The opening lines of Maya Angelou’s “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me” go like this:
“Shadows on the wall / Noises down the hall / Life doesn’t frighten me at all,”
Angelou educated children and families on ways to discuss the concept of fear in their homes.
The 1993 pinnacle children’s literature text, which was illustrated by Jean-Michel Basquiat, is the basis for Dallas Children’s Theatre new playwright position. The collaboration with Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, Children’s Theatre of Madison, and The Rose Theater in Omaha aims to adapt the signature poem into a theatre production for children between four and eight years of age.
The four theaters are looking for an artist who identifies as Black, Indigenous and/or Person of Color to help adapt the play. In a statement, the theaters reflected on the newly formed, historic position. “We intend to create as many supports for the partnering artist as possible, including but not limited to having a mostly or all BIPOC creative team and centering BIPOC staff/board in this artist selection process.”
Applicants can submit questions and expression of interest “letter, statement of approach, video, or anything that captures your artistic voice as it speaks specifically to young audiences” to [email protected] by July 1, 2021. The position pays $10,000. The theaters are hoping to produce a draft by April of next year.
