Riot: Bring Back the Black Beat is a dynamic one-man show centered around empowering the African-American community. This Young Playwrights in Progress performance will feature a variety of artistic expressions, including spoken word/slam poetry pieces, hip-hop and contemporary dance numbers, dramatic monologues, and scenes.

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

About the Playwright
Ty’Ree 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 studdied at the British American Drama Academy in Oxford, London.

Synopsis:
Riot is a powerful and engaging solo performance taking the audience on a journey through the life and memories of Freddie Gray. Set in a minimalistic music studio, the play follows Freddie as he attempts to write a hit song. He struggles to recall a specific beat he knows is crucial for his song. This leads Freddie to delve into his past, recounting dulled memories and flashbacks leading to his wrongful arrest, the brutality he endured, and the injustice that ultimately led to his death. Through interactive chants and rhythms, Freddie will engage the audience to create a shared experience that mirrors the heartbeat of his community. 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.