Brooklyn Children's Theatre

One last chance to see EMPOWERLAND!
Today at 6:30pm
126 St Felix Street Brooklyn

“The measure of a man is what he does with power”
Plato
“Power without love is reckless and abusive and love without power is sentimental and anemic”
MLK Jr.
“Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown”
William Shakespeare

This piece began with a simple inquiry: What is power?

Working with this remarkable ensemble of teens, we explored that question through our own experiences and through Shakespeare's history plays, where power is constantly being fought for, inherited, abused, and lost. Together, we examined the systems that shape our world and the stories we inherit about leadership, authority, and influence.

As the young people in our community prepare to step more fully into their own power, it feels especially important to ask how we create change without replicating the harms of the past. What kind of leadership do we need? What kind of power is worth seeking?
This piece doesn't offer answers. Instead, it brings Shakespeare's words into conversation with the voices, questions, and insights of the ensemble. We invite you to spend some time inside those questions with us.
-Isis Bruno

Empowerland’s orchestrations sit as a reminder of the resilience of Black artistic creation in the midst of oppression. Black people have been relegated to the social periphery post colonialism while capitalism has exploited the Black body and used it as a foundation for modern Western economic systems and artistic aesthetics. In the midst of being marginalized, excluded and treated as monstrosities, Black people have been able to create art forms such as Jazz, hip hop, and house music as a technology for liberation. Empowerland’s orchestrations serve as a vehicle for students to question their inner politic, while also emboldening them through the genre of house music and through q***r revival as a tool to fight oppressive structures.
-Mars Storm Rucker
(They/them)

Today! Ticket link in first comment!
Sat June 6 and Sun June 7 at 3pm
THE SWEETEST SOUNDS
featuring

The Great Cake-tastrophy,
The Legend of Tart,
Sirenia

Brooklyn Music School Playhouse
126 St. Felix Street, Brooklyn

THE GREAT CAKE-TASTROPHE
Book and Lyrics by Nia Joy Harvey
Music by Ben Krauss
in collaboration with BCT Youth Advisors Mila Bowen-Rich, Kyle Rodney, and Audre Hampson-Brown
Director/Choreographer - Nicky Thompson-Martin
Music Director - Deidre Struck
Class Assistant - Amanee Ghaith
Class Interns - Kyle Book, Randi Brodie, & Tori Mims
Costume Designer - Amanee Ghaith

THE LEGEND OF TART
Book by Maclaine Bolden
Composed by Paolo Perez
in collaboration with BCT Youth Advisors Ida O’Brien, Erin Richards and Shea Hardy
Director/Choreographer - Maclaine Bolden
Music Director - Phil Thompson
Class Assistant - Jamir Orosco
Interns - Amy Nunez & Finnian Sandifer
Costume Designer - Gail Guerre

SIRENIA
written by Adam Best, Khayden Chandler, Gabrielle Clark, Kenzo Clark, Momo Contento, Dexter Davis, Lulu Dimas, Amberamora Edwards, Owen McKenna-Blackwood, Noah Merino Gonzalez, Aubree Monfiston, Jamillah Nagi, Jack Nguyen, Gabriela Ross, Kevin Xie, Yoshiya Zahir, Amy White-Graves and Tyrone Robinson
Director/Choreographer - Amari Smith
Music Director - Paolo C. Perez
Class Assistant - Winter Garcia
Class Interns - Mary Lewis & Sammantha Robinson
Costume Designer - Amanee Ghaith

Photos by Thomas Newberger

EMPOWERLAND opens tonight!
Saturday, June 6th at 6:30pm
Sunday, June 7th at 6:30pm

Brooklyn Music School Playhouse
126 St. Felix Street, Brooklyn

Devised/Choreographed/Directed by Isis Rosina Bruno
in collaboration with the Spring 2026 Teen Ensemble with
Mars Rucker (Music Director/Composer) &
Maclaine Bolden (Assistant Devisor)
Costume Designer - Maclaine Bolden
Stage Managers - Naomi Eason & Xzayla Wilson
Photos by Thomas Newberger

Come see how our teens examine and question systems of power!
Link to tickets in first comment

We have a double header this weekend!

Come cheer on our kids in our MainStage 4 Festival,
THE SWEETEST SOUNDS!
Saturday and Sunday at 3pm

And our Teen Ensemble, EMPOWERLAND!
Saturday and S8unday at 6:30pm

See how ALL of our BCT kids become empowered!
Tickets in bio!

TODAY AT 2!
BCT's Free Saturday Program Spring Sharing
ALL INVITED!

39 Students will present songs, dances, and scenes they’ve been developing this semester—on a professional stage with full lighting and sound. While the production value is exciting, the real highlight is seeing an environment where high expectations, creative expression, and social-emotional growth come together.
Sponsored by The New York Times Communities Fund The Pinkerton Foundation, and so many more!