Hype Man: a break beat play

Nov 10 – Dec 18, 2018 (The Flea Theater, New York)

By Idris Goodwin

Directed by Kristan Seemel & Niegel Smith

Featuring: The Bats, the The Flea’s resident acting company, including Tay Bass, Conor Bell, Sonja Cirillo, Justin Jorrell, Matt Stango and Shakur Tolliver.

Designed by: Anton Volovsek (Scenic Designer), Sarah Lawrence (Costume Designer), Xavier Pierce (Lighting Designer), Wendell Hanes (Music Composer/Supervisor/Editor), Jabob Brasi (Assistant Director), Haley Gordon (Stage Manager) and Keenan Hurley (Sound Designer).

In HYPE MAN: a break beat play we meet Verb, Pinnacle, and Peep One, a trio on the verge of making it big as America’s next hip hop crew. But the shooting of an unarmed black man in their hometown throws them off their beat. Their friendship is tested. Their moral compass is challenged. HYPE MAN immerses audiences in a chilling conversation amongst the beats and rhymes of pulsating hip hop.

“Co-directors Kristan Seemel and Niegel Smith’s energized staging featuring members of The Bats, The Flea’s resident company, has the actors in motion all over the space, even at one point cleverly on view through windows suggesting another place outside. There’s a gorgeously presented number with them performing a terrific rap composition. Also, the intensity of their performances are magnified by close proximity.”

– Darryl Reilly, Theaterscene.net

“Goodwin’s Hype Man is a loud and clear clarion call for blacks and whites, cops and civilians, and everyone to get on up and openly, honestly discuss America’s ongoing problems of racial violence and inequality. None of us get to sit this one out.”

–Pete Hempstead, TheaterMania

Click here to purchase your tickets for Nov 10 – Dec 18, 2018.