RAW FRUIT is committed to creating multicultural arts and entertainment opportunities.
We promote the celebration of womanhood and social awareness.
Raw Fruit Theater Troupe started in November of 2008 with its sold-out production of “For colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf” by Ntozake Shange, adapted and directed by Jamila Capitman. The show’s success and the audience's positive response inspired Capitman and Thomas to create Raw Fruit Theater Troupe, a group committed to creating multicultural arts and entertainment opportunities for women of color, while promoting the celebration of womanhood and social awareness. They made their “official” debut in the 2009 Philadelphia Fringe Festival with an acclaimed theatrical showcase, “A Taste Of Sisterhood."
Founders and playwrights, Heather Thomas and Jamila Capitman, went on to write their first original piece, a choreopoem entitled “Love, Queens who Suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder”. They are currently preparing for a nationwide tour, with “Love, Queens...”, in the hopes that, true art is never just for “art’s sake”, and that they can begin to create conversation and healing around gun violence in urban communities, one of the main issues the play is centered around.
Founders and playwrights, Heather Thomas and Jamila Capitman, went on to write their first original piece, a choreopoem entitled “Love, Queens who Suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder”. They are currently preparing for a nationwide tour, with “Love, Queens...”, in the hopes that, true art is never just for “art’s sake”, and that they can begin to create conversation and healing around gun violence in urban communities, one of the main issues the play is centered around.
Heather Thomas
Heather Thomas, 24, is a playwright, director, student of life, and activist, originally from Ocean City, New Jersey. Currently a working artist, she, along with Jamila Capitman, touring nationwide with their first original piece, “Love, Queens who Suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder”. Thomas is currently a resident of Boston, but spent her college years in Philadelphia, where she attended Temple University. Although she has not yet graduated, she learned vital lessons from the department of African American studies, where she will obtain her degree in Fall, 2012. Most recently, Heather co-directed and provided technical support for the stage plays: "The Nigga Files", written by Donja R. Love; "VI Degrees", written by Kash Goins; and "How to Kill a Child and a Demon", also written by Love; and the mini series "System/Report" (to debut in October, 2011). She can be reached via Facebook: Heather Thomas; tumblr: http://noldarling.tumblr.com; and email: [email protected].
Jamila Capitman
Jamilla Capitman, 24, is a theatre artist, community organizer, and youth worker who grew up in Roxbury, MA. She attended Boston Arts Academy as a theatre major and received a full scholar- ship to the Howard University theater department where she developed her skills as an artist then transferred to Temple University to major in African American Studies. Here she began her journey as an artist/ activist by starting Raw Fruit Theatre Troupe and developing the VISIONS Inc. Legacy Project, a youth program in Roxbury which is funded by the Boston Mayors Youth Fund. She has acted in and directed several shows, including For Colored Girls by Ntzoke Shange and a series of short plays called “Learning To Swim”, which was part of the 2009 Philly Fringe festival. This year she co pro-produced the film “Alaskaland” by Chinonye Chukwu. Jamila is the co-writer and director of Raw Fruit's first original piece, “Love, Queens Who Suffer From Post Traumatic Stress Disorder”, a choreopoem inspired by her own life experience, and the work of great female literary artists like Ntzoke Shange. “Love, Queens…” has since been featured in the Philadelphia Urban Theatre Festival and the Philadelphia Microfest. Jamila aims to prove how art can be used as a tool to create healing and change in the lives of all oppressed people.
help RAW FRUIT blossom.
"Love, Queens..." promotes the sharing of stories related to trauma in urban communities, despite the cultural stigmas that cause women of color to feel silenced. We would love to share this experience with you - and as many others possible - in the hope of creating conversation around such issues, while educating and empowering people everywhere to heal.
Raw Fruit is looking for further production opportunities, and in order for us to continue to develop as a company we need your support! Please be sure to contact us about your interest in collaborating - and if you'd like to make a donation, please let us know!
