LONG WAY DOWN

Growing up, Will’s big brother taught him three iron-clad rules of how to behave when gun violence claims someone close: Don’t cry. Don’t snitch. Get revenge. So when his brother is himself gunned down, Will is determined to follow the code and gets in the elevator on the top floor of his apartment building, armed and ready to hit the streets in search of vengeance. What happens on the way down is an emotional hip-hop journey through the cycles of violence that have plagued Will’s family and too many others. This Rolling World Premiere musical is based on the Newberry Medal Honor-winning Young Adult novel by DMV native Jason Reynolds. This powerful story is being developed in partnership with The Apollo through their New Works Program, and will be presented in Apollo’s new Victoria space after its limited Olney Theatre engagement.

Long Way Down was originally commissioned and developed by TheaterWorksUSA

Adapted from the Jason Reynolds novel by Dahlak Brathwaite and Khiyon Hursey

Directed by Ken-Matt Martin

AD: Gregory Keng Strasser