Presented by the University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Diversity, Equity & Educational Achievement and produced by the Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives (OMAI), the Line Breaks Festival brings the top new aesthetics in contemporary performance art to Madison. It has evolved into a space for the investigation of contemporary American culture through the lens of hip-hop performance.
Line Breaks showcases new theatrical works that highlight the various talents and mission work of students, including First Wave Scholars, along with guest artists. This year, performers will tackle various subjects from love and relationships to political activism, personal narratives and self-care.
The varied talents displayed from the scholars include music, poetry, dance and film and connects their academic background with their gifts to reach people and help create unity, empowerment, deeper thought and provides an idea of how they, the younger generation, are actively involved in the shaping of life.
The First Wave touring group will be performing excerpts of some of the most powerful activist work around, on the subject of solitary confinement, revolution, identity, activism and the power of voice. Some of these works have been done in collaboration throughout the year with the YWCA, Boys and Girls Club of America (BGCA), MOSES group and others to make a change in the world today.
Schedule:
All events take place in Madison at the Overture Center for the Arts (201 State Street) except for the events on April 11.
Events are free and open to the public. Talk backs will take place after the performances. Schedule subject to change – for more details, visit linebreaks.wisc.edu.
Tuesday, April 11
(Chazen Museum of Art, L160 Elvehjem, 800 University Avenue)
7:00 p.m. MasKuline, A film by Garrett Pauli
7:30 p.m. Baraha, A film by Gretchen Carvajal
Wednesday, April 12
6:00 p.m. The Studio Presents, Sellery Hall Arts Students
6:30 p.m. Tearing Down the Walls, First Wave Touring Ensemble
7:15 p.m. Revelations and my Journey Home, First Wave 10th Cohort
8:15 p.m. Ball & Chain, Tiffany Ike
9:25 p.m. Goddess at Your Feet, Jamie Dawson
Thursday, April 13
6:00 p.m. Kaleidoscopes, John Paul Alejandro
7:15 p.m. Revelations and my Journey Home, First Wave 10th Cohort
8:15 p.m. Ball & Chain, Tiffany Ike
9:15 p.m. First Wave Poetry Sharing
9:40 p.m. The Sun Doesn’t Always Come Out Tomorrow, Kenneth Dizon
Friday, April 14
6:00 p.m. The Studio Presents, Sellery Hall Arts Students
6:30 p.m. Tearing Down the Walls, First Wave Touring Ensemble
7:30 p.m. Goddess at Your Feet, Jamie Dawson
8:30 p.m. Revelations and my Journey Home, First Wave 10th Cohort
9:15 p.m. TBA, Surprise performance by local guest artists
Saturday, April 15
6:00 p.m. Kaleidoscopes, John Paul Alejandro
7:00 p.m. The Sun Doesn’t Always Come Out Tomorrow, Kenneth Dizon
7:30 p.m. Romeo and Jul*et, Daniel Kaplan
8:30 p.m. Ball & Chain, Tiffany Ike
9:45 p.m. Music Workshop, led by Daniel Kaplan & Eric Newble
Sunday, April 16
3:00 p.m. Romeo and Jul*et, Daniel Kaplan
3:45 p.m. Love has no season – Featured artist, Rain Wilson
4:30 p.m. Music Workshop, led by Daniel Kaplan & Eric Newble
Performance descriptions (as of April 3):
Ball & Chain, Tiffany Ike (April 12, 13 & 15)
A story that explores the socialization that creates different forms of blackness and masculinity.
First Wave Poetry Sharing (April 13)
First Wave students who represent a strong activism model in their writing hope to shift thought and move us into a space of change/activism.
Goddess at Your Feet, Jamie Dawson (April 12 & 14)
Follow the character Angel as she heals from personal heart break while still recognizing the breaking of bodies from this world as a result of institutional pressures and systematic oppression.
Kaleidoscopes, John Paul Alejandro (April 13 & 15)
The purpose of Kaleidoscopes (Collide of Scopes) is to show the struggle of sustaining one’s self and identities among many other clashing viewpoints in our communities.
Music Workshop – Led by First Wave Scholars Daniel Kaplan and Eric Newble (April 15 & 16)
An advanced music workshop was created to grow the musical talent and projects of First Wave students this academic year.
Revelations and my Journey Home, First Wave 10th Cohort (April 12, 13 & 14)
First-year First Wave students will perform work based on personal narratives and their growth to find their self and love thy self.
Romeo and Jul*et, Daniel Kaplan (April 15 & 16)
This one-person show explores the nature of relationships in contemporary 21st century society, as the audience is taken through a circular process of love and loss.
The Studio Presents: Sellery Hall Arts Students (April 12 & 14)
Professor and The Studio Faculty Director, Faisal Abdu’Allah is working with students on “Altered States of Consciousness and Being,” impact of technology, erasure of the present and how we remember touch and intimacy.
The Sun Doesn’t Always Come Out Tomorrow, Kenneth Dizon (April 13 & 15)
In this debut comedy show, Kenneth will explore many topics which include depression, suicide and interpersonal relationships.
Tearing Down the Walls, First Wave Touring Ensemble (April 12 & 14)
A group of seven First Wave students will perform excerpts of the activism performances they’ve done throughout the year.
Additional support for Line Breaks Festival is provided by the Overture Center for the Arts, Forward Theater and the UW-Madison Arts Institute. Line Breaks is curated by Rain Wilson.