(L) Al Wu, (R) King Kvll (Photo Credit Dante Rionda)
The Beats Rhymes Everything Detroit (BRED) Hip-Hop Theatre Festival is a unique one-day event that combines hip-hop and theater. On September 7. the festival will showcase brand-new performances inspired by iconic hip-hop songs. In addition to the performances, there will be a vibrant block party featuring live rap performances, DJ sets, and immersive virtual reality experiences. This year, the festival will be held at the newly opened Hilberry Gateway on the campus of Wayne State University.
The festival has confirmed the participation of renowned playwrights KendraRenee Sanders, Seshat Walker, and Shawntai Brown, a 2020 Kresge Award Fellow in playwriting. Shawntai Brown will also take on the role of this year’s director of new work development and will lead “16 Bars,” an intensive 16-day devising period leading up to the festival.
BRED, short for Beats Rhymes Everything Detroit, was established in 2011 by Alesyn “Al Wu” McCall, a filmmaker, hip-hop artist, DJ, and arts administrator, and Richard “King Kvll” McCall II, a DJ, producer, hip-hop artist, and community organizer. The organization serves as a platform for local artists dedicated to promoting and honoring homegrown talent in Detroit. Notably, Beats Rhymes Everything Detroit was honored with the 2024 Kresge Artists Fellowship in Music and Film.
The directors for the upcoming event have been confirmed. The esteemed lineup includes Will Bryson, Lynch Travis, and Izaya Spencer. These talented individuals will lead a diverse team of professional artists from Detroit and the surrounding areas, along with student actors and technical designers from Wayne State University’s acclaimed Theatre and Dance program. The full cast and crew announcement is scheduled for the week of August 25.
On August 11, a dynamic performance was showcased at the 51st Anniversary of Hip-Hop Block Party at Class Act Detroit, a renowned platform dedicated to fostering hip-hop education for youth. Additionally, on August 15, an exciting fundraising event titled “Versus/Verses” occurred at the Detroit Public Theatre. It was a captivating evening filled with hip-hop trivia and open-mic-style hip-hop monologues. On August 30, BRED will host a music and community gathering afternoon at Belle Isle.
BRED Hip-Hop Theatre Fest takes place as part of the exciting ELEMENTS Hip-Hop Weekend, a community event organized by Beats Rhymes Everything Detroit, BAIRA / MVMNT PHLOSPHY, and Motor City Street Dance Academy. This vibrant weekend is proudly supported by Wayne State University College of Fine, Performing, and Communication Arts and the Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance.
Throughout the ELEMENTS Hip-Hop Weekend, festival-goers can explore the “I Got Beats In My Fingertips” exhibit, which will remain open until September 20. This unique exhibit celebrates the influential contributions of Detroit’s J. Dilla and Houston’s DJ Screw, offering a fascinating insight into their groundbreaking work within the hip-hop genre.
The BRED Hip-Hop Theatre Festival aims to be accessible to everyone, so tickets are donation-based. The suggested donation is $25-$35.
For more information, visit www.hiphoptheatrefest.com.
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