CAN'T STOP, WON'T STOP......Is a great way to start the 10th year anniversary of the HIPHOP Theater Festival.
In the small theater of the Cherry Pit there just weren't enough seats to fit the supporters that came out to see what was about to happen. Hosted by the beautifully talented Ms. Toni Blackman and backed by the vocal percussions aka beat-boxer of Adam Matta the night started off right from the gate. With 48 hours the producers, writers, directors and performers came up with 5 one-act plays in Can't Stop, Won't Stop as a reunion infusing theater and hiphop perfectly.

(Chelsea Gregory, Flaco Navaja, Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai, Darryl Harris)
ACT 1
"ROCKIN TILL THE BREAK OF DAWN...because in Las Vegas we can't see when the dawn breaks, there's no windows!!"
Mixing the aggressive hiphop stance, music & energy with the analogy that it's GOT TO BE THE SHOES campaign from MJ and Spike Lee, playwright Kristoffer Diaz perfectly let us know in the 10 minute act AIR that its NOT THE SHOES, ITS HOW YOU ROCK THEM!!!  My favorite line was "What I'm an 80's baby, I can't lie to Michael Jordan!"

(Angela Lewis, Dennis White, Carlos Andres Gomez & Yaya DaCosta)

ACT 2
"Hibbit! Is that a word?" a teacher asks her x-emcee husband as she tries to teach her students in a hip way. Hiphop Hibbit, Playwright by Craig Grant and Directed by Ira Kip this was a very funny act that could easily take place in any hiphop household. Wife who never truely supported her husbands career but trying to connect the with her students decides to explore and find meaning in it. "If Hibbit isn't a word, then why use it?"

(Dominic Colon, Nilaja Sun, Vanessa Hidary)
ACT 3
BUMRUSH is a very good name for this act as an emcee tries to share is independent music with a stranger. "The timing isn't right." which is just one reason people don't take the time to listen to new music. I was feeling this one all the way as I see people consistently turning down opportunities to see new artists or listen to new music. "You didn't even give it a chance..." Congrats to Dominique Morisseau and Simon Hanukai! 
 

(Caridad de la Luz, Kymbali Craig, Daniel Wilson, Bobby Moreno)
ACT 4
Playwright by reg e gaines tells a story of an emcee trying to come up with a rhyme while battling a friend who feels slighted feeling a dead friend stole his words. Trying to pay tribute but battling with present day issues and a teacher who tries to encourage ends up showing the kids that she IS hiphop breaking out with a quick breakin routine. THAT's MY RHYME was a true story that happens everyday especially as we consistently lose great emcees everyday due to either senseless violence or drug overdoses.


(Erwin E.A. Thomas, Kibbi Dillon, Intikana, Una Osato)
ACT 5
MC ORANGE JUICE was a hillarious act as the past emcee who was suppose to have been signed but Grandmaster Flash stole his life. Him and his wife recall going down memory lane as she reassures him that she loves him. Its going to be hard to even put this into words but I am sure there a quite a few emcees that feel this way. Candido Tirado hit this act right on the nose as he shows exactly how a hiphop family might communicate. This act was an amazing show of skills from all the actors and actresses and this was a great way to end a talented night!

Thanks to PitchControlPR.com, Michael, Camilla and all those who showed me love.
I can't wait to see what else the Hiphop Theater Festival has in store..... if your in the NYC/NJ area make sure you go to www.hhtf.org to see event listings and info. I HIGHLY SUGGEST you attend or show  your support in any way you can. REAL HIPHOP!!