November 15, 2014

Granoff Creative Arts Center, Studio 1.

The Freedom Project was a multi-disciplinary documentary theater production that shared the stories of people who have been marginalized by America’s criminal justice system. The project examined and critiqued that system through the juxtapositions of personal stories with jarring statistics that reveal gross racial and socio-economic disparities in the way the law is applied, especially in regard to the War on Drugs.

Everett approached this challenging topic with humor and humanity, and emphasized the creativity and spirit of perseverance that can surface when people confront extreme adversity. The work utilized the disciplines of theater, dance and filmmaking to draw out multiple perspectives on this complex topic. Visceral choreography and poetic visual imagery deepened the experience as Everett explored the effects of mass incarceration on some of our most vulnerable communities.

Brown University was a development and producing partner in the creation of The Freedom Project. They joined Everett in producing a series of public workshops, forums, street actions, and in-progress previews that were held at both Brown and Everett Stage. These events drew a wide segment of the community into an ongoing dialogue about incarceration and helped shape the final performance. The Freedom Project premiered in the spring of 2015 at Brown University’s Granoff Center for the Arts and was available for touring through 2017.