Annie! With a Social Justice Twist

OAKLAND, Calif. - May 28, 2015 - PRLog -- Can the musical Annie possibly have anything to do with the Black Lives Matter movement? Playwright Taiwo Kujichagulia-Seitu, who wrote "Go Tell It! A Harriet Tubman Christmas Story" thinks so. This June, Lyric Performing Arts Academy (LPAA) will present a version of Annie that is as educational as it is entertaining. The show poses the question: “Is reality TV more worthy of our time and attention than actual reality?” A comedy written for kids of all ages, “Annie! The Reality Show” presents all of the Annie music we know and love in a context that compels audiences to think critically about what is seen on TV.

       The founders of Lyric Performing Arts Academy (Juhandryn Dessames, Kehinde Kujichagulia-Seitu and Taiwo Kujichagulia-Seitu) believe that the performing arts are a perfect educational medium. Therefore, all LPAA stage productions are teaching tools. “Annie! The Reality Show” features performances by students from Lyric Performing Arts Academy and Northern Light School, where LPAA teaches musical theater classes as a part of the after-school program. LPAA’s “Annie! The Reality Show” will be showing in Berkeley at the Live Oak Theatre on June 27^th at 2pm. For more information, and to purchase tickets, please visit http://www.lyricperformingartsacademy.com/#!annie.

       Lyric Performing Arts Academy (LPAA) is a faith based performing arts training ground guided by the three principles of inspiration, education and service. Thus, LPAA creates meaningful performance art with themes of mutual respect for others, self-determination, social justice, self-respect and faith. LPAA teaches dance (tap, ballet technique, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary and West African), voice (individual vocal study, and class voice) and musical theater. For more information on Lyric Performing Arts Academy, please visit www.lyricperformingartsacademy.com.