A BROOKLYN BOY TO MAKE WEST COAST PREMIERE AT HOLLYWOOD FRINGE

A Brooklyn Boy

For Immediate Release
Please Contact Siobhan Kavanagh-NYC 646.727.6635
Or EileenBreenPR-LA 562.248.2516
[email protected]

A Brooklyn Boy To Make West Coast Premiere at Hollywood Fringe

NEW YORK – After a successful four month run Off-Off-Broadway at East Village Playhouse, A Brooklyn Boy, a one-man show co-written and performed by Steven Prescod and co-written and directed by Moises Roberto Belizario, will make its West Coast premiere at the Actors Company Other Space Theater as part of the Hollywood Fringe Festival. Performances run June 8 at 8:30 PM, June 9 at 2:30 PM, June 10 at 6:00 PM, June 14 at 5:30 PM, June 16 at 7:00 PM, June 17 at 2:30 PM, and June 19 at 10:30 PM at the Actors Company Other Space Theater – 916 N Formosa Avenue. Tickets are $25 and available at hollywoodfringe.org.

Called a "Tour de Force” by The New York Times and “Inspirational” by Prince William, A Brooklyn Boy tells the story of how a 16 year old arrested for robbery and assault, facing seven years in an upstate prison, got a second chance. Steven shares the stories of his life in a gripping tale of love, family, the streets, gang violence and self-acceptance.

Born in Brooklyn’s Bedford Stuyvesant neighborhood to a Grenadian mother and a Guyanese father, Steven was only one year old when his father was incarcerated. He grew up surrounded by his family and community who all had an impact on his life, many of whom are among the 32 characters he plays throughout the show.

As an a teenager, despite his efforts to break free from his neighborhood’s unyielding grip, Steven was constantly pulled back, ultimately leading to his arrest. While facing a jail sentence, Steven got a choice from the judge; seven years in jail or 5 years probation. He was assigned to the CityKids Foundation, a not-for-profit youth organization that empowers teens to speak on issues they face using the performing arts.

“As a young man of color, I never believed that my voice or my pain mattered. Now I believe that we must not be ashamed of our stories and we must not be afraid to show our feelings. I’ve now dedicated my life to working to bring my show and my platform nationally and globally with the mission that I will inspire personal storytelling for young people, young men of color, young women of color and formerly incarcerated youth. Now is the time when we have to reclaim our voices. I feel that healing can only happen if we can only share our truths, if we share our pain and our mistakes. Only then our true healing can occur for us. It’s not just my story but it’s the stories of all my fallen brothers and sisters that need to be heard.” Steven Prescod

It was while participating with The CityKids Foundation, that Steven and his mentor Belizario developed A Brooklyn Boy. Three years ago, an excerpt of the show was performed for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, prompting Prince William to call the show and performance “inspirational.” With the help of the Duke, the show went on to be performed at the National Black Theatre, and has since played the Fox Theater, the American Museum of Natural History, and the U.S. Department of Education as part of President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper Success Mentor Initiative’s inspirED Youth Leadership Lab, General Colin Powell’s America’s Promise Summit, and various New York City public schools.

About The CityKids Foundation
The CityKids Foundation’s innovative programming and projects have been in the forefront in the fields of positive youth development and social emotional learning for over three decades; providing opportunities for personal growth and artistic expression. CityKids has inspired and empowered thousands of diverse young people to become leaders in their communities and motivated agents of social change through safe space, arts training and multicultural bridge building programs. A Brooklyn Boy is a product of CityKids’ work, providing a safe space for young people and turning their pain into purpose. www.citykids.com

Performances run June 8 at 8:30 PM, June 9 at 2:30 PM, June 10 at 6:00 PM, June 14 at 5:30 PM, June 16 at 7:00 PM, June 17 at 2:30 PM, and June 19 at 10:30 PM at the Actors Company Other Space Theater – 916 N Formosa Avenue. Tickets are $25 and available at hollywoodfringe.org.