The third annual installment of Remy Bumppo Theatre Company’s thinkTank combines hip-hop, spoken word and theater aesthetics to examine the mass media’s role in perpetuating cultural norms surrounding race and gender. As Americans we are at a crucial and historic period in our country. With the election of the first African American President, political commentators have espoused the belief that we are now living in a “post-racial world” and that racism has been rooted out of our culture, while others have insisted that there is still much work to be done. 

Hip hop theater artist Usman Ally, and award winning slam poets Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai and Idris Goodman expose the way that television sitcoms, news networks and commercials influence public perception regarding race and ethnicity, and how the media can either be a tool for deepening or dismantling race, class and gender lines in America. 

The production is directed by Remy Bumppo Artistic Associate Nick Sandys and produced by Remy Bumppo Artistic Associate Shawn Douglass.

Please note: This reading contains sexually explicit language.

Remy Bumppo’s thinkTank features short dramatic works with a focus on provoking timely conversation about a social, political or economic issue in which Chicago citizens have a stake.  Each night, a post-show discussion follows, led by speakers from the community representing various viewpoints on thinkTank’s theme.  Past topics include immigration (2007) and national security (2008).

Also recorded in conjunction with this event:
Thursday, March 12 - E. Patrick Johnson
Friday, March 13 - David Stovall
Saturday, March 14 - Alka Nayyar and Samuel Park
Sunday, March 15 - Jacqueline Stewart

Thursday, March 19 - Harvey Young
Friday, March 20 - Henry Godinez
Saturday, March 21 - Idris Goodwin and Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai

Sunday, March 22 - Michaela Purdue

Thursday, March 26 - Walter Podrazik
Friday, March 27 - Beau Basel Beaudoin
Saturday, March 28 - Cast
Sunday, March 29 - Karla Rae Fuller

Recorded Thursday, March 12, 2009 at The Greenhouse Theater.