Musical focuses on gang issues

 

March 13, 2009

By NANCY SHIELDS
COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU
 
ReVision Theatre will hold a symposium for students, parents, teachers and community leaders to discuss the devastating effect of gangs in New Jersey at 7 p.m. Thursday at the VFW Hall, 701 Lake Ave.
The forum is being held in conjunction with the theater group's upcoming musical "Kingdom," a hip-hop/rock production with salsa music that goes inside the world of the Latin Kings and the destruction of young lives ensnared by the sense of family a gang offers.

"This speaks to kids in a gut place, an emotional place," said Thomas Morrissey, one of ReVision's producing artistic directors.

"I believe this show has the power to change lives. People can understand how gangs work."

Follow-up workshops designed to give context to the show are planned with students.

Morrissey said the production also provides a way to reach a generation that is not going to the theater anymore.
"Kingdom" will run Thursdays through Sundays, April 16 through May 3, at the VFW Hall. Tickets cost $25 and $35, and $15 for students and teachers.

ReVision, a professional regional theater company, relocated to Asbury Park in 2008.

It began as The Genesius Guild in 1995 in New York City, where it was founded by Morrissey.

State, federal and local authorities have made significant inroads over the past two years in curbing an outbreak of Bloods and Crips gang activity.

"Even though the overall issue is being dealt with in the city, it's still an issue," Asbury Park City Manager Terence Reidy said last Friday.

He described the upcoming musical and symposium as a "great opportunity" to get high school kids and teachers communicating about gangs.

"This is the first show I'm aware of that talks in an honest, truthful way, written for kids and adults," Morrissey said.

Asbury Park High School Principal Tyler Blackmore is working on a way to have the play performed at the high school so that all students can see it.

He hopes to get $8,000 to pay for it either through the school budget or from private donors, the principal said.
 
Additional Facts IF YOU GO
For more information about the symposium, call (732) 455-3059, or visit www.revisiontheatre.org.