Black and Blue Matters

Black and Blue Matters is a satirical and interactive Hip Hop musical written by Omari Newton and directed by Diane Roberts that deconstructs the justice system, truth, white supremacy, and the nature of post/neo-colonial trauma. It offers an urgent examination of tension between police and marginalized communities, and it confronts anti-Black racism and how it affects all of us. 

The performance is a deconstructed jury trial that takes the form of a rap battle between two characters; Sammir Frederique, The Activist, a Black teenager clinging to life after being shot nine times by a police officer, and David Harrison, The Cop, the white police officer who shot him. The audience chooses the fate of the characters, alongside the character of The Judge, Legba, who presides the trial at the Oppressed People’s Court. 

Omari Newton wrote Black and Blue Matters as a companion piece to his play Sal Capone: The Lamentable Tragedy of, which Black Theatre Workshop first premiered in 2013.  

See the teasers below (WARNING: Strong Language)

Black and Blue Matters Creative Team

Omari Newton – Playwright

Diane Roberts – Director

 Cast

Justin Johnson – Sammy

David Kaye – David

Kim Villagante – Legba

Joy Mwandemange – X

 Creative Team

Nalo Soyini Bruce – Set & Costume Designer

Troy Slocum – Composer & Sound Designer

Tim Rodrigues – Lighting Designer

Patrick Boivin – Video Designer

Sam I Am Montolla – Choreographer

Lydie Dubuisson – Assistant Director

Amber Hood – Associate Lighting Designer

Courtney Moses – Assistant Designer

Elyse Quesnel – Stage Manager

Katherine Hagemeyer – Stage Manager

Ava Bishop – Apprentice Stage Manager