The Play Onaje, LLC, in accordance with FringeNYC presents The New York Premiere of

ONAJE
www.thePlayONAJE.com
A New Play by ROBERT BOWIE, JR.

Produced by SUE CONOVER MARINELLO

Starring

TINUKE ADETNJI, ADAM COUPERTHWAITE, JOHN DEWEY, CURTIS M. JACKSON,
MARY E. HODGES, SHEILA JOON OSTADAZIM, BRISTOL POMEROY, TIM RUSH and JAY WARD

Directed by PAT GOLDEN
Production Manager: BRIAN FREELAND
Stage Manager: RALPH MEITZLER

FringeHUB
685 Washington Street (corner of Charles Street)
www.fringenyc.org

The Eastern Shore of Maryland has been the hub of revolutionary acts – “breadbasket of the American Revolution,” Rap Brown-inspired riots in the 1960’s, and Harriet Tubman’s Underground Railroad in the era of slavery are among its rich history. Robert Bowie, Jr.’s play, ONAJE, moves from the race riots of 1967 to the open roads of 1980 and depicts the long-lasting effects of racism.

Michael, a promising young Black man (Curtis M. Jackson), is forced into a vicious act in order to save his family during the riots. The act forever changes his life, so much so that he has created a new identity for himself (Onaje). Fifteen years later a chance encounter as he is hitchhiking transports him back to that disastrous event, and he finds himself on the Eastern Shore again. Some fences are mended, and some can only serve as reminders.

In our current times of the rise of White Supremacy, Nazis marching in Charlottesville, police shooting unarmed Black men, and a general upswing in unabashed racism, ONAJE brings home the unsightly truth that this is not a problem easily erased. But it also gives hope that, individual by individual heart to heart, improvements can be made.

- Laurie Lawson -