FIRST LOOK SERIES
The Liminal Theatre Collective Presents:
Reclamation: Beyond The Veil
Directed by Azudi Onyejekwe
Choreographed by Ava Jones
Co-Created by Ava Jones, Dara Adebanjo, Efe Isaac, Fanny Kienberger, Kayta Thomas, Jelani Winston, Vance Beamer Washington, Stella Diji, and Azudi Onyejekwe.
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Reclamation: Beyond the Veil is an ensemble-driven, devised theatre performance that explores the complexities of Black identity, liberation, and deconstruction. Developed through collaborative storytelling, movement, and music, the piece embraces joy as an act of resistance and envisions a world beyond the Veil—a space where history, spirituality, and personal narratives of the diaspora intertwine.
Directed by The Liminal Theatre Collective’s Artistic Director, Azudi Onyejekwe, choreographed by Ava Jones, and co-created and performed by a dynamic ensemble of multidisciplinary artists, this work emerges from TLTC’s mission to develop works by artists of color that navigate the spaces between tradition and change. It also launches TLTC’s Liminal Labs series, the collective’s creative incubator for bold, innovative new theatre from emerging artists of color.
Based in New York City, The Liminal Theatre Collective is dedicated to producing new and reimagined works while fostering the next generation of diverse theatre artists. Through evocative imagery, multimodal expression, original compositions, and deeply personal storytelling, Reclamation: Beyond the Veil invites audiences to engage with the transformative power of Blackness, embracing its complexities, resilience, and the ongoing journey of reclamation and self-definition.
Performed by Ava Jones, Dara Adebanjo, Efe Isaac, Fanny Kienberger, Kayta Thomas, Jelani Winston, and Vance Beamer Washington.
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Content Advisory: This show contains some strong language
MEET THE ARTISTS
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Azudi Onyejekwe (Director) is a Brooklyn-based director, actor, educator, advocate, and proud first-generation Igbo-American. As a director, Azudi has developed new works at 54 Below, The Lee Strasberg Institute, and The Kumble Theater, among others. As an educator, he currently serves on the faculties of LIU-Brooklyn and The New Group Acting Studio, with previous appointments at NYU Tisch, The Lee Strasberg Institute, and Molloy University. As an actor, Azudi has performed on Broadway, off-Broadway, regionally, and onscreen. His Broadway credits include the original casts of The Great Comet and Violet. Regionally, he has worked at The Guthrie Theater, Williamstown Theatre Festival, American Repertory Theater, Carnegie Hall, Los Angeles Philharmonic, NJPAC, and more. Select Film/TV credits include HairBrained, Madam Secretary, and the short film To the Deep, currently in post-production. Azudi is the Founding Artistic Director of The Liminal Theatre Collective, and a proud member of AEA, SDC (associate), and AFT. He is also an alum of NYU Tisch and a current Master’s candidate at the University of Pennsylvania. www.azudi.net
Ava Jones (Choreographer, Storyteller) is a Chicago-born, NYC- based multi-hyphenate artist that recently graduated from Tisch School of Drama. She has a deep respect for new works and values the art of creation and collaboration across mediums of acting, singing, songwriting, dancing, and choreographing. You can often find her in her room doing a freestyle of some sort. She was seen previously as Sarah in Ragtime at the Count Basie Theatre, previously choreographed for Grammy nominated artist Safa Elzbir, and currently studies acting at the Maggie Flanigan Studio. She is also immensely proud to be the Head of Outreach for The Liminal Theatre Collective. She would like to give a special thank you to her parents for always supporting her dreams. www.ava-jones.com IG: @avaajonesxÂ
Dara Adebanjo (Storyteller) is a first-generation Nigerian-American from Houston, Texas, currently a second-year student at New York University. Growing up in Alief, a community predominantly made up of immigrants, Dara was afforded the privilege of seeing the different ways cultures blend to create something more and the unique ways in which our stories are told. She is grateful to bring that same opportunity to life with the beautifully talented cast of Reclamation: Beyond the Veil, an amazing group of people. Dara has a deep love for performance art and enjoys exploring all aspects of storytelling. For her, Reclamation represents honoring the oral tradition of storytelling—a space created for and by us. She doesn’t take this opportunity for granted and is excited for audiences to experience the magic of the show. It’s sure to be an unforgettable performance.
