"Giving Voice": A Black Lives Matter Musical

A Devised Piece

Allied Technology and Design: Ashlyn Simmons

Cast was recorded separately and edited together for final product

Design Team

Production Manager: Beate Czogalla and Karen Berman

Script Supervision/ Production Assistants/ Stage Managers: Frankie Mastras and Emma Eisnaugle

Assistant Stage Managers: Alma Kent and Michael Williams

Scenic Designer: Isaac Ramsey

Assistant Scenic Designer: Ashlyn Simmons

Costume Designer: Eric Griffis

Hair and Makeup Designer: Cathleen O'Neal

Technical Director: Jesse Wade

Production Assistant: Russ Terrell

Props Designer: Ashleigh Higgs

Process

Started with a line art piece of a black woman for inspiration
This set the tone for what I was physically able of creating
This piece had everything to do with empowering and emphasizing the strength of black women
This was a starting point for the rest of the project

Discussions with Directors

In Zoom meetings, we discussed the way we wanted the people to be presented. A large emphasis on color and nature elements was used, and I was given a lot of artistic liberty to make the pieces as joyful and vibrant as possible.

Breonna Taylor Process Piece

The process I used was to find as many reference photos as possible for each person, and create a neutral standing pose from the images I found. From there, I would build the bodies face first, doing my best to make each person as recognizable as possible.

Rayshard Brooks and George Floyd Process Piece

Using acrylic paint and multi-media paper, I created 9 Inch by 12 Inch pieces for each person. I used outrageous color palettes and a representational 'halo' around each person's head.

Tamir Rice

I looked into each person's history while I worked on these portraits, so I fully understood the seriousness of what I was doing. This was the piece that made me cry while I painted it. Tamir Rice was twelve years old when he was killed for holding a toy gun outside. He would be my age today. I made his background soft and beautiful, and took this piece to heart while finishing it.

Ahmaud Arbery

Ahmaud Arbery was chased down and killed while jogging one day. He was completely unarmed. He was 25 years old.

Elijah McClain

Elijah McClain was 23 years old when he was shot and killed by police. He was said to be a kind and sweet man who loved animals.

George Floyd

The words, "I can't breathe" uttered by George Floyd at police became the mantra for the BLM movement that took place the summer of 2020.

Rayshard Brooks

Killed in a Wendy's parking lot, Rayshard Brooks was filmed during his murder. His death sparked major controversy and public outcry.

Daniel Prude

Daniel Prude was hooded and pinned down by police during the time of his death. The police denied their involvement in the case, stating the drugs in his system killed him.

Closing Thoughts

This show, and the work I did for it, is not for me. I can only hope people can look at my work and feel the empathy and joy these lives brought to the world, and recognize the reality of what has happened since their deaths.

I was given a platform and the privilege to tell their stories.

These are only some of the voices we have lost to police brutality. If I could create pieces for everyone, I would.

To watch Giving Voice, go to https://gcgivingvoice.com/

Breonna Taylor

Breonna Taylor was killed while sleeping in her house in a shootout. She was a medical worker. She was innocent.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse