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A Rolling World Premiere: The Magnolia Ballet explores masculinity, racism, and the love between a queer kid and his father

Ezekiel is a Black teenager with a secret that threatens to destroy his already broken home. He’s haunted by the ghosts of racism, homophobia, and toxic masculinity—the same ghosts that have plagued men in Georgia for generations, including his emotionally distant father. But when he discovers a trove of forbidden love letters among his late grandfather’s belongings, Ezekiel begins to believe that the only way to fight these multi-generational ghosts is to burn everything to the ground. THE MAGNOLIA BALLET is a Southern Gothic fable that melds high drama, dance, poetry, and spectacle to explore masculinity, racism, and the love between a queer kid and his father.

The author of this play, Terry Guest is an award winning Playwright, Actor, Producer, Poet and Teaching Artist based in Chicago , IL.

“The play itself is about legacy, and specifically about the legacy of men living in the south, specifically Georgia, which is my home state. It’s about a young queer black kid, his father and the relationship that they have with a family next door, who is suspiciously similar except white,” says Guest.

The (at parts) poignant plot is delivered by a brilliantly casted crew of actors that stir up a slew of emotions for audience members. Paired with hilarious prose, this play challenges the audience to face important themes and conversations that otherwise might be neglected. Director of the Alleyway production of The Magnolia Ballet, Carlos R.A. Jones shares that audience can expect to see a take on life that they maybe have never seen before,

“I think the audience can expect to see something that doesn’t get presented often on the theatrical stage. As Terry said, it is the story of the black gay male existence, particularly in the south.  Personally in my own experience, what I’m trying to work for in life is the celebration of black joy, and that struggle is not always the focus, but rather resilience and growth.”

As a National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere, this beautifully poetic magical new play will be produced in the same season in Indianapolis, Chicago, Detroit and Williamston, Michigan. This once in a lifetime production of The Magnolia Ballet will have you crying, laughing, gasping, and wanting to watch all over again. This is an absolute must-see and a riveting way to begin Alleyway’s new season.

To purchase tickets for the show that runs through October 2nd visit Alleyway.com.

Alleyway Theatre
1 Curtain Up Alley
Buffalo, NY 14202
tel: 7168522600

The post A Rolling World Premiere: The Magnolia Ballet explores masculinity, racism, and the love between a queer kid and his father appeared first on Buffalo Rising.

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