powerful music + moments from our production at a beautiful location in support of our mission!
All of the proceeds from this event will be donated to the Legacy Arts Group.
We hope you'll join us. You can grab your tickets now by clicking here.
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