The George Washington University’s dance and theater group performed a brilliant combined effort: The Cradle Will Rock (a Play in Music) written by Marc Blitzstein and directed by Leslie Jacobson and musical director Patrick O’Donnell. The performance astonishes one’s senses to heightened levels – absolutely top notch.
Once again, the director, Jacobson produces an outstanding performance with monumental acting—an absolute must-see, and hear, presentation. Based on political art, it focuses on reform, but by the end the play finds itself changing. I give this play ten thumbs up and ten toes up – simply outstanding!!!
Jacobson’s commitment to the performance arts is showing up in unusual places. Several months ago, Street Sense adopted theater brothers and sisters from South Africa’s Bokamoso Youth Center, who performed song and dance at George Washington University. Later, we were invited back for their 11th anniversary performance at GWU, where they enacted a play on the prevention of teen pregnancy.
Jacobson had dedicated more than a decade, in partnership with musical director Roy Barber, to helping at-risk youth in the rural town of Winterveldt, South Africa, where youth face such challenges as 50 percent unemployment, 25 percent HIV infection rates, teen pregnancy, family violence, and rape.
With more than 122 students on the road to success in South Africa from this program, it is obvious that their commitment changes the lives of these students. Jacobson and Barber are changing lives in D.C., too. In collaboration with Elizabeth Kitzos-Kang, professor of theater and dance at GWU, they run an excellent theater workshop for Street Sense, which I am a part of. The homeless theater group performed at GWU’s Marvin Center last year, and has another performance scheduled next month.
