“(I)sland T(rap)” to kick off Sequoyah Institute’s 2023-24 season

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — Northeastern State University’s Sequoyah Institute will feature Austin Dean Ashford’s “(I)sland T(rap): The Epic Remixology of the Odyssey '' on Oct. 11 and 12. 

Ashford returns to the Sequoyah Institute stage after his powerful performance of “Black Book” in 2022. He looks forward to sharing another original work with the NSU community. 

“‘(I)sland T(rap): The Epic Remixology of the Odyssey’ is one of my best plays that I ever made,” Ashford said. “I truly love how it adapts historical text with a layer of amplifying Black voices. I am so excited to come back to NSU and share ‘(I)sland T(rap)’ because I remember doing ‘Black Book,’ which was received really well, but now I get to play music in ‘(I)sland T(rap).’”

The show is described as a hip-hop riff about Black Ulysses on an Odyssey of self-discovery and a powerful exploration of a young artist of color navigating the turbulent waters of contemporary American culture while trying to find his authentic voice.

“(I)sland T(rap)” has lyrical poetry, live music and commentary on the Black experience in America. This tour-de-force charts a soul journey on an exotic island where Black Ulysses discovers his place in a society full of gun violence and oppression.

In addition to “(I)sland T(rap),” the Sequoyah Institute will feature performances from Face Vocal Band, Brick Fields and KT Sullivan as part of its 2023-24 season. 

All Sequoyah Institute performances will be held at the NSU Playhouse at 7:30 p.m. on their respective dates. Admission is free for NSU students and $20 for adults, $18 for seniors, $16 for NSU alumni and employees and $12 for youth. 

For more information about tickets and showtimes for "(I)sland T(rap)" and the other performances in the upcoming 2023-24 Sequoyah Institute Performing Arts Series visit https://nsuplayhouse.ludus.com/ or call 918-444-4500.