What is FREEZE FRAME…Stop the Madness, and why is it effective?

FREEZE FRAME…Stop the Madness is a non-profit theatrical initiative dedicated to inspiring honest, open dialogue that, in turn, motivates audience members to make positive contributions in their community.

The musical FREEZE FRAME…Stop the Madness is a non-profit initiative
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The creation of visionary choreographer, dancer and director, Debbie Allen, FREEZE FRAME is an innovative, thought-provoking dance driven narrative inspired by the true stories and experiences of disenfranchised African American and Latino youth.

The show opens with a robbery/murder and the suspect, wearing a blue shirt, fleeing the crime scene, pursued by the police. The chase lands at a neighborhood block party where there is another young man wearing a blue shirt. Before the police take the shot the action freezes and our real story begins as we meet the people whose lives will forever change: the shooter, the innocent, the police, the parents, the neighborhood.

Exploring the rippling consequences of individual actions, the production frames the issues of racial prejudice, gun violence and social injustice in universal human terms, telling a story of disenfranchisement and alienation that resonates in communities all across America.

There is a deep divide between communities afflicted by constant violence and the broader American society—and there are differences of experiences and opinions. Bridging these divides is an immense challenge. FREEZE FRAME meets that challenge, using the production as a springboard for workshops with local non-profits, town meetings and panel discussions, one very high profile moderated by a recognized celebrity. In Los Angeles Maria Shriver moderated and in D.C. Whoopi Goldberg.

After successful runs at the Brisbane Festival, the Wallis in Los Angeles and the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., the production is set to embark on a far more ambitious endeavor in 2018: to perform in ten cities across the country.

With your generous financial support, FREEZE FRAME will open channels for new ideas and contribute to tangible transformational changes in the lives of individuals and the well-being of entire communities.

FREEZE FRAME holds you captive for an emotional, unexpected and raw visit…to our world of gun violence. The voices, the dances, the storytelling — all part of the genius that is Debbie Allen — will leave an imprint on your mind and hopefully provide a call to action for your soul.
Shonda Rhimes Television Producer and Writer