Photo courtesy of the artist
Multidisciplinary artist Paige Hernandez (she/her/hers) has been co-commissioned by Children’s Theatre of Charlotte (NC), Children’s Theater of Madison (WI), Dallas Children’s Theater (TX), and The Rose (NE) to create a theatre piece based on Maya Angelou’s Poem Life Doesn’t Frighten Me. Hernandez will work directly with children in each theater’s community to generate the content of the play, using the poem and the illustrations by Jean-Michel Basquiat as inspiration and source material.
“To say that this project feels like a perfect fit is an understatement! I have been a lifelong fan of (Maya) Angelou, (Jean-Michel) Basquiat and specifically of Angelou’s poem, Life Doesn’t Frighten Me. I have taught this poem for many years and look forward to putting my mindful hip hop aesthetic into a devised children’s theatre piece,” said Hernandez in a statement.
“I have been a lifelong fan of (Maya) Angelou, (Jean-Michel) Basquiat and specifically of Angelou’s poem, Life Doesn’t Frighten Me. I have taught this poem for many years and look forward to putting my mindful hip hop aesthetic into a devised children’s theatre piece.”
— Paige Hernandez, Playwright
Hernandez is a critically acclaimed playwright, performer, director, and choreographer, based in the Washington, DC area. As an arts educator, Hernandez has taught all ages, in several art disciplines. To date, she has reached more than 10,000 students, from pre-K through college, in hundreds of residencies, workshops, and performances around the world. Hernandez was named a “Top Theatre Worker You Should Know” by American Theatre Magazine, “40 under 40” by the Washingtonian Magazine, a “Rising Leader of Color” by Theatre Communications Group and a “Citizen Artist” by the Kennedy Center. She is most notably known for her effective fusion of theatre, hip-hop, dance, and education.
“We are thrilled to have Paige Hernandez on board as Playwright for this project,” said Arlethia Hailstock, School Performance Coordinator and Staff EDI Lead at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte. “Paige is an engaging, energetic, and accomplished artist and educator. Between Angelou’s words, the energy of the young people involved in the workshops, and Paige’s vision, audiences are in for an incredible experience.”
“Paige is an engaging, energetic, and accomplished artist and educator. Between Angelou’s words, the energy of the young people involved in the workshops, and Paige’s vision, audiences are in for an incredible experience.”
— Arlethia Hailstock, School Performance Coordinator and Staff EDI Lead at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte
The project will begin with a developmental workshop at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte in August 2022 with subsequent premieres to be scheduled at Children’s Theater of Madison, Dallas Children’s Theater, and The Rose. Hernandez will conduct highly participatory workshops with children ages first grade to teenage in each of the theaters’ communities to generate material which will be used in the creation of the play itself. The final production will be appropriate for children ages 4-8 and include visual art, music, dance, spoken word, and other artistic forms.
“The potential of this project and the collaboration between these flagship theatres and their communities takes my breath away. Audiences can expect an experience that is authentic, insightful, and that amplifies the voices of children from several communities throughout the country,” said Hernandez.