NewYorkRep (Gayle Waxenberg, Founding Artistic Director), presents the multi-award winning production of Don’t Stay Safe. With a book and lyrics by Cheryl L. Davis, and music by Douglas J. Cohen, Don’t Stay Safe streams live, Sunday, April 25, 6PM, at FiveOhm.TV. Don’t Stay Safe is the latest production in NewYorkRep’s short play series, CivilWrights, presented in association with Rashad V. Chambers and Five Ohm Productions. Don’t Stay Safe was originally commissioned and produced as part of Prospect Theater Company’s VISION Series of new music theater on film.
It is Spring 2020, New York City. Franki, a black lawyer, in lockdown with her estranged girlfriend Taylor, learns her younger brother Eddie has arrived to take part in the Black Lives Matter protests. As Franki struggles to save everyone, including her relationship, Don’t Stay Safe reflects on critical events of the past year, engaging with the ongoing struggle for racial equality and civil rights, examining the risks of protest… and the risks of staying safe.
This short musical on film is directed by Christina Franklin, with cinematography by Lesley Steele. The cast features Iris Beaumier, Latoya Edwards, Nygel D. Robinson. Don’t Stay Safe features music direction by John Bronston.
Don’t Stay Safe is 2021 Drama League Award nominee for “Outstanding Digital Theater, Individual Production,” and has received honors from NYC Indie Film Festival, Paris Film Festival, Los Angeles Film Awards, Independent Shorts Awards, Indie Shorts Fest and Lift-Off Global Network Berlin.