Mosaic Theater Company’s Intergenerational Matinee Program – YOUNG JOHN LEWIS: PRODIGY OF PROTEST

Through the Intergenerational Matinee Program, middle and high school students will attend a Mosaic Theater Company production at the Atlas Performing Arts Center on H Street, NE. Our goal is to provide an opportunity for students to experience the arts, explore the important themes that are prevalent in our productions, and discuss how those themes connect to their lives and what they are learning in school.

In April, we will host matinees in conjunction with our production of YOUNG JOHN LEWIS: PRODIGY OF PROTEST, which is written by Mosaic’s Andrew W. Mellon Playwright in Residence, Psalmayene 24. The music is composed by Grammy Award Nominee Kokayi. This new hip-hop and soul musical honors the late Congressman John Lewis. The production harnesses the power of storytelling and music to explore the experiences and challenges that faced Lewis as a young Black activist. Since the musical focuses on the early years of Lewis’ life, student participants will be able to relate to his story and explore how Lewis’ experiences align with their own. The musical reveals the humanity and heart of this mighty historic figure. It explores how the murder of Emmett Till motivated Lewis to pursue a life of service, including leading the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, fighting for Civil Rights with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and working for nearly two decades in Congress. It is a galvanizing call to action and a reminder that we can all make a difference at any age.

Matinees are available on the following dates:
Thursday, April 2, 11AM – 1:15PM
Wednesday, April 22, 11AM – 1:15PM
Thursday, April 23, 11AM – 1:15PM

The run of show for each day includes:
5 mins: Welcome and introduction by a Mosaic staff member to share more about the schedule for the day, provide context about what participants can expect, and set norms that make students feel welcomed and comfortable.
100 minutes: Students will watch a full performance of the production.
30 minutes: At the end of each performance, students will participate in a post-show educational conversation conducted by Mosaic staff and featuring the actors working on the show. The goal of the conversations is to give students the opportunity to ask questions about the content of the performance, deepen their theater experience through up-close engagement with professional artists, share their own perspectives about the play’s themes and how those themes related to their own lives, explore the historical context of the musical, and engage in meaningful intergenerational dialogue with senior citizens who also participate in the Matinee Program.
10 minutes: Students fill out DC Collaborative Feedback Survey