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Contact Name: Virginia Harhsman Contact Email: virginia.harshman@ringling.org Contact Phone Number: 9413595700 ext 2803 The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art is pleased to present Dahlak Brathwaite: Spiritrials Mar 13 and 14 in the Historic Asolo Theater. The premise of the performance piece is drawn from Brathwaite, young African-American man, being stopped by the police without clear cause. Again and again and again. The 10th stop leads to entanglements with the courts, jail and attorneys, with potentially life-changing results. In Spiritrials, addiction, religion, and the law intersect in a court-ordered drug rehabilitation program. Dahlak Brathwaite’s incisive humor transforms a chilling personal story into a vital performance that layers character-driven storytelling and poetic verse with original songs to create a hybrid hip-hop drama. A virtuosic and timely exploration of the criminal justice system, Spiritrials chronicles the journey of Brathwaite’s own criminalization along with his struggle to be vindicated and decriminalized in the eyes of the law and society. The piece works through the personal shame of criminal stigmatization to examine the factors—both internal and external—that have misplaced him in what appears to be a cultural rite of passage. Spiritrials is presented as part of The Ringling’s Art of Performance series and tickets may be purchased at ringling.org or by phone at 941-360-7399. Please note: This performance contains mature content and may not be suitable for all ages. About The Ringling The Ringling is a pre-eminent center for the arts, history and learning that is dedicated to bringing the past and contemporary culture to life through extraordinary visitor experiences. From its inception, The Ringling has joined the diverse visual traditions and theatrical spectacle of yesterday with the genre-defying global practitioners of the present. A place of exploration, discovery and respite, The Ringling’s campus in Sarasota, Florida – which includes the Museum of Art, the Circus Museum, an historic mansion, an 18th-century theater and bayfront gardens – is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. As the State Art Museum of Florida and part of Florida State University, The Ringling fulfills an important educational mission. The Ringling offers formal and informal programs of study serving as a major resource for students, scholars, and lifelong learners of every age within the region, across the country and around the world. Media Contacts: The Ringling Virginia Harshman, public relations specialist 941-359-5700 x2803 Virginia.harshman@ringling.org