Event Archives

Buy Tickets

Marc Bamuthi Joseph/The Living Word Project

red, black & GREEN: a blues

Hailed by the Philadelphia Inquirer as a “rare breed of artist who can kindle political and cultural awareness while delivering a highly entertaining performance,” Marc Bamuthi Joseph is the creative mind behind this exhilarating, hybrid piece of spoken word/hip hop theatre. Through poetry, music, dance, video and an interactive and evocative set design, red, black & GREEN: a blues presents the idea that nurturing our lives and communities is the first step toward caring for our planet. “The four performers are magnetic...Going green meets and mates with the urgency of achieving environmental justice. The result is a piece as smart and provocative as it is breathtakingly beautiful” (San Francisco Chronicle).

Directed by Michael John Garcés. Performed by Marc Bamuthi Joseph, Tommy Shepherd aka Emcee Soulati, Traci Tolmaire and Yaw.

Attention West Philadelphia!
$10 PNC Rush Hour tickets for red, black & GREEN: a blues are available now! You can purchase in person any time up until the night of the performance. Proof of residency in one of the following zip codes must be presented: 19104, 19131, 19139, 19142, 19143, 19145, 19151 or 19153. This may take the form of a valid driver's license or a non-driver's license photo ID. Each West Philadelphia resident who presents valid proof of residency may buy up to two tickets, if available. Click here for more information on the PNC West Philly Rush program.

Performances

• Friday, September 21 @ 7:30 PM
• Saturday, September 22 @ 8 PM

SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE

Insights Events

September 20
5:30 PM: Public Forum: The Creative Eco-System: Re-viewing Sustainability
Join us for an interactive forum led by artist/educator/activist Marc Bamuthi Joseph featuring a respected panel of community leaders, artists, urban planners and scholars aimed at exploring new modes of collaboration, community engagement and creative artistic responses for at-risk communities that have been ravaged by environmental depredations that affect their health and welfare. The panel will feature:

Katherine Gajewski, Director of Sustainability, City of Philadelphia
Amy Hillier, Assistant Professor, University of Pennsylvania School of Design
Aaron Levy, Executive Director, Slought Foundation
Kira Strong, Vice President of Community and Economic Development, People’s Emergency Center

Admission is free, but a ticket is required. Click here to reserve your seat.

September 21
6:30 PM: Join us for a mini poetry slam by members of Philly Youth Poetry Movement. 10% of your ticket purchase will benefit Philly Youth Poetry Movement when you sign up for the Annenberg Center’s Artists & Audiences Changing Lives program. Click here to learn more.

Post-show: Join the cast in an informal conversation on stage.

September 22
7 PM: Enjoy a performance by the winner of the Annenberg Center/First Person Arts Video Contest. Click here to learn how to enter or vote for your favorite entry!

Post-show: Join the cast in an informal conversation on stage.

Artist Information

Program Notes [PDF] Artist Site

This performance is part of the Annenberg Center’s Theatre Series.

red black & GREEN: a blues has been supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage through the Philadelphia Theatre Initiative.

This performance is presented in partnership with the Philadelphia Live Arts Festival.

Photo credit: Bethanie Hines