The Philadelphia Inquirer
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"In explosions of three-part harmony, complex dance moves, comic vignettes, mimicry, and lightning wordplay, our three explore what they love and what they may be losing. Many in the audience murmured, as if reliving their own childhoods."
Read more here. |
WHYY
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"Part play, part poem, part song, part dance, the production illustrates how powerful culture can be as a tool of resistance in the face of erasure."
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Philadelphia Row Home Magazine
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"Renaissance in the Belly of a Killer Whale is a rare theatre gems that really does have everything- it’s funny as these women bring up their carefree and innocent childhood memories…but also bittersweet and even just sad as they realize everything around them is evolving."
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The Theatre Guide
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"Renaissance in the Belly of a Killer Whale is beautiful. This show tells an endearing story while simultaneously speaking harsh truths in entertaining, sometimes comedic ways that bring the message(s) straight home."
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Eyes on the World Blog
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"And on this adventure through dance battles, song, old school hand games and rhymes and powerful spoken word, the central characters asks of themselves and of us- how do we, as longstanding communities, in transition, against great economic pressures, preserve what we have known and love. Difficult questions are raised and explored with joy and fierce honesty."
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Talkin' Broadway
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"Renaissance in the Belly of the Killer Whale does a phenomenal job conveying the impacts of gentrification and advocating for a future that respects and pays homage to the past. It is also a seriously good time. Walking the line between comedy and poetry slam, the play creates an environment where the audience feels free to laugh and carry on with the ensemble..."
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The Wingspan
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"'Renaissance in The Belly of a Killer Whale,' tackles gentrification artfully, using humor and hard truths to bring attention to a controversial issue."
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Andrea Walker (Blogger)
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"From Friday’s performance I learned about Harlem. Immediately, my thoughts went to Pensacola’s own Belmont-Devilliers community. In recent years, I’ve enjoyed the Belmont-Devilliers Art Center, Five Sisters Café, and Sonja Griffin Evans’ Gumbo Gallery. But it never occurred to me that the residents of that area might be concerned about changes or may no longer afford the taxes on their homes. I’ve driven down those streets and noticed renovated homes with perked up yards and picket fences but gave no thought to the loss of anything or anyone. The play made me aware of those issues and the people behind those fences and doors. No history, no culture should be lost."
This article is no longer available online. |
The Williams Record
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"As performers, Heatley, Clark and Heath are an unmitigated delight. First and foremost, they shine as highly talented individuals; their play comes off as bright, bubbly and genuine, yet their poetry is also heartfelt and gripping, just as their voices ring with great strength and harmony. "
This article is no longer available online. |
Dominion of New York
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"The beauty and the power of the plays lie in its presentation. From spoken-word to song to dance, Jaylene Clark, Hollis Heath and Janelle Heatley individually and collectively shine. They blend in and out of each other with the elegance and authenticity of the work songs of yore. Even when they are being playful, their comedy rises to the level of the musical troupes famous in the neighborhood (and downtown Manhattan) during the 1920s."
This article is no longer available online. |
Sister Escape Blog
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"In Renaissance, the three infuse their background with spoken word, song and dance into traditional theater and create a visionary play that allows us to travel through the rich history of Harlem while exploring the socio-economic issues that make it vulnerable to the gentrification occurring today."
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Entertainment Harlem
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"With many of us viewing gentrification solely through the lens of race, this play examines the complexity and heart wrenching reality that class and access to a once distressed community makes for opportunists to claim a community."
This article is no longer available online. |
Theater Central
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"Although the play and the poetry is thoroughly engaging and thought-provoking, it is this collective agreement to stay and invest in the culture of this historical treasure that proves most satisfying. How else could the cultural traditions of Harlem live on?"
Read more here. |
Uptown Flavor
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"Janelle Heatley, Hollis Heath, and Jaylene Clark are all triple threat beautiful young women, who source their childhood nostalgia on the stoops of brownstones in the Mount Morris Park area. Hand games, playground rhymes, and the new 'it' dance are called out between them as they skip merrily down nostalgia lane."
This article is no longer available online. |
Audience Feedback
"It’s an honor for me to tell all of you how excited I was to hear about the Renaissance in the Belly of a Killer Whale project....and the great contribution that you will make to the young women of the second decade in the 21st century."
- David Paterson, Former Governor of New York State
"The show was refreshing, smart, hip, funny, poignant and I learned a lot too! These talented young women have got 'IT!' They did such a great job of studying and imparting rich history. You will fall in love with Harlem and with these amazing ladies too!"
