An Evening Dedicated to LGBTI Rights in Uganda
On June 10, 2013 at 7 p.m., BCC hosts a community-wide event dedicated to LGBTI rights in Uganda, celebrating pride and building movements.
June 10, 2013
7pm
at BCC
The evening will include a preview performance by Matt Gould (in the photo, right) and Griffin Matthews (left) of ‘Witness Uganda,’ An award-winning musical about an American seeking to help orphaned Ugandan teens, which explores complex issues of sexuality, poverty and the politics of humanitarian aid. Special guest speaker: Julius Kaggwa, Ugandan LGBTI rights activist.
Admission is free, but space is limited. Click Here to reserve seats today.
About the Musical.
‘Witness Uganda,’ which will premiere at the American Repertory Theater in 2014 directed by three-time Tony Award nominee Diane Paulus, is the recipient of the 2012 Richard Rodgers Award for Musical Theater. Through the eyes of an American working with orphaned teenagers, the play explores challenging issues including the Ugandan gay rights movement, the delicate balance between aid work and cultural interference, and the evolving responsibility of Americans abroad.
Matt Gould.
Matt Gould is the recipient of ASCAP’s Dean Kay Award and Harold Adamson Award and has received a Disney/ASCAP workshop with Stephen Schwartz and a workshop at the Vineyard Arts Project/Art Farm. Matt is also working on a commission for Yale Reperatory Theatre with playwright Carson Kreitzer on a new musical called Lempicka. He wrote and directed Free Style for LA’s Reprise Theatre Company (commissioned by Jason Alexander), wroteTwilight in Manchego (Jonathan Larson Foundation Award) in the NYMF, was commissioned by Playwrights Horizons to write music for Lucy Thurber’s Dillingham City, composed music for Dreyfus In Rehearsal (Theatre Row) and translated, adapted and directed Romeo and Juliet in Pulaar(Mauritania, West Africa.) He was a composing fellow in New Dramatist’s Composer-Librettist studio and has composed and arranged music for Grammy winners Desmond Child, Terrence McNally, Vanessa Williams, and more. His music has been performed at Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Saban Theatre (LA), Symphony Space (NYC), Joe’s Pub, New World Stages, Huntington Theatre Company (Boston), Rattlestick (NYC), Summit Series, and with Griffin Matthews this March, TEDx Wall Street!
Griffin Matthews.
Griffin Matthews graduated with a BFA in musical theater from Carnegie Mellon University, in his hometown of Pittsburgh, PA. He is a writer, director, actor, and philanthropist who splits his time between New York and Los Angeles. He co-wrote (book, music, and lyrics) and directed numerous staged readings of ‘Witness Uganda’ (Harold Adamson Award/Dean Kay Award), a musical based on the formation of his grassroots non-profit organization: Uganda Project. ‘Witness Uganda’ was invited to perform at Vineyard Arts Project/Art Farm (New Writers. New Plays), Rattlestick Theater (F*!@cking Good Plays Festival), and The ASCAP Foundation/Disney Musical Theatre Workshophosted by Stephen Schwartz. He directed a reading of Lempicka for Yale Reperatory Theatre and New Dramatists. He and Matt Gould are honored to have been asked to perform selections from Witness Uganda at this year’s TEDx conference in New York City. As an actor, he has appeared on The Mentalist, Suburgatory, Weeds, Torchwood, 90210, Law & Order LA, Cashmere Mafia, numerous commercials, hosted several web series, and has appeared Off-Broadway and regionally. His greatest accomplishment continues to be watching the students of Uganda Project rise above their circumstances and be the first members of their families to graduate high school and college! Resurrect People
