water riot: we did it!

Last week a dream came true.

water riot: a cyber punk rock opera had its New York debut at Harlem's Apollo Theater as part of the Works in Process residency program.

I am still processing everything. But congratulations are in order!

The cast was stellar: Nathan Barlow, Jamecia Bennett, Brian Bose, Alexa Graæ, and Montria Walker brought VERO, BOBBI, SKUTTERS, NIK, and the Soundscape to life with the kind of commitment that only happens when artists really believe in what they’re doing.

a scene from water riot’s debut performance at the Apollo Theater

The band — Ben Weiss, Serena Ebony Miller, and Quinton "Q" Robinson — really brought the musical vision to life.

Maija García and James Davis, Jr. led the ensemble as director and music director, respectively, with Paul Andrews holding everything together as our production stage manager. Major support from Sam Brown (Assistant Producer), Johanna Kepler (Creative Consultant) and Brantley Evans, III (Production Support).

We were at the Apollo at the invitation of the theater’s Director of New Works, Kelley Nicole Girod, a trailblazing champion for black theater and a close personal friend. She’s helmed the New Works program at the Apollo for years, and it was such a treat to engage with the theater’s professional and technical teams over the course of the residency.

And to make the most of the opportunity, I leaned on my community. National Black Theatre, Hi-ARTS, Pop Culture Collaborative, New York Live Arts… Each of these organizations helped out when they could.

water riot has been five years in the making. Five years of residencies, grant applications, open rehearsals, late-night rewrites, and a coalition of the willing who said yes to the vision, yes to the opportunity, and yes to the process!

And last Saturday, in rooms full of people who'd never heard of a cyber punk rock opera before, the show came to life.

I’m so excited for what’s becoming possible with this show.