BLOOD AT THE ROOT. A striking new ensemble drama based on the Jena Six; six Black students who were initially charged with attempted murder for a school fight after being provoked with nooses hanging from a tree on campus. This bold new play by Dominique Morisseau (Ain't Too Proud, Sunset Baby, Detroit '67, Skeleton Crew) examines the miscarriage of justice, racial double standards, and the crises in relations between men and women of all classes. Moving, lyrical, and bold, Blood at the Root probes the complexities of race, individual freedoms, and what justice means when biases have been normalized.

 When the central character, a black female student named Raylynn, decides it's time for a change in her high school, she sits under a tree around which only white students regularly gather. In response—as was the case in Jena—nooses are subsequently hung from that tree, causing many black students to erupt in protest. Things come to a head when six black students, including Raylynn's brother, attack a white student and are brought up on trumped-up charges.

(Regarding 381 and 382 you can choose to take only 1)

 THEA 350 Theatre Performance (1 unit)

THEA 372 Musical Theatre Rehearsal (1 unit)

THEA 381 Production Support: Stage or THEA 382 Production Support: Costumes

For more information on auditions, please refer to the Blood at the Root Audition Flyer provided above.

Blood At The Root Script

 The project will investigate the nature of uncertainty, groundlessness, and mystery—particularly inquiring into how to leave behind situations, attitudes, relationships, governments, homes, and habits of abuse & dysfunction. How do we create our new lives after this pandemic without carrying forward the unwholesomeness we absorbed in our past? How do we end cycles of oppression? How do we shed our suffering armor? How do we learn new ways?

 The project will play with stories, practices, belief systems, and art forms from the many cultures represented in our group, as well as others we encounter along the way. We will experiment with the intersections of modern dance, new music, drumming, multi-cultural body percussion, martial arts, labyrinths, processions, rituals, and games.

Audition Information: You don’t have to prepare anything for the audition, just bring your whole self, ready to participate in an evening of creative exploration. Students, alumni, community members, faculty, staff, and professional artists are invited to come check it out.

People of all sizes, shapes, ages, abilities/disabilities, cultures, ethnicities, genders, identities, art practices, and experience levels are invited to join us.

For more info and to reserve your spot for the auditions you can send an email to Eric Kupers at eric.kupers@csueastbay.edu or check the CSUEB IIE Facebook page for updates at https://www.facebook.com/CSUEBIIE/