News: The Anthropologists Reveal Suppressed History of Black Midwives in Tour of “axes, herbs and satchels,” Premiering February 2025

axes, herbs and satchels. Photo credit: Isha Patel.
The Anthropologists, a NYC-based, female-led, investigative theater company, is launching the world premiere of their devised play axes, herbs and satchels. The tour begins in Jersey City at Art House on February 19th and 20th, followed by stops in Delray Beach at Arts Garage on February 23rd and Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana on March 5th. The show will return to New York City in spring 2025 with performances in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Brooklyn.

The Anthropologists’ Artistic Director Melissa Moschitto and co-director Sandie Luna helm the ensemble of Black women and non-binary artists who shine a light on the suppressed history of Black midwives, doulas, and birthing bodies. axes, herbs and satchels travels across generations with storytelling, movement, southern spirituals, and ritual. axes, herbs and satchels is an act of reparative history, offering audiences a space for communal learning, reckoning, and healing.

axes, herbs and satchels was developed through extensive ethnographic research, primary sources, and personal accounts to create a stunning new investigative theater piece which celebrates the traditional knowledge held in the Black birth worker community and potently examines maternal mortality. The research and development of this play was supported in part by a partnership with the American Anthropological Association, who established the first anthropologist-in-residence with the company. In 2023, the company collaborated with Dr. Haile Eshe Cole; the current anthropologist-in-residence is Nadia N. Mbonde.

*Guidance Suggested: This event may involve material that may not be appropriate for young children.

axes, herbs and satchels is performed and devised by Jalissa Fulton, Shakerria Breonie Henderson, Asha John, Brianna Johnson, and Sandie Luna.

It is co-directed by Sandie Luna and Melissa Moschitto, with Assistant Director Jayda Jones. Devynity Wray is a contributing writer. 

The show runs 80 minutes, and will be at Art House, Jersey City NJ, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 19 and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, February 20.

TICKETS: https://www.arthouseproductions.org/collections/upcomingevents/products/axes-herbs-and-satchels-february-19-20-2025#

The show will also be at Arts Garage, Delray Beach FL, 7:00 p.m. Sunday, February 23 (TICKETS: https://artsgarage.org/event/axes-herbs-and-satchels/) and Wabash College Fine Arts Center, Crawfordsville, IN, 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 5 (TICKETS: https://www.wabash.edu/boxoffice/event.cfm?eventd_id=215).

Future dates and cities to be announced. Visit: www.theanthropologists.org.

Comments

  1. Rob ReeseFebruary 25, 2025 at 5:46 PM

    This company does consistently good work, I hope this show comes to NYC soon!

    ReplyDelete

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