Painted Bride Presents New Sci-Fi Play and Art Installation on a Young Black Artist Healing From Trauma
Painted Bride Presents New Sci-Fi Play and Art Installation on a Young Black Artist Healing From Trauma
Philly artist Ang Bey to perform solo work from August 25 – September 3 in West Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA (August 18, 2023) – Painted Bride presents “COMET,” a new art installation and one-person play from multi-disciplinary Philadelphia artist Ang(ela) Bey, on a young Black artist recovering from familial trauma. Seven performances will take place between August 25 – September 3 at the Painted Bride (5212 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19139).
COMET’s one-person play, directed by Ryan Rebel and written by Ang(ela) Bey, tells the story of Sarah, an agoraphobic painter still living in her childhood home in West Philadelphia. When Sarah’s night is interrupted by an inevitable phone-call, she’s thrust into space – literally. Now, Sarah must find her way back to Earth or be lost forever. COMET is equal parts memory-play and parable about Black girls growing up too fast. COMET is also a celebration of the formative years of our imagination and the worlds we create to protect ourselves. COMET asks, what is the cost of staying in a child’s place – not to be seen nor heard?
“We want our audiences to leave entertained, moved, and equipped with resources to better their lives. COMET is deeply participatory, so audiences will engage in critical conversations and playful games that directly influence Sarah’s choices,” shares the show’s creator, writer, and actor Ang(ela) Bey. COMET will also include an art installation on living beyond trauma, with work from Ang(ela) Bey, Claire Englehardt, and other West Philadelphia artists.
The event is co-presented by Painted Bride, Ang(ela) Bey, Black Theatre Alliance of Philadelphia, and Upstream Performance Collaborative. For more information and tickets: https://paintedbride.org/events/comet/
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About Ang Bey
Ang(ela) Bey (they/them) is a multidisciplinary-artist from Southwest Philadelphia. Across discipline, their art imagines liberated futures for Black folx. Ang is founder of Upstream Performance Collaborative and Co-Artistic Director of Shoe Box Theatre Collective.
Affiliations: Ring of Keys, Rising Writers (Azuka Theatre), and PlayPenn Playwrights Cohort; former: Echoes (Primary Stages), Strides Collective Emerging Playwrights, and Jouska PlayWorks. Residencies/awards: HATCH, Rockland Woods, semi-finalist for Shattered Globe’s Global Playwright Series and Live in Color’s June Bingham Playwright Commission. Selected-credits: [design] sandblasted (Theatre Horizon) and A Hit Dog Will Holler (Azuka) [acting] Fabulation (Lantern Theater) and The Light (Theatre Exile); [playwriting] The Medusa Play (SBTC) and MASC. (Philly Women’s Theatre Festival) – commissions: Christ Church Neighborhood House and Museum of the American Revolution; [directing] The Taming! (Shakespeare in Clark Park) and Water By the Spoonful (Eagle Theatre).
About Painted Bride Art Center
Building on a 53-year legacy, the Painted Bride brings together artists, audiences, and communities to push the boundaries of how we create and experience art. It has supported over 25,000 artists, hosted over 5,000 events, commissioned over 100 new works, and facilitated manifold artist and community workshops and educational programs. The Bride cultivates a welcoming environment for critical dialogue and playful exchange to transform lives and communities through art. It is committed to supporting artists from all walks of life and amplifying underrepresented voices to foster diversity and inclusivity. To learn more, visit www.paintedbride.org.