Riot: The Beat of Freddie Gray is a powerful and engaging solo performance taking the audience on a journey through the life and memories of Freddie Gray, told from the perspective of two characters: Freddie Gray and Ty, a middle school student who witnessed Freddie’s murder.

This performance will be the first in a series of dinner/show performances at Busboys and Poets (Takoma).

Doors open at 6:30 pm for guests to arrive and order food.

Last Call for food will be at 7:15 pm.

The performance will begin at 8 pm.

Playwright/Performer: Ty’Ree Hope Davis
Producer and Director: Farah Lawal Harris
Production Manager: Keta Newborn
Production Associate: Azsia Green

About the Playwright and Performer
Ty’Ree Hope Davis (he/him) is a senior BFA Acting Major and Theatre Arts Administration minor at Howard University and an alumnus of the Atlantic Acting School. Ty’Ree’s recent credits include Stage Manager for YPT’s Silence is Violence: Wish Me Well, and Assistant Stage Manager for A Raisin in the Sun with the Howard Players. During the 2023-2024 school year, he served as the Technical Director for the Howard Players, overseeing productions such as Emergency and Long Time Since Yesterday. In addition to his work behind the scenes, Ty’Ree has performed in Rhyme Deferred at Howard University, and In The Blood at the Shakespeare Theatre Company. This summer, Ty’Ree studied at the British American Drama Academy in Oxford, London.

Synopsis:
Riot: The Beat of Freddie Gray follows the story of Freddie Gray, a young Black man murdered by Baltimore police officers in 2015, and Ty, a middle school student who witnessed Freddie’s death. Freddie, unaware that he is dead, attempts to write a hit song, but struggles to recall a specific beat he knows is crucial. This leads Freddie and Ty to delve into the past, piecing together memories and flashbacks leading to Freddie’s wrongful arrest, the brutality he endured, and the injustice that ultimately led to his death. The play explores themes of memory, resilience, and the fight for justice, culminating in a powerful realization that Freddie’s heartbeat lives on in the collective spirit of those who continue to fight for change.

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