HYPE MAN: A BREAK-BEAT PLAY
BY ​IDRIS GOODWIN | DIRECTED BY DON MAYS
NOVEMBER 1 - 18, 2018

 
Frontman Pinnacle and his hype man Verb have been making Hip-Hop together since they were kids. Now that they’ve got top-notch beatmaker Peep One in the mix, the group is finally on the verge of making it big—until the police shooting of an unarmed black teenager shakes the trio to its core, and forces them to navigate issues of friendship, race, and privilege. The latest from celebrated break beat poet and playwright Idris Goodwin, directed by Don Mays with Wilbury artist Phoenyx Williams in the titular role, HYPE MAN asks us: who has the responsibility to speak up in the face of social injustice?

​"★★★★★... Hype Man is theater at its urgent, vital best." - DIGBOSTON

"Riveting... Something HYPE MAN gets right, where other overtly politically minded plays often go wrong, is that its action is rooted in the engrossing relationships among its three characters." - WBUR

"Viscerally powerful, socially important, and artistically innovative theater. So: See this? Let's be clear -- it's not even something to question. See this."- EDGE BOSTON


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RAVE REVIEWS FOR THE WILBURY PRODUCTION OF HYPE MAN: A BREAK-BEAT PLAY:

​"Searing....threaded with hope and humanity.....Being staged now by The Wilbury Theatre Group, HYPE MAN is a powerful commentary on the tensions that arise between different groups in America based on race, gender, origin and socio-economic background.” - The Providence Journal 

"Wilbury Theatre Group's production features energetic performances and sharp direction by Don Mays....HYPE MAN features a fair share of humor, courtesy of Williams, and the music is terrific. You don't need to enjoy rap to see this very entertaining and thought-provoking show." - EDGE Providence
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"Indispensable viewing...Superbly directed by Don Mays....Hype Man is not only engaging throughout, but resolutely relevant. The play’s exploration of race relations at the intersection of class, friendship, and personal ambition could not be more timely, especially at the end of an election season fraught with racial divisiveness." - Arts Fuse Boston

​“Hype Man is brilliant in its poignancy surrounding ultra-current affairs and rejection of passivity. It reminds artists to “get on up” and say their stories, hardships, worldviews and more." - Brown Daily Herald

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PRODUCTION PHOTOS

CAST

Phoenyx Williams*

Helena Tafuri

Jeff Hodge

CREATIVE TEAM

HYPE MAN: A BREAK-BEAT PLAY
By Idris Goodwin
Directed by Don Mays

Costume Design by Sara Jablon-Roberts
Scenic Design by ​Max Ponticelli
Sound & Light Design by ​Andy Russ

Production Management by ​Liz Craig
Production Assistance by Inés Botto
Stage Management by Charlie Slate

Poster Design by Keri King
Production Photos by Erin X. Smithers

*actor appears courtesy Actors Equity Association

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