The production, titled \u201cWedlock of the Gods,\u201d marries African culture with the Shakespearean classic \u201cRomeo and Juliet.\u201d Set in Nigeria, the play focuses on a young woman who reconnects with her true love after the death of her arranged husband. The play was written by the first published Nigerian woman playwright, Dr. Zulu Sofola, and the cast is predominantly composed of Black SDA actors. The show will be performed on campus at Bing Theater from Sept. 29 through Oct. 2.<\/p>\n
Show director Bayo Aknifemi said the play\u2019s importance is directly correlated to its relevance in the current world.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about a woman who is basically trying to fight against the oppressive patriarchal institution. I thought in this current atmosphere in the U.S\u2026it was really relevant,\u201d said Akinfemi, who was assigned last year to SDA\u2019s literary committee and proposed \u201cWedlock of the Gods.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stage manager Marcus Maia added that the show\u2019s unique blend of legacy and modernity makes it an important play for the SDA to put on.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve never seen a production like this in my, albeit respectively short, career in theater,\u201d Maia said. \u201cTo center and honor a story that takes place in a Black community outside of the United States, whilst still offering it the same respect and authenticity we give to the characters in more Eurocentric and well-known texts is something that makes \u2018Wedlock of the Gods\u2019 special and necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n
The choreographer in charge of \u201cWedlock of the Gods,\u201d Shannon Grayson, has incorporated elements of West African dance to connect with the storyline, a change from other SDA plays that have Eurocentric choreographies.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like, again, because of the pandemic, even the racial pandemic that we had, it\u2019s opened up the eyes of everyone, including the university. And SDA can really take advantage of that,\u201d Grayson said. \u201cWe have so many teachers around here that are immersed in these art forms that can incorporate it in our shows to make it modernized or contemporary.\u201d<\/p>\n
Students performing in \u201cWedlock of the Gods\u201d shared the impact the play had on them personally. Nia Baker, a junior majoring in theatre with an entertainment industry minor, played Nneka, mother of Ogwoma.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just so African-centric and it showcases the beauty, magic and honestly, just a really authentic African-centric story,\u201d Baker said. \u201cAnd it was created by this phenomenal playwright. It\u2019s kind of been a really beautiful journey for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jordan Anderson, a sophomore majoring in acting for the stage, screen and new media, who plays the character Okolie, said they loved working with the rest of the cast and crew.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe cast, you know, everyone in here is really talented and they\u2019re really amazing,\u201d Anderson said. \u201cThey show the truth of the story very well. And with Bayo\u2019s direction, it shows it even more fantastically.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The play illustrates how different Shakespeare\u2019s \u201cRomeo and Juliet\u201d would be if it were set in Nigeria instead of Italy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12963,"featured_media":19130,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28,12],"tags":[7,30,14],"class_list":{"0":"post-19133","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-culture","8":"category-entertainment","9":"tag-apie-project","10":"tag-culture","11":"tag-entertainment"},"yoast_head":"\n