Ghetto Alchemy: A Lunchroom Survival Guide

By Maleek Rae

Directed by amani meliyah

May 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 13th, 16th, 17th, and 18th at 7pm

May 5th, 19th at 3pm

Ghetto Alchemy: A Lunchroom Survival Guide is an afrofuturist coming-of-age story that transports us from the outer reaches of space to the rhythmic tables of a middle school lunchroom. This hip-hop solo show uses rap, poetry, and movement as liberation tools to help our main character travel back in time to gain the assistance of their middle school self to overcome current-day blockades. Throughout this story, we evaluate and stitch together themes of puberty, socioeconomic status, and queer awakening. This show is a Sankofa offering. It’s never too late to go back and get it. It’s never too late to give 11-year-old you a hug.

CW: Strong Language

COVID PROTOCOL: Please note that this performance will be presented at the Tank's in-person performance space at 312 W 36th St. All attendees and artists will be required to be vaccinated for Covid-19. Patrons will also be required to wear masks when not eating or drinking.

FEATURING

Maleek Rae

CREATIVE TEAM

amani meliyah

MEET THE TEAM


MALEEK RAE

Creator and Performer

MALEEK RAE (They/Them), the child of Joyce Gilbert and great grandchild of Joseph Gilbert,  is a gender queer writer/actor/rapper hailing from the eastside of Detroit,MI. Maleek is based in Brooklyn, NY where they create black/ghetto/multidisciplinary offerings that live at the intersections of genealogy, inner child healing, and shadow work. 

Maleek is a graduate of the SUNY Purchase BFA acting conservatory. Their work as an actor can be seen on networks such as NBC (“Law & Order: SVU” & “Organized Crime”), CBS (“East New York”), HBO (“Random Acts of Flyness” S2), Peacock (“The Best Man: The Final Chapters”), national commercial spots, video games, museum exhibitions, and a plethora of films. In addition to their on-camera work they’ve also worked on productions at theaters such as La Mama Experimental Theatre (Messiah), Classical Theatre of Harlem (The Bacchae), Premiere Stages (Mud Row), and The Detroit Public Theatre (Detroit 67’).

In April of 2023 Maleek workshopped and presented a work in progress showing at The Tank of their play Community: A Guttah Ritual, which was shortly followed by the release of their debut mixtape Ghetto Alchemy Vol. 1. Maleek is currently a fellow with the Target Margin Theatre company and a member of LIT Council, a developmental playwriting intensive in partnership with The Tank.

amani meliyah

Director

amani meliyah is a multidisciplinary artist based in Brooklyn, NY. They create socio-political portraits of identity, faith, and community through live performance, movement, poetry, and video. Directing credits include a recent theatrical production of new play Nyad's Dream, a queer magical realism play by Julliann Lavallee; In the Blood by Suzan-Lori Parks and original short films they wrote and directed Parkside and Daughters. amani is a Theatre of the Oppressed practitioner with Theatre of the Oppressed NYC and facilitates residencies at several local communities organizations including Ali Forney Center, Housing Works, and Fortune Society. amani is a co-founder of Blue Lilith Productions and is currently in production for the film Rooftop Jesus (writer/director). They are a member of the 2023-2024 Leon Levy Roundabout Directing Cohort. In NYC amani has collaborated with Soho Rep, Experimental Bitch, Vainglory Theatre, Brunch Theatre, and The Tank.