AFTERSHOCKS

AFTERSHOCKS - A tetralogy of our times

Aftershocks - A Tetralogy of Our Times - a video compilation of short plays, animation and montage art conceptualized by Conch Shell Production’s Artistic Director Magaly Colimon-Christopher. The work explores love and life in Caribbean American communities in New York City during the coronavirus pandemic.

AFTERSHOCKS is written by Haitian-American actress/playwright/producer Magaly Colimon-Christopher, and Borinquén-Chapín-Bronx playwright/director/ poet/producer Juan Ramirez, Jr. Magaly’s plays SILENT TRUTH and THE HUNTING SEASON are O’Neill NPC Semi-finalists. Her work has been produced and workshopped in NYC, Chicago, North Caroline, New Haven and Los Angeles. Memberships: Actors Studio PDU, The Actors Center and the Dramatist Guild. MFA: Geffen School of Drama at Yale University. www.MagalyColimon.com. Juan’s plays have been produced and developed in NYC, Houston, Portland, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Sydney and others. He’s a Dramatist Guild member, 2020-2021 Dramatist Guild Fellow, teaching artist with Art Defined. MFA: NYU Tisch. www.JuanRamirezJr.com

The creative team included directors Pat Golden and Teisha Duncan, film editor/animator Andre Sutherland, composer MiJANNE, photographer Marissa Joyce Stamps, illustrator Elijah Leonard, sound designer Santos Collado, dramaturg Paloma Sierra, stage manager/casting director Sarah Chiriboga, and casting directors Moshe Henderson.

Cast includes: Demetrius Blocker, Nyanda Cammock, Daniel Echevarria, Logan Elizabeth Nikkole Jones, T.D. Jones, Johanne Kesten, Jason Martinez, Simone St. John, Sean St. John, and Carlene Taylor.

AFTERSHOCKS was made possible in part by the Queens Council on the Arts with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. It was also made possible in part by the 2021 New York City Artist Corps Grant.

stories of love

Take a journey with us through Queens, NY from 2020-2021 and witness stories of Caribbean Americans endeavoring to overcome the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Prologue: What will you say about today?

Written by Magaly Colimon-Christopher

Video montage co-devised by Magaly Colimon-Christopher and Marissa Joyce Stamps

Voice over artists: Logan Elizabeth Nikkole Jones, T.D. Jones

It's April 2020 - Haitian-American mother Joselyn and her 10 year old daughter Nina are sheltering in place in the safety and their home, and pondering how they will retell the story of their experience.

I MARRIED A BLACK REPUBLICAN

Written by Magaly Colimon-Christopher

Directed by Pat Golden

Performers: Johanne Borge Kesten, Simone St. John, Sean St. John

(Dark Comedy)

It's November 3rd, 2020: As the nation waits to find out who will be the next president of the United States, Grace, a staunch Bajan American Democrat seeks her brother’s guidance as she struggles with the realization that her new groom is secretly a Republican. Will their marriage survive?

GOOD FOR YOU

Written by Magaly Colimon-Christopher

Directed by Teisha Duncan

Performers: Demetrius Blocker, Carlene Taylor

(Dark comedy)

It’s March 1st, 2021. A long lasting friendship is challenged by the to-be-or-not-to-be-vaccinated dilemma. When Tony realizes he is in love with his anti-vaxxer best friend Carmen, is there any limit to the length he will go to in order to keep her safe from the coronavirus?

SHEEP

Written By Juan Ramirez, Jr.

Directed by Pat Golden

Performers: Daniel Echevarria, Jason Armani Martinez

(Comedy)

A comedy set over a phone video chat, where Rico checks-in on his boy, Paco, who's sleeping on the couch because he refuses to get the vaccine. Rico gives Paco all of the conspiracy reasons why he should get the shot until Paco realizes the true meaning of choice.

CLOUD WATCHING

Written by Magaly Colimon-Christopher

Directed by Teisha Duncan

Performer: Nyanda Cammock

(Drama)

When a Jamaican-American woman suffering from COVID19 self-quarantines at home alone, she struggles to find the words to leave an uplifting video message for her husband who is hospitalized with the same condition.

cast

DEMETRIUS BLOCKER

"Tony" in GOOD FOR YOU

Demetrius is an honors graduate from New World School of the Arts(BFA) and studies at HB Studios. He’s performed with Garth Fagan Dance and works as a runway/print model. Acting credits include TV- HBO Girls(Episode -Boys) / Film - The Other Woman, Fish, My Dinner with Schwartzey, Fragments of Isolation, Andy Warhol For Senate / Theater - Horse, Mr. Chekov Mr. Porter, Caligula, Starr Street, The Good, The Bad, The Fabulous / The Children From the Blue Mountain.

qUEENS COUNCIL ON THE ARTS

QCA's Mission Statement:

To foster and develop the arts in Queens County and to support individual artists and arts organizations in presenting their cultural diversity for the benefit of the community. The Queens Council on the Arts (QCA) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 1966. QCA is one of the founders of the Kaufman Arts District. This space is an exciting intersection of arts, commerce, media, advocacy and strategic networking for Queens arts and cultural institutions.

The Queens Arts Fund (QAF) offers grants to Queens-based individual artists and nonprofit organizations offering distinctive arts and cultural programming that directly serves the community members of Queens. The Queens Arts Fund is committed to supporting emerging artists from diverse cultural backgrounds, working within all disciplines to create work that provides open and equal access for audiences in all communities of Queens, to further racial and cultural equity.

Art Access Grant is funded by NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, Greater New York Arts Development Fund.

Learn more about QCA

New york city artist corp

qUEENS COUNCIL ON THE ARTS

Ms. Colimon-Christopher is one of 500 New York City-based grant recipients this year.

Over the course of three award cycles, more than 3,000 artists received the $5,000 awards to engage the public with artist activities across New York City’s five boroughs this summer and fall. Artists use the grant to create new work or phase of a work, or restage preexisting creative activities across any discipline.Members of the public can participate in City Artist Corps Grants programming by following the hashtag #CityArtistCorps on social media.

City Artist Corps Grants were launched in June 2021 by NYFA and DCLA with support from the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment and the Queens Theatre.

The program is funded by the $25 million New York City Artist Corps recovery initiative announced by Mayor de Blasio and DCLA earlier this year.

learn more about cac

New works by Caribbean Diaspora & Caribbean Writers

TRAILER

AFTERSHOCKS - A tetralogy of our times

stories of love

CREATIVE & PRODUCTION TEAM. Moderators & guest panelists

cast

This project was made possible by

qUEENS COUNCIL ON THE ARTS

qUEENS COUNCIL ON THE ARTS

qUEENS COUNCIL ON THE ARTS

New york city artist corp

qUEENS COUNCIL ON THE ARTS

qUEENS COUNCIL ON THE ARTS