Efe Isaac (Storyteller) is a Nigerian-born artist based in NYC. A passionate storyteller, writer, actor, movement artist, entrepreneur, and thought architect, Efe is dedicated to dissecting the complexities of the inner world through content. She migrated to the United States, relied on her natural talents, and became a self-made entrepreneur. Her artistry and creativity began with herself, using her own hands and mind. First, she was a hair artist with multiple clients, working with celebrities and creating her own hair education program in her salon, teaching young Black women the hair business and how to become their own boss. Acting has always been in the background. Before migrating to the United States, Efe wrote, directed, and produced acting content in Nigeria, casting her friends and neighbors in her stories. She returned to writing and producing stories, casting her hair workers in her salon in New York. She also created movement pieces and taught African dance classes on the side. She later went on to create content on YouTube and became a successful YouTuber, collaborating with major brands. She has since developed her passion for acting and is a graduate of the Maggie Flanigan Conservatory acting program in NYC.
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Fanny Kienberger (Storyteller) (she/her) is an actress, writer, and stage manager based between New York and Vienna, Austria. As a performer, her work moves between theatre and film, and when writing, her short stories and plays borrow the styles of absurdist writers. Fanny is a graduate of the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute where she first met Azudi and had the pleasure of working with him on the first iteration of Reclamation. She’s extremely honored to have been asked to come back for Reclamation: Beyond the Veil with yet another incredible cast.Â
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Kayta Thomas (Storyteller)Â (They/Them) is an experimental performance artist based in Manhattan, New York. They specialize in physical acting, directing, movement, puppetry, and performance technology. With a transdisciplinary approach, Kayta enjoys creating new worlds and bringing feelings that are often hidden, to light. Thank you to this wonderful team, and to Azudi for including me in this fantastical process. So much love! <3 @k4yta
Jelani Winston (Storyteller) Atlanta native Jelani Winston is a multi-faceted interdisciplinary artist. As an actor, singer, writer, and dancer Jelani has given himself multiple lanes of delivering heartfelt communication through art. Ultimately, he works to bridge these lanes into one larger expression of true humanity. The son of two pastors, Jelani has kept these roots at the core of his art, focusing on themes of spirituality, love, humanity, and the struggle for balance in all three. He aims to tell stories that inspire and uplift his culture, community, and connections with the hope of showcasing their reflective beauty, making more space for them in the world. Jelani would also like to thank his family and friends for their support as well as his castmates and fellow TLTC members for a beautiful experience. With that being said, he also hopes you enjoy the show!
Vance Beamer Washington (Storyteller) (he/him) is a Virginia-born, New York City-based actor, writer and creative. Growing up as an athlete an intro to acting class caused a cosmic shift in his soul. Propelled by the urge to be inspired and inspire others he has dedicated his life to the pursuit of art and creativity. Over the last decade, Vance has starred in short films like “Vessel” and “Locus”, supporting roles in feature films such as “If My People” and “Hollow Bedrooms” as well as playing small roles in plays, and background on TV shows and movies. Vance is currently studying the Meisner technique in a two-year program at the Maggie Flanigan Studio in New York City.
Daniel Dean Miranda (Stage Manager) (He/Him) is very proud to be a part of this amazing project with TLTC. Returning to stage management after over a decade, this is the perfect project. As an Actor, singer, choreographer, and producer, his goal has always been to provide a platform to underrepresented voices. He is very thankful to TLTC for providing a space to tell our stories. Enjoy the show, and be part of the change. He is looking forward to many more productions to come! @ddeanm
COVID-19 policy: In guidance with the city and state COVID-19 policies, we will no longer be requiring masks, but strongly recommend them.