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Free Land is a dynamic hip hop theater solo show written and performed by Ariel Luckey, directed by Margo Hall and scored by Ryan Luckey. The show follows a young white man’s search for his roots as it takes him from the streets of Oakland to the prairies of Wyoming on an unforgettable journey into the heart of American history. During an interview with his grandfather he learns that their beloved family ranch was actually a Homestead, a free land grant from the government. Haunted by the past, he’s compelled to dig deeper into the history of the land, only to come face to face with the legacy of theft and genocide in the Wild Wild West. Caught between the romantic cowboy tales of his childhood and the devastating reality of what he learns, he grapples with the contradictions in his own life and the possibility for justice and reconciliation. Free Land weaves spoken word poetry, acting, dance and hip hop music into a compelling performance that challenges us to take an unflinching look at the truth buried in the land beneath our feet.
Free Land is a National Performance Network Creation Fund Project co-commissioned by La Peña Cultural Center in partnership with the Matrix Center/White Privilege Conference, and the National Performance Network. Major contributers of the National Performance Network are Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Ford Foundation, Nathan Cummings Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts (a federal agency). |
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Octavio de la Paz
"Ariel Luckey is one of those rare souls who can combine a passionate commitment to social justice with first-rate artistic sensibilities, creating in the process an experience for his audiences that is beyond merely moving: it is transformative. He also provides a shining example for those of us who are white and male, by challenging us all to be better allies in the fight for equity and true freedom."
Tim Wise
Antiracist educator, Author of White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son
“I was moved to tears when my daughter and I saw Free Land and I have been raving about it ever since.
I am glad to have such a wonderful young performer understand the plight of the ancestors and to remember those that came before us on this land”.
Corrina Gould
Ohlone/Muwekma/Chochenyo,
Founder of Indian People Organizing for Change
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