The play Voices from the Storm, adapted from the Voice of Witness book of the same title, weaves together the true stories of thirteen Hurricane Katrina survivors into one expressive narrative. The adaptation was originally devised and produced by the Advanced Drama class (OakTech Rep) at Oakland Technical High School in November, 2015.
The stories—made real and moving by a troupe of talented OakTech Rep performers—evoke the depth of New Orleans culture and resilience in the face of extreme adversity and social injustices perpetuated by the lack of government response after Hurricane Katrina. It provides a powerful point of entry for teaching and learning about the complexities of race, class, and democracy in the United States. The play also shines a light on the community heroes who fought to save one another.
Learn more about the VOW oral history book, Voices from the Storm, that the play is based on.
The play was directed by Ena Dallas and adapted with assistance from Danielle Covington, with technical direction by Casey Fern, choreography by Latanya D. Tigner, and costumes designed and executed by the Oakland Tech Fashion Arts and Design Academy (FADA). View photos from the play production here.
