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(Photo by Bailey Holiver)
Miami Dade College’ (MDC) Live Arts Miami and Miami Light Project present Arms Around America, a groundbreaking theatrical experience directed by acclaimed performance artist, writer, dancer, composer and musician Dan Froot.
Using the tools of theater to spark dialogue about America’s relationship with guns, this innovative production transforms real-life stories into an immersive radio drama, inviting the audience to engage deeply with one of the nation’s most polarizing issues.
The Miami performance will take place on Thursday and Friday, Feb. 20 and 21, 8 p.m., at MDC North Campus, 11380 NW 27 Ave., Room 1315, as part of both Live Arts Miami and Miami Light Project’s mission to foster meaningful dialogue through the arts.
Arms Around America invites audiences to listen — to the stories of those impacted by guns, and to each other. Created from three years of story-archiving in Miami, Los Angeles and Montana, the show weaves together real experiences into powerful narratives performed live on stage. Each evening ends with a “kitchen table” discussion featuring a diverse panel of community members, offering a space for Miamians to participate in this vital conversation. This performance also will act as a catalyst for students at MDC North Campus to engage around this issue through creative outlets such as Open Mics, songwriting and poetry workshops to share how guns have affected their lives and communities.
“Theater has the power to bring us together in ways statistics cannot,” said Froot, artistic director of Dan Froot & Company. “Through storytelling, we move beyond debate to dialogue, listening to one another’s experiences to better understand the roles guns play in our lives.”
The stories — adapted from oral histories — shine a light on the gray areas of America’s relationship with guns, exploring themes of fear, love, identity and power.
As Froot explains, “This isn’t about taking sides. It’s about finding common ground through the transformative act of listening.”
Inspired by the golden age of radio, Arms Around America unfolds as a live broadcast, complete with live foley effects, evocative soundscapes, and dynamic performances. The cast features performances by the original cast members, two talented students from the New World School of the Arts, and an original score by Julio Montero.
Froot also is the lead writer and host for the Arms Around America podcast and acts as its foley sound effects artist complete with staged performances. As the founder of Dan Froot & Company (DF&Co), he is celebrated for collaborative, community-focused theater-making. His productions bring real-life narratives to the stage, fostering empathy and dialogue. With Arms Around America, Froot continues to use theater as a platform for civic engagement, inspiring audiences to listen, reflect, and connect.
For tickets visit www.liveartsmiami.org or www.miamilightproject.com.
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