Arts and Entertainment
No fairy tale: ‘GRIMMZ’ earns Drama League Award nomination |
Production up for outstanding digital prize |
Published Tuesday, April 6, 2021 7:00 pm |
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PHOTO | CHILDREN'S THEATRE OF CHARLOTTE |
The Children’s Theatre of Charlotte production of “GRIMMZ” has been nominated for Outstanding Digital Theater, Individual Production by the Drama League Awards. |
You could not write a better fairy tale for the creators of “GRIMMZ.”
The Children’s Theatre of Charlotte production earned a nomination in the 87th annual Drama League Awards for Outstanding Digital Theater, Individual Production.
Ron Lee McGill and Rahsheem Shabazz and director Christopher Parks began spinning fairy tales to hip hop in 2018. The trio’s co-creation of “GRIMMZ” originally premiered at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte in early 2020. It closed due to the pandemic, like many shows. However, CTC brought it back for their 73rd season, which has taken place virtually.
“GRIMMZ” is intended for children age seven and up. Shabazz and McGill respectively play hip-hop stars Jay and Will Grimmz, who have nine Granny awards (not Grammy). They also have one Great Granny award. “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves” becomes “Snow White and Seven Shawties.” Other classics transform into “Down with Rapunzel,” “Hanzel & Gretel: Lost in the Hood” and “Break, Cinderella, Break!”
Over 400 directors and theater professionals who are alumni of The Drama League support programs for directors selected the 33 nominated productions. Categories include: Outstanding Digital Theater, Individual Production, Outstanding Digital Theater — Collection or Festival, Outstanding Interactive or Socially-Distanced Theater, Outstanding Audio Theater Production and Outstanding Digital Concert. Productions premiered between March 12, 2020-March 15, 2021 were eligible.
CTC will make “GRIMMZ Fairy Tales” available for streaming through May 31 in honor of the nomination. “GRIMMZ” was professionally filmed and is available to viewers through Broadway On Demand’s streaming service. Viewers have the choice between purchasing tickets to the entire season, or to a specific show for CTC’s virtual season. A ticket includes the show itself, digital content regarding cast and creative team bios and behind the scenes content.
“In this most difficult time, when stages across America were forced to darken, theater artists responded with light – producing bold new work in ways most of us never dreamed of,” The Drama League artistic director Gabriel Stelian-Shanks said in a statement. “Thanks to the artists who are alumni of The Drama League’s programs, we’re thrilled to be able to celebrate a few of the extraordinary productions made in the last year -- pieces that exemplify inspiration, innovation, and imagination. Thanks to all of them, from all of us, for the joy and hope they created all over the world.”
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