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February 24, 2022 | Theatre, What Did You Think?,
Let’s Talk About Dreaming Zenzile
Kicking off our live theater productions in 2022 is the world-premiere tour of Dreaming Zenzile, written and performed by GRAMMY®-nominated music sensation Somi.
Join the conversation and let us know what you thought about the production! Comment below, either by following one of the prompts below or with whatever crosses your mind. We can’t wait to hear from you!
- What resonated with you the most?
- How did the production make you feel after leaving the theater?
- What did you learn or what surprised you?
- And, what questions do you have?
Feel free to leave a comment on this blog post, or reach out on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram; and be sure to tag @ArtsEmerson too! Be sure to check back here for more reviews from press and other audience members.
Dreaming Zenzile was an amazing tribute to our beloved Mama Africa Zensile Miriam Makeba. Somi was an incarnation vocally, and while, the production lacked in props, costuming, or stage effects. Nevertheless, the entire cast performed with unstoppable passion, reverence, and respect as a memorial to a woman who transcended her origin living under apartheid in South Africa. The uplifting ending performance of the classic “Pata Pata” was memorable. I missed though such songs as “Piece of Ground” or “Amanpo” and the “Click Song” which defined Makeba’s musical experience shared with millions. The use of “breathes” ceremonially was imaginative and even had a tie to the “I can’t breathe” legacy of George Floyd. I thought it would have been nice to have a few more actors portraying perhaps Hugh Masekla and Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Toure). Nonetheless, what magnified the event was the ability to a small cast to not miss a note with only the intermission break. The night I went there was a mic failure and I just loved how Somi and the cast transformed it into a transition moment of reflection. This production should move from off-Broadway to a full Broadway production with expanded script, music, and staging. The world should not forget Miriam Makeba nor her compatriots across the world who struggled so unselfishly.
Stunning performance by Somi. It’s rare to see an actress embody her character with such passion, energy and emotion. The minimalist stage setting put the emphasis on the actors and actresses, where it belongs.