THE NEW BLACK FEST'S HANDS UP: 7 PLAYWRIGHTS, 7 TESTAMENTS

Directed by Keith Arthur Bolden and Alexis Woodard

Across seven monologues written by seven Black playwrights, HANDS UP depicts the realities of Black America from the perspective of varying genders, sexual orientations, skin tones, and socioeconomic backgrounds. The play was originally commissioned in 2015 by the New Black Fest in response to a police officer fatally shooting an unarmed Black teenager, Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO. The themes and stories it tells still ring true today. HANDS UP is produced in association with Spelman College.​

This performance is approximately one hour and forty-minutes with no intermission, and contains haze, adult content and language, racial violence, domestic abuse, and sexual abuse.

COVID safety protocols:

Safety for our patrons, artists, and staff is our top priority. With safety in mind and in close consultation with local health experts, the Alliance will require all audience members for our upcoming productions of DARLIN’ CORY and HANDS UP to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at the time of their performance and show proof of vaccination upon arrival. Unvaccinated audience members must show a negative COVID test for entry. Learn more about our safety policies here.

In partnership with:    

Presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc.

The collection includes:
Superiority Fantasy by Nathan James; Holes in My Identity by Nathan Yungerberg; They Shootin! Or I Ain’t Neva Scared… by Idris Goodwin; Dead of Night… The Execution of… by Nambi E. Kelley; Abortion by Nsangou Njikam; Walking Next to Michael Brown by Eric Holmes; and How I Feel by Dennis Allen II

Talkback Series made possible by:  

Special support for this production is provided by:
The Reiser Atlanta Artists Lab, Ms. Ellen Arnovitz, Mr. and Mrs. Joel Arogeti, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Arogeti, Mr. and Mrs. Laurence Bagen, Mr. and Mrs. Barry N. Berlin, Mr. Brandon Bush, Mr. Rob Cleveland and Ms. Mary Lynn Owen, Venessa Collins, Mr. and Mrs. David E. Dermer, Enid & Jerry Draluck, Scott Eisenberg, Mrs. Melanie F. Fine, Ms. Amy S. Gellins, Ms. Suzy Goldman, Joy Jernigan, Eydie Koonin, Debbie Kuniansky, Robin Lazarus, Ms. Donna R. Maslia, Mr. and Mrs. Todd Maziar, Mr. Christopher Moses and Ms. Brittany Loffert, Debbie & Lon Neese, Rosemary Newcott, Mr. and Mrs. Howard D. Palefsky, Topher Payne, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Peterson, Ms. Renae M. Popkin, Mr. Jay C. Constantz and Mr. Doyle C. Reynolds, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Rosenberg, Susan Timna, Pamela L. Tinter, Ms. Amanda Watkins, and Ms. Caitlin Way

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