THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 2, 1995 TAG: 9510310104
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JOAN C. STANUS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
A ``collective emotional tug of war'' is how one New York City critic described the musical ``Bring in the Morning,'' which closed its off-Broadway run six months ago.
So, this week, when the Norfolk Performing Arts Repertory opens with its heartfelt rendition of the ``gritty'' street show, local theatergoers can expect to experience some gut-wrenching reactions to the soul-baring of about 35 local teens. After all, it's not that much of a leap from New York to Norfolk when it comes to teenagers and the problems they have to cope with.
``This show was written about the New York City streets,'' admitted Connie Hindmarsh, director and producer of the show. ``But Norfolk is an a inner-city, too, so we thought it was very appropriate for us. Of course, we've added our own thoughts and flavor to it.''
The result hits hard.
Organized around poems and stories written by teens in the troubled Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, the show features a montage of overlapping words, images, songs and dances about AIDS, unwed pregnancy, teen violence and guns. Although there's no overall story line, the play follows an ethnic cross-section of characters through common experiences while they hang out on a city street.
The music is a combination of inspirational and rap, and the dancing is a mix of hip-hop, jazz and natural moves. The show was choreographed by Danielle Rice, a recent dance graduate of Radford University who is also an alumnus of Hindmarsh's troupe.
Specially tailored for the Norfolk production is the song ``Let It Rain,'' which is performed in sign language and also sung vocally. Hindmarsh and her staff chose to include signing as part of the show because one of their newest members is deaf. Shernika Holley, a 14-year-old freshman at Lake Taylor High School, signs the song, while Sandye Smith and Damion Griffin sing it.
``I can hear the beats, but that's about all,'' Shernika said through her interpreter and former middle school teacher, Carol Hamlin, who agreed to interpret for Shernika after she auditioned and won a spot in the repertory company last spring.
``She's the first handicapped student we've ever had,'' said Hindmarsh, who oversees the program for Norfolk Public School kids who are deemed gifted in performing arts. ``Actually, she's the first to audition.
``She got the part because she was good, not because she was handicapped,'' Hindmarsh emphasized. ``And I had several hundred kids who tried out for just a few spots.''
Shernika said:
``I'm hearing impaired, and I'm proud. I like the shows, and I want to use sign language in them so it could be understood by other deaf people.''
In ``Bring in the Morning,'' Shernika plays a deaf street girl.
Initial response to the show, which opens this week, has overwhelmed Hindmarsh, her staff and the cast. Most of the performances set during a two-week run sold out well before opening. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by L. TODD SPENCER
Sandye Smith, center, and Shernika Holley, right, who is deaf,
perform in ``Bring in the Morning.''
by CNB