brownsville song (b-side for tray)

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brownsville song (b-side for tray)

Full-Length Play, Drama  /  2w, 2m, 1girl(s)

Kimber Lee

Moving fluidly between past and present, this bold new play tells the story of Tray, a spirited African-American 18-year-old and his family, who must hold on to hope when Tray's life is cut short.

brownsville song (b-side for tray)

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    2w, 2m, 1girl(s)
  • Duration
    Duration
    90 minutes
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Not Applicable
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult
Accolades
Accolades
  • NOMINEE - 2015 Lucille Lortel Award
brownsville song (b-side for tray)

Details

Summary
Set in the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn, brownsville song (b-side for tray) is a powerful tale of resilience in the face of tragedy. Moving fluidly between past and present, this bold new play tells the story of Tray, a spirited African-American 18-year-old and his family, who must hold on to hope when Tray's life is cut short. Kimber Lee's lyrical social drama about the shocking death of a young African-American teenager is a poignant story for our time, and demands the attention of audiences far and wide. 
History

brownsville song (b-side for tray) had its world premiered at the 2014 Humana Festival before receiving its New York City premiere at LCT3/Lincoln Center Theater's Claire Tow Theater in October, 2014 under the direction of Patricia McGregor. 

Keywords
Performing Groups
LENA - Black. Late 50s – early 60s.
TRAY - Black. 18 years old.
DEVINE - Black and Korean American. 9 years old.
MERRELL - Korean American. 36 years old.
JUNIOR - Black. 18 years old.
BROOKLYN COLLEGE STUDENT - Black. Early-20s. Played by JUNIOR actor.

The fluidity of time in the play should be embodied in the fluidity of the staging; in what ever way the transitions are accomplished, they will be most effective for the story if they are actor-driven and in rhythm.

  • Time Period Contemporary, Present Day, New Millennium/21st Century
  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
  • Additional Features No Intermission
  • Duration 90 minutes
  • Cautions
    • Gun Shots
    • Intense Adult Themes
    • Strong Language

Media

REVIEWS

"Ms. Lee’s language is vivid and rhythmic...[and] it argues persuasively against treating the next neighborhood death as just one more sad statistic." - The New York Times, Read More

"[brownsville song...] has the feel of a rap song made stage-ready." - Huffington Post, Read More

"Kimber Lee’s heartfelt drama about the brief life and senseless death of a kid from a rough Brooklyn neighborhood has a lot to say about urban violence." - Variety, Read More

"Uncompromising in its examination of grief and big-hearted in its belief in forgiveness, brownsville song sings with the rhythms of an often-misrepresented community, following in the footsteps of Lorraine Hansberry and August Wilson." - Theatre Mania, Read More

ON BREAKING CHARACTER

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Videos

  • Kimber Lee on brownsville song (b-side for tray) youtube thumbnail

    Kimber Lee on brownsville song (b-side for tray)

  • brownsville song (b-side for tray) - Long Wharf Theatre youtube thumbnail

    brownsville song (b-side for tray) - Long Wharf Theatre

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £55 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

    Please submit a license request to determine availability.

Scripts

Available Formats:
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Authors

Kimber Lee

Kimber Lee

Kimber Lee’s plays include fight, tokyo fish story and brownsville song (b-side for tray), which premiered at the 2014 Humana Festival and will also receive 2014-2015 productions at LCT3, Long Wharf Theatre and Philadelphia Theatre Company. In May 2014, Center Theatre Group p ...

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