Ashli St. Armant is bringing her debut theatrical production, NORTH to our stage in April. This musical for kids and families tells a moving story and explores the multi-faceted reality of Black life during the antebellum period to bring out the full range of experiences of freedom seekers during that time. While acknowledging the realities of slavery, the narrative explores themes of optimism, bravery, playfulness, wonder, suspense and mystery.
Set in the 1850s, NORTH is about a teenage boy and his mother who escape slavery in the deep south through the Underground Railroad. It is based on actual accounts of slave escapes through the Underground Railroad network, as well as St. Armant’s personal family history of overcoming slavery in Louisiana.
The production features original musical compositions steeped in jazz and other historically Black music genres. St. Armant drew inspiration from an array of musical heroes including crooner Nat King Cole, gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, the father of Afrobeat Fela Kuti and legendary lyricist Stephen Sondheim.
Armant is a celebrated vocalist, writer, arts educator and founder of Leaping Lizards Music, a music and theater education program for students, preschool through twelfth grade. Armant tours with her band, Jazzy Ash and the Leaping Lizards and has produced five albums featured in L.A. Times.
Armant explained that the inspiration for NORTH began with her first trip to Vacherie, Louisiana, where her ancestors were enslaved. She happened to be in the area doing research for another project when she decided to visit the birthplace of her relatives. Armant then arrived at Oak Alley Plantation, a historical site that was just down the road from where her enslaved ancestors lived. The more research Armant did, the more she realized that Black American music is a direct coping response to the Black American experience. Armant believes that NORTH is a collective story, not just the story of Black Americans and that her production can help open conversations inside communities.
“This play is bigger than me, and it’s a part of me.” says St. Armant “I hope the audience feels the humanity in these characters because they’re alive. For myself, the creative team, and the actors, we’ve all said that being part of creating this piece has changed us — we’ve all grown as people. I hope the audience feels this too.”
Experience this moving and personal theatrical production on Sunday, April 28 at 4 pm, tickets are $10. Purchase tickets by visiting waltonartscenter.org, by calling 479.443.5600 weekdays 10 am until 5 pm or in-person at the Walton Arts Center Box Office weekdays 10 am until 2 pm.