Last night, we celebrated the arrival of the /peh-LO-tah/ (MAY 1-5) cast and crew at the Tobin Community Center in Roxbury Crossing! We were joined by local Boston artists showcasing their work: Branches Steel Orchestra, Jean Dany Joachim, Connections Dance Theatre, and Natural Bliss. It was a wonderful night of cultural exchange and artistic expression. We are thankful to have partnered with many local organizations, such as Haitian-Americans United, Haitian Artists Assembly of Massachusetts, Tobin…

In August 2017, Marc Bamuthi Joseph presented at TEDGlobal, addressing how his new artistic piece /peh-LO-tah/ sought to address the inequities and freedoms found on a soccer field. Told through soccer inspired choreography, spoken word and the sounds of samba and hip-hop underscoring the poetry and movement. Bamuthi Joseph is an artists who believes that art can transform, but so can sports, and the intersection of these often polarized fanbases and cultural entertainment. I don’t…

In 2017, Marc Bamuthi Joseph was commissioned by the Kennedy Center to write the play /peh-LO-tah/, which “uses the universal game of soccer to examine immigration”. This show has received national praise since its debut and ArtsEmerson is beyond excited to welcome this production to the Paramount Center May 1-5. Before you attend this riveting show, check out this blog detailing the exciting life of poet, activist, dancer, teacher and playwright, Marc Bamuthi Joseph! Bamuthi…

Next month, ArtsEmerson is proud to welcome /peh-LO-tah/ (MAY 1-5) to the stage. Through the sounds of hip-hop and samba and the lyricism of spoken word, this soccer inspired performance travels from the rural pick up games in Haiti to the World Cup Stadiums of Rio de Janeiro and Johannesburg. A story about what it means to run free, we wanted to look at soccer narratives that have lifted us up, made us laugh, cry, and taught…

Poet-performer Marc Bamuthi Joseph’s love of soccer is a heritage story. As a child of Haitian immigrants, the blissful freedom of the soccer field represented the race toward the American dream. Using spoken word and fútbol-inspired choreography, /peh-LO-tah/ (MAY 1-5)travels from the pickup games in rural Haiti to the World Cup stadiums of Rio de Janeiro and Johannesburg, all while combating the discrepancies of a game that promises freedom yet suffers from racial inequities. While…