Embassy of the United States

Press releases

Close Window

Power has created his own style of theatrical communication, fusing original music, rhymed language and dynamic choreography to produce compelling evenings of work.

enlarge photo

Power has created his own style of theatrical communication, fusing original music, rhymed language and dynamic choreography to produce compelling evenings of work.

U.S. HipHop Artist, Theater Pioneer Will Power in South Africa

August 13, 2009

Will Power, an American award-winning playwright and performer, and the founder of Hip-Hop Theater, will bring his revolutionary performance art to South Africa in August.

Mr. Power, described as “the best verse playwright in America” by New York Magazine, will host workshops at art centers in Benoni and Orange Farm, hold a master class at the University of Johannesburg and perform as the opening act at the Hip-Hop Indaba in Cape Town. His visit to South Africa is in partnership with the United States Mission to South Africa and Roach Inc Entertainment.

Mr. Power will hold several  events open to the public during his stay in South Africa:

• Pretoria: On Friday, August 28, Mr. Power will collaborate with young South African hip hop artists who, under his direction, will present their piece at the Capital Arts Festival at the State Theatre in Pretoria. Mr. Power will interact with the audience, young artists and interested media prior to the performance.
• Cape Town: On Saturday, August 29, Mr. Power will open the Hip-Hop Indaba in Cape Town in partnership with Heal the Hood. Tickets for the Indaba are available at Computicket.
• Durban: On Wednesday, September 2, Mr. Power will conduct workshops with Dancing Pencils Student Poets and with local Hip Hop groups before co-presenting with them at an evening public performance at the BAT Community Arts Center. Tickets are available by contacting Xolani Sithole at Tel 031 3320451.

As one of entertainment’s new shining stars, Newsday calls Will Power “electrifying” and Variety hails him as a “dynamic performer.” He received the prestigious 2008 USA Prudential Fellowship, the first annual TCG Peter Zeisler Memorial Award, a 2005 Joyce Award, a 2005 NYFA Fellowship, a 2004 Jury Award for Best Theatre Performance at the HBO US Comedy Arts Festival, and a 2004 Drama Desk nomination for Best Solo Performance.

From glowing reviews in The New York Times and American Theater Magazine, to interviews in VIBE and The Source, Will Power deftly walks the line between serious, studied actor and urban hip hop MC. Viewed as a pioneer in Hip Hop Theater, Power has created his own style of theatrical communication, fusing original music, rhymed language and dynamic choreography to produce compelling evenings of work. His adaptation of the Greek tragedy “Seven Against Thebes,” re-titled “The Seven,” completed a successful Off-Broadway run at the New York Theater Workshop, and made its west coast premiere at the La Jolla Playhouse. Will Power’s nationally and internationally acclaimed solo show FLOW has been described as “astounding” (Curtain Up) and “theater with the refreshing aroma of originality” (New York Times).

In addition to writing and performing, Power composes the music for his staged works as well. He’s also composed songs featured on MTV, Moesha on UPN, and Kingpin on NBC. As lead vocalist for the Omar Sosa Sextet, Will Power was featured on four critically acclaimed albums: Free Roots, Spirit of the Roots, Bembon, and Prietos.

For more information about Mr. Power's workshops and master classes in South Africa, please contact the US Mission to South Africa Public Affairs Office at 012-431-4000 or goodgallse@state.gov.

For more information, please contact Embassy press officer Elizabeth Kennedy Trudeau: 012-431-4217