Courtesy of Grambling State University
Liberating Black joy is the goal of “Bottled Juice,” a play to be presented by Grambling State University’s Department of Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23, at the Floyd L. Sandle Theatre.
Lauren Oliver, a GSU VAPA lecturer, and play director said that the concept for “Bottled Juice” was born out of her interest in revitalizing black joy on GSU’s campus.
“This is my first year as a faculty member, but I realized there was a need to shift the conversation away from violence and remind students of the joy that still exists on campus,” Oliver said. “I believe that one of the best ways to do that is to look within and create art outwardly.”
The short play looks at various expressions of Black joy through poems, monologues, singing, and dancing to highlight the everyday struggles and achievements of Black people and culture.
Oliver said that students auditioned for the show in October and once they were officially cast in the show, work on content for the script began.
Major contributors to the script are Kaylen Randall (a December 2021 GSU graduate), Jaeda Garner, Lahmad “Kam” Holland, Katrice Mullen, Micah Anderson, Dwedee Kobbah, Madison Mason, and Steven Thompson. Cast members were also able to make changes to monologues to demonstrate additional creativity. The students answered questions for a writing prompt that Oliver created.
“They listened to different styles of black music and did free-writing in a poetic way,” Oliver said. “I then took their writings and arranged them in an order that made sense for the message of Black joy.”
“We experienced quite a few hiccups with the development of this show and a few students had to step away from being in the show. From COVID to the death of a faculty member, we have pushed through the obstacles. Our words and spirit live in the show, and we want to encourage the faculty, staff, students, and community to feel empowered by their blackness as we journey throughout the rest of the school year.”
Oliver said one of the most important things that many people might not know about this show is that that that is will be presented as what she terms “devised theater.”
“Devised theatre is the kind of theater where you create a show as you go along,” she said. “Meaning all the parts do not come together until the end. It’s almost like putting a puzzle together with no reference photo. Sometimes it looks messy and unorganized. Sometimes it looks like it won’t even come together, but I like to remind the students that their message is most important, and their effort is what people will remember after the show is done.”
Oliver explained further that devised theater is a new technique she is introducing to the VAPA community.
“That is where the fun part comes into play,” she said. “Creativity gets a chance to grow in its own way. The students get an opportunity to grow their acting and directing skills in new and challenging ways. That’s what it’s about for me.”
Masks will be required and social distancing will be enforced for those attending the play.
General admission tickets will cost $5 for general public and $1 for children 12 and under.
