The Collective brings ‘Bootycandy’ to Korea

Actors Alameen and Terris Brown carry out in ‘Bootycandy’ / Courtesy of Mallory Dowd

By Jon Dunbar


Expat theater group The Collective is hitting the stage once more this weekend and subsequent, presenting its newest manufacturing, “Bootycandy” by U.S. playwright Robert O’Hara.

“Bootycandy” is a satirical tackle rising up homosexual and Black, introduced in a fancy narrative of scenes, sermons, sketches and daring meta-theatrics. This manufacturing will likely be directed by Ray Salcedo, co-founder of The Collective and affiliate instructing professor at Seoul Nationwide College, who’s an award-winning director and playwright. He has beforehand directed “A Midsummer Night time’s Dream” and “Titus Andronicus” for Seoul Shakespeare Firm and has written just a few performs for Seoul Gamers.

About “Bootycandy,” Salcedo instructed The Korea Instances that some readers can guess what the play’s title means, but in addition talked about it does get addressed in a few scenes. “I’ll simply say that I feel it displays the complicated relationship one can have with some elements of our our bodies that may be the reason for each pleasure and disgrace, of each gratification and torment,” he mentioned.

“Bootycandy” premiered in 2011 in Washington, D.C. This manufacturing options actors Bukeka Masikane, Alameen, Jade Chaunelle, Terris Brown, Alex Belli and Jeffrey Wagner, with stage administration by Mallory Dowd and Louis Groves, and manufacturing by The Collective’s inventive director Kim Schroeder.

“This ensemble forged is just a dream, and these powerhouse actors put every part on the market for us,” Salcedo mentioned. “We have created a good looking steadiness between parody and actuality, caricature and character, isolation and intimacy, vulnerability and audaciousness. The result’s uncompromising, and there are moments of stunning discomfort, however that’s life typically, which all of us already knew, even with out this dreadful epidemic or these appalling world conflicts.”


The Collective was based in November 2017 out of a imaginative and prescient by Schroeder to create a platform for underrepresented artists. Over the previous 5 years, it has staged quite a lot of productions which have challenged dominant societal norms, together with a gender-swapping model of “Romeo and Juliet” in 2018 and a distinctive take on Donald Margulies’ Pulitzer-winning “Dinner with Mates” in 2019. It has additionally been operating the “Tales from Beneath” artwork competition since 2019. So “Bootycandy” appeared like a logical subsequent selection.

“We all know that our viewers, who embody a large spectrum of experiences and identities, is so very hungry for one of these present, which primarily options actors of colour in roles that transcend easy type-casting or stereotypes,” Salcedo mentioned. “

When instructed responsibly, such tales contact us all, no matter background, as a result of anybody can relate to such themes as want, isolation, violation and household battle. ‘Bootycandy’ is unabashed and daring, however it’s also poignant and touching; it tackles intersections of race and intercourse in highly effective and typically stunning methods ― and once you see this group of expertise onstage, you may simply ask ‘The place has this been my entire complete life?'”

The timing is nice for this manufacturing to debut, so shortly after pandemic restrictions have been lifted, after two years of choking many cultural sectors together with reside theater.

“COVID-related points have been the bane of not solely all theater-based endeavors not too long ago, however of most fields,” Salcedo mentioned. “Fortunately, we’ve got been capable of handle nicely sufficient even whereas following strict protocols all through the method. We regularly relied on the usage of expertise to get us in the identical digital rehearsal room when wanted, and that has made all of the distinction.”


“Bootycandy” will likely be staged at Emu Artspace close to Seoul’s Gyeonghui Palace, It is going to be carried out six instances, on Could 21 at 8 p.m., Could 22 at 3 p.m. and eight p.m., Could 28 at 3 p.m. and eight p.m. and Could 29 at 3 p.m. The play is introduced in English with scene synopses in Korean. Tickets price 30,000 gained with reservation, or 25,000 gained for college kids. Go to discoverthecollective.com for extra data.