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Created by the Youth Ensemble of Atlanta
Directed by Andrea Frye
Musical Direction by Kyle Williams/S. Rene Clark
Choreography by Charles Bullock/Tamara Brown

YEA brings its explosive choreography and heart-stopping voices to tackle some of the many issues young girls face on their journey to womanhood, including domestic violence, self-image and interpersonal relationships.  Endangered Species is directed by nationally renowned actor and director Andrea Frye. 

Endangered Species revolves around the journeys of five souls as they compete on the “Black Female Factor”.  The five finalists explore what life would be like for a black woman living in America.  Through a series of vignettes, including Baby’s Mama Drama, Battered Black and Blue, Gold-Digger’s Rules, Too Much and Dance with My Father, the finalists collect their baggage and continue to move through life until they reach the breaking point.  The women ultimately hold a press conference to discuss “Who’s to Blame”.  Inspired in part by the Diane Reeve’s song of the same title, Endangered Species is not about being a victim, bashing men, or blaming the “man”.  It is about empowering women and society to stand up for the right choices and make the changes to help ease the path a little for everyone who comes behind us.

YEA’s mission is to empower youth, through the arts, to become catalysts for positive change in their communities.  Each of its original productions are issue-oriented pieces created by the ensemble to bring attention to the issues they face in their daily lives.  “For so many years, YEA has dealt with all of these issues, but skirted the core element that they all relate back to the path girls take in life.” says Director Andrea Frye, “With Endangered Species, we turn the focus to the path and not just the destination.  Girls face so many different influences that the time has come for YEA to deal with them as a whole.” 

In addition to her work with YEA, Director Andrea Frye is an Atlanta favorite.  Some of her most popular Atlanta productions include Flyin’ West with True Colors Theatre and Jar the Floor with the Alliance Theatre.  She has directed across the country with Arizona Theatre Company, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Jomandi Productions, St. Louis Black Rep, Portland Center Stage, and many others.  Ms. Frye is also a powerful actor whose performances have garnered her critical and popular praise.  Her work is so well respected that she received special permission from author Edward Albee to be the first African-American woman ever to portray the lead role in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolfe for Oregon Shakespeare Festival.  Until Hurricane Katrina, Andrea was Artist-in-Residence in Theatre at Dillard University in New Orleans.
                                                
The production team also includes many other familiar YEA faces.  Endangered Species is written by the Youth Ensemble of Atlanta with musical direction by S. Renee Clark and Kyle Williams and choreography by Charles Bullock and YEA Alum Tamara Brown.

Read the Atlanta-Journal Constitution Review here.

Performances are May 28 - June 7 at Georgia State University's Alumni Hall Theatre. Shows are Wednesday through Saturday at 8 PM and Sunday at 5 PM. Tickets are only $20 ($15 for students). Group discounts are available.

Youth Ensemble of Atlanta

881 Ponce de Leon Avenue - Atlanta, Georgia 30306

P: 404.756.2184