Invisible UpSouth
by Christopher Johnson, in collaboration with Vatic Kuumba, inspired by Invisible Man by Ralph Elison

“I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me... When they approach me they see only my surroundings, themselves or figments of their imagination, indeed, everything and anything except me.”― Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man

Part reflection, part conversation, and part examination on living in [what we're told is] a post-racial society. But what does "post-racial" mean to the people who suffer under conditions of "everyday" racism? What does modern-day poverty look like in our community? Who holds the power in the power structure? What is considered a riot? How is an act, a verb, a word, changed depending the culture associated with it - with the race engaging in it? 

Invisible UpSouth aims to challenge the way traditional theater-going audiences think about race and humanity and how they move through the world. One can be well-educated and still blind to the world around them. How do we help people to start to open their eyes?

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A Commission from the Wilbury Group's New Works program, Supported by a Grant from the RI Council on the Humanities and the RI State Council on the Arts.

PRESS:

MOTIF MAGAZINE REVIEW:
"Christopher Johnson and Vatic Kuumba give outstanding performances... the story is heart-wrenching, funny at times, thought-provoking and straight from the hip about the African-American experience in current times. The issue of police shootings is central. But there is much, much more." Read more.
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EDGE PROVIDENCE REVIEW:
"Explicit and gritty yet eloquent, even funny sometimes, never preachy and always provocative... Johnson, Kuumba and The Wilbury Theatre Group are to be commended for bringing such an important, timely, creative piece to the stage." Read more.
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RI MONTHLY PREVIEW:
​Colorblindness, Diversity and "Post-Racial" RI
Two spoken word poets tackle racial injustice in Invisible UpSouth, a new play commissioned by the Wilbury Theatre Group. Read more.
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Christopher Johnson

Vatic Kuumba

ABOUT CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON
Christopher Johnson is a published and international award-winning spoken word artist and poet. A Providence implant, Christopher earned a live/work artist residency at AS220, where for two years he honed his brand of spoken word/poetry, combining intrinsic musicality, the drama of theater, and vivid imagery of the dramatic essay to give voice, face, and connect the disenfranchised to the privileged with a universal message of humanity. In 2007, he won an international competition that launched a two-year tour of colleges and venues throughout the American Midwest and eastern seaboard. Christopher is best known for being the 2013 Providence Poetry Slam and Northeast Slam Champion; the 375th birthday celebration poet for the city of Providence, Rhode Island; writing the Inaugural Celebration Poem for Brown University’s 19th President; and performing poetry at opening ceremonies for the PVD International Music Festival. He facilitates adult/youth workshops as an artist educator in the state of Rhode Island and thought the United States.


ABOUT VATIC KUUMBA
Define: vatic 

The origins of Vatic are rooted in the weird earth of Florida. Vatic began creating raps in 
a town saturated with the residue of segregation. There were few venues available to rappers; 
however, he found ways to perform.

Vatic began honing his stage skills by featuring with Surfer bands, and later forming his 
own band named Dark Citizen and the Undead Hip Hop. They entertained crowds for national 
acts such as Afroman and Current$y, as well as international acts including Dam Funk and Diplo. 

Since relocating to Providence, Rhode Island in 2012, Vatic has become both a fan and a 
favorite at the Providence Poetry Slam. In both 2014 and 2015, he represented Providence at the national poetry slam in Oakland, California. In May 2015, Vatic gave a TEDx talk explaining Rap Slam and his vision for the next century of hip hop. Rap Slam is a hybrid of performance poetry and competitive rap.

"I am driven by ideas. My passion belongs to creation. Words are the most economical 
medium. One can create a universe with words and never spend a penny. At the conception of every creation is a thought. I think in universes and like every poet I write with worlds."

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About New Works 
at The Wilbury Theatre Group

Founded in response to the clear need for an artists and new works development program in the city of Providence, the New Works program at The Wilbury Group allows audiences to experience the "birth" of a play. Throughout the rehearsal, workshop, and eventual run of the show, the playwright and director work together to make constant changes in response to audience reactions and feedback.

Encompassing commissions, readings, workshops and full-scale productions, The Wilbury Group's New Works series is meant to nurture and serve the specific needs of a project throughout its evolution, helping qualified artists at all stages of their career take their chosen work to the next level of development.

NEW WORKS IN THE NEWS

New Works gives space and resources to local artists on their new plays . Only in this program can the audience give feedback to the artist; there is more contact with the audience.”   -Susie Schutt, in 630WPRO's  Wilbury's New Works aimed to help local artists