Broadway Talent Back # The WalkoutProject – Diversity

Broadway actor and author Sidney Dupont has launched ‘The Walkout Project’, a social justice initiative aimed at helping black-owned businesses, with the release of a new song and music video titled “Walkout” on July 4th. Dupont and his colleagues are unveiling their new work at a time when protests against police brutality and racism are taking place across the country. It also comes as Broadway, which was shut down by the coronavirus, is under pressure from black artists to support more projects.

“There’s a lot of risk involved here and it’s really time to look at yourself in the mirror and say, ‘We’re better than that,'” Dupont said in an interview. Diversity. “As artists, we don’t have to rely on the same tired trough where a black woman comes out for a scene and pulls out some sassi or a black guy comes out and sings a painful song about history and is introduced without a story – where They exist only to support the top white character. “

Dupont has put together a star team to help him “walk out” for her. “Hamilton” ‘s Tamar Green (George Washington) and Jared Dixon (Aaron Burr) join the video with another past “Hamilton” star, Amber Iman

Also featured on the cast are Alex Newell (Joey’s Awesome Playlist, Once This Island), Eri Grover (Horror’s Little Shop), Ben Fankhauser (News), Christina Sajus (Sponge), Crystal Kellogg (Rock School), Gabriel Elizabeth (Beau). , Gabrielle McClinton (Chicago, Pippin), Hailey Wright (Beautiful), Jasmine Richardson (Book of Mormon), Kayla Devion (Tina), Kennedy Cowell (Wicked), Marla Lewisant (The Visitor), Michael Stigger (Tarzan) Terrence Archie (agency), Jenna Mary Graves (Ily II), Yale Rich (Hadstown), Amanda Castro (Heights), Ashley de la Rosa (Hamilton, Beautiful), Nasia Thomas (not too proud), Ashley Morgan ( Beautiful), Malcolm Armwood (Headstone), Hoso Simon (The Lion King), Garrett Coleman (Hummerstep), Courtney Kochran (Harlem Dance Theater, (Brooklyn Ballet), Vanessa Carlton (Joshua Robertson, Britannia) (CW’s Supergirl, Beautiful) Chris Dimeglio in Drums & The Sting and Horns IILT Brass).

Dupont said he wrote the “walkout” before protesting the killings of George Floyd, Ahmed Arberry, Brecona Taylor and others, sparking a nationwide conversation about race. He wrote it for a musical he wrote in the 1990s, but realized that the song served as a commentary on today’s events.

“I sent a demo to my dad and he said,‘ Can’t wait, ’” Dupont said. “I have to get out now.”

Vietrix, a black-owned production company, made the song and music video. It will be published exclusively on Zid-Z-owned service, Tidal, and the video for the song will be published exclusively on the official website for “The Walkout Project”.

The full creative team for the music video “Walkout” includes: Dupont as composer / songwriter / director, Jonathan Mousset Alonso as music director, James Rushin as music supervisor, and Amy Mary Siddle (Tectonic Theater Project) as associate director.

All proceeds from the video will be donated to the following organizations:
Black Live Matter
Broadway Advocacy Coalition
Black Visions Collective
Promotion zero
The color of change
National Bail Fund Network
Marsha P. Johnson Institution National Urban League.

“The Walkout Project” also provides information on how to find local black-owned businesses. Dupont says the group is working to create a farmer’s market that highlights Krishna-owned initiatives and will include performances by theater actors and musicians.

“The Walkout Project” stems from the need to provide more opportunities for the black community and to harness the energy equivalent of money, “Dupont said. “We want to give money back to the black community and we want to encourage people to be part of ensuring that black people see a real financial return.”