What If Works Productions proudly presents Right to Remain…The Life and Mind of Tupac Shakur, an original play at the 7th Annual Capital Fringe Festival. Written by and starring, local actor, Meshaun Labrone, this explosive exposé captures a raw look at the compelling and controversial late rap artist.
Directed by Florida International University Theatre Professor, Phillip Church, this poignant and intimate one-man performance experiments with multi-media through projected images, video and text, combining Shakur’s lyrics and poetry with a dramatic rendering of his persona. Set in 1994 during his incarceration period, Shakur reflects on the defining moment that sent his world spinning and into a chaotic trajectory of self-destruction.
“The mind of Tupac is a reflection of the ever evolving consciousness of America: complex, contradictory, joyous and tragic, yet hopeful,” says Meshaun Labrone, playing Tupac Shakur in Right to Remain. The production began its journey in Miami, Florida (2004) as Labrone’s Senior Project at Florida International University. Since then, the show has been produced by the theatre group Ground Up & Rising (2009) in Miami and by What If Works Productions in The Point Theatre, Southampton (2010) and Tara Theatre, Off-West End, London in the UK (2011).
While most may have a negative association of the rap artist who was slain in 1996: gang violence, his notorious involvement in the war between West Coast and East Coast rappers, cursing up a storm, going to prison for allegedly raping a young woman, Right to Remain touches upon the Shakur that few may have known. Labrone emphasizes on Shakur’s love of William Shakespeare, support of social rights and passion to help his people rise up from life’s challenges. This modern day soliloquy-of-sorts isn’t about the rap artist who won numerous music awards and broke ground for the hip hop world, Right to Remain depicts a frustrated and misunderstood young man fighting his inner minions.
Originally, from Miami, Florida, Labrone currently resides in Silver Springs, Maryland. The Capital Fringe Festival marks Right to Remain’s DC premiere.
PERFORMANCES
At the Baldacchino Gypsy Tent Bar – 607 New York Avenue, in Washington, DC.
Friday, July 13th at 9:45 p.m.
Sunday, July 15th at 1:45 p.m.,
Thursday, July 19th at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 21st at 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, July 25th at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 29th at 6:30 p.m.
Purchase tickets, please call the box office at (866) 811-4111, or purchase them online.
