U-Street, the musical premieres in Alexandria

Life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. That is the American dream, except for the many individuals who are homeless and have to figure out how to make it to the next day. Such is the backdrop for the premiere of U-Street, the musical that takes the audience on a cornucopia of emotions while bringing light to a serious issue in America. U-Street, is a socio-political commentary on the state of homelessness, set on the streets of present day Washington, DC. A snapshot in the life of 5 individuals dealing with various stages of homelessness, this murder mystery provokes conversations around a variety of topics including, the justice system, race, religion, immigration and inequality. As an original musical it features 11 riveting songs spanning various genres of music, and accompanied by several dance numbers performed by a talented cast from around the DC metro area.

Written, directed, and produced by Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA) staff member Jason A. Ellis, U-Street is the 5th in a series of stage plays aimed at making the arts accessible to a non-traditional audience. As one of a handful of original musical playwrights in the Northern Virginia area, Mr. Ellis uses the stage and his pen to not just entertain, but to educate and encourage social change. Audience members get an opportunity to also support a worthy cause in the community. Resources will be provided to patrons who may know someone who is homeless, in addition to giving them an opportunity to provide shoes to the homeless. This production like previous ones also serve as a fundraiser to support programming for youth from low-income families in the city of Alexandria. Individuals may also support this effort through gofundme.com/ustreetmusical.

Through the support of Alexandria City Public Schools and in partnership with the Alexandria Department of Parks Recreation and Cultural Activities, productions such as this one help to further establish Alexandria as an arts destination. The show runs for 2 weekends starting January 29, 2016 and is performed at the Richard Kauffman Auditorium (Lee Center) located at 1108 Jefferson St. Alexandria, VA. General admission is $20, and tickets may be purchased at the door or online at http://u-streetmusical.bpt.me.

Individuals interested in finding out more about the production and cast can also visit http://ustreetmusical.wordpress.com.