- Kim Coles, Actress and comedian best known for her role of SynClaire in the TV show Living Single
"All together now...let's check out Renaissance in the Belly of a Killer Whale. When these young women clap their hands together in time, it's like a slap on the ass to the powers that be. A wake up call to Harlem and any other disenfranchised peoples across the globe. I felt like I was sitting in my window on a summer day watching them on the stoop across the street, music playing. The streets is talkin. The message is clear. The streets is talkin. Gentrification is real. And the streets is talkin. Speak on it sisters. I'm listening. Hip me to the reality of the Belly of the Killer Whale. I can't wait to see this performed again. Bravo."
- Khalil Kain, Actor best known for his role of Darnell in the TV show Girlfriends and as Raheem in the movie Juice
"Three young ladies that are just two decades old…for them to know so much about Harlem, the Renaissance, the gentrification, just for them to know so much and be so on point, is absolutely amazing. I think that the show has more than the potential to move out of Harlem, move out of the country. I would love to see the show performed in different venues in the Harlem community, as well as downtown on Broadway. It’s just an amazing performance by three extremely talented young ladies, staff of writers and production crew. It was just an amazing performance. It’s a must see."
- Kenneth Heatley, Executive Chef at Londel's Supper Club in Harlem
"What I saw tonight, for myself, as an artist, and as a viewer not knowing what to expect at all, this is quite phenomenal. I cannot express how proud I am of everybody involved in the process. The fact that they’re bringing fresh, youthful exuberance, energy, intelligence, excellence. I thought that the piece was well directed. It’s extremely well written. Personally, I don’t think that it needs anything except good exposure. What I don’t want for this piece, is for it to get bogged down in mediocrity. I want the world to see this piece. I think it’s ready to go anywhere that it needs to go and it needs to go everywhere. It has been workshopped perfectly without even knowing that they have done so. The acting quality was just superb. I would trust any one of these young ladies on the Broadway stage. That’s the type of performance they gave this evening, and I’m talking from over thirty-five years of experience in theatre, film, and television.”
- Ebony Jo-Ann Johnson, Actress and singer as seen in TV shows such as, Law and Order, movies such as Grown Ups, and plays such as Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
- David Paterson, Former Governor of New York State
"The show was refreshing, smart, hip, funny, poignant and I learned a lot too! These talented young women have got 'IT!' They did such a great job of studying and imparting rich history. You will fall in love with Harlem and with these amazing ladies too!"
- Kim Coles, Actress and comedian best known for her role of SynClaire in the TV show Living Single
"All together now...let's check out Renaissance in the Belly of a Killer Whale. When these young women clap their hands together in time, it's like a slap on the ass to the powers that be. A wake up call to Harlem and any other disenfranchised peoples across the globe. I felt like I was sitting in my window on a summer day watching them on the stoop across the street, music playing. The streets is talkin. The message is clear. The streets is talkin. Gentrification is real. And the streets is talkin. Speak on it sisters. I'm listening. Hip me to the reality of the Belly of the Killer Whale. I can't wait to see this performed again. Bravo."
- Khalil Kain, Actor best known for his role of Darnell in the TV show Girlfriends and as Raheem in the movie Juice
"Three young ladies that are just two decades old…for them to know so much about Harlem, the Renaissance, the gentrification, just for them to know so much and be so on point, is absolutely amazing. I think that the show has more than the potential to move out of Harlem, move out of the country. I would love to see the show performed in different venues in the Harlem community, as well as downtown on Broadway. It’s just an amazing performance by three extremely talented young ladies, staff of writers and production crew. It was just an amazing performance. It’s a must see."
- Kenneth Heatley, Executive Chef at Londel's Supper Club in Harlem
"What I saw tonight, for myself, as an artist, and as a viewer not knowing what to expect at all, this is quite phenomenal. I cannot express how proud I am of everybody involved in the process. The fact that they’re bringing fresh, youthful exuberance, energy, intelligence, excellence. I thought that the piece was well directed. It’s extremely well written. Personally, I don’t think that it needs anything except good exposure. What I don’t want for this piece, is for it to get bogged down in mediocrity. I want the world to see this piece. I think it’s ready to go anywhere that it needs to go and it needs to go everywhere. It has been workshopped perfectly without even knowing that they have done so. The acting quality was just superb. I would trust any one of these young ladies on the Broadway stage. That’s the type of performance they gave this evening, and I’m talking from over thirty-five years of experience in theatre, film, and television.”
- Ebony Jo-Ann Johnson, Actress and singer as seen in TV shows such as, Law and Order, movies such as Grown Ups, and plays such as Ma Rainey's Black Bottom