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Baltimore Rock Opera Society and Arena Players Receive BOPA Grant

Baltimore Rock Opera Society and Arena Players Receive BOPA Grant

Creative Baltimore Fund to be used to remount plays starring black artists

August 2, 2017 BALTIMORE, MD - The Baltimore Rock Opera Society (BROS) and Arena Players will co-present a new production of two rock musicals in February of 2018, funded by the Mayor’s Individual Artist Award, a $5,000 grant by the Creative Baltimore Fund and administered by the Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts. The grant will be used to remount “The Battle of Blue Apple Crossing” and “Determination of Azimuth”, two short plays that center on prominent figures from African-American history. The official awardee of the grant is Lola B. Pierson, a local artist and director of the initial run of “Determination of Azimuth”. All of the funds will be used for production expenses.

The two plays were initially performed in 2015 during the BROS spring production, “The Rock Opera 6-Pack”, which featured six short musicals from six different writers and production teams.

“Determination of Azimuth” is an experimental musical about NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, who has recently enjoyed increased visibility thanks to the 2016 film “Hidden Figures.” “The timing of this is really perfect”, said NASA scientist Heather Graham, one of the writers of “Azimuth”. “I wrote this play to bring well-deserved attention to the work of Katherine Johnson, and now thanks to the film not only is she getting attention, but so is my play!”

“Battle of Blue Apple Crossing” tells the legend of famous blues musician Robert Johnson and the alleged sale of his soul to the devil for musical talent using southern blues and rock music. “I’ve worked with BROS for a long time, and I always thought Robert Johnson’s story was a perfect fit for our style,” said Nairobi Collins, writer of “Battle of Blue Apple Crossing.” “I’m very happy to be remounting this show with the Arena Players, who have done great things for black artists in Baltimore.”

The production will be a collaborative effort between Baltimore’s Arena Players, the longest continually operating African-American theater in the US, and the BROS, a DIY artist collective that produces original rock musicals. “We’re very excited to be working with the BROS on this project,” said Donald Owens, artistic director of the Arena Players. “This is a great opportunity to tell some great stories from black history, and we’re looking forward to performing the unique art that a collaboration with BROS will create.”

Showdates are February 9-11, 16-18 at Arena Players’ historic theater. BROS and Arena Players will be announcing further details about the productions within the next few weeks. For more information about “Battle of Blue Crossing” and “The Determination of Azimuth” please visit baltimorerockopera.org, or arenaplayersinc.com.

About Arena Players

Baltimore’s Arena Players Inc. is the oldest continuously operating African-American community theater in the United States. From its humble beginnings in 1953, by a small aspiring group of ambitious fledgling actors, Arena Players has a proud history of community service and outstanding dramatic achievements. For more information visit arenaplayersinc.com.

About Baltimore Rock Opera Society

The Baltimore Rock Opera Society is a passionate community of artists who create unforgettable experiences through live original rock theater. BROS was founded in 2007 by a small group of friends sitting in a basement dreaming of an impossibly enormous story that would be told through the awesome power of rock. Since that time BROS has become a powerhouse of Baltimore’s cultural landscape comprised of a highly energetic group of actors, writers, designers, builders, musicians, and artists with the mission of producing original, live rock operas. Every year thousands of fans flock from the Mid-Atlantic region to witness the performances of the city’s most collaborative, creative production troupe. For more information please visit baltimorerockopera.org.

About Lola B. Pierson

Baltimore native Lola B. Pierson is a playwright, writer, and director. She is the co-founding artistic director of The Acme Corporation. She has been awarded Best New Playwright by the Baltimore City Paper and her production of Samuel Beckett's “Play” won Best Production of the Year. Most recently she was named a 2016 Baker Award finalist.

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