Brave No World

Overview

This "Cuesheet" is designed to help students understand and enjoy the performance of Brave No World, as well as to learn more about the ways music and theater work together.

Suggested Use

John, a popular high school senior, rants about the state of the world in the privacy of his room—afraid that if anyone learns about his love of books, it'll ruin his "angry-cool" rep. Lexie, an honor student and social activist, cannot understand why John hides his intelligence. When John’s divorced mother marries Lexie’s father, a widower, John and Lexie are suddenly siblings.

Mixing storytelling and contemporary music with "rants" about culture and society inspired by such literary classics as To Kill a Mockingbird, Invisible Man, and Brave New World, this new work (a Kennedy Center original production), pushes the audience to look beyond the surface of its two main characters— and themselves as well—to discover the old adage "never judge a book by its cover" still rings true.

Teachers may download the Cuesheet (in PDF format, it can be used on-screen or printed) as well as bring students to the online Brave No World Jukebox.

The online jukebox presents the background tracks for the "rants"—four pieces of music that are heard in the play during John's hip-hop poetry recitations. Brave No World explores many serious themes, like identity, race, and education. For students who have seen the play, allow some classroom time to discuss their reactions to the way these themes are addressed in the play, and encourage them to write their own poems to the music, following John's example. Students who have not attended the live performance may want to either try their hand at using John's poetry (found in the guide) or writing their own rants about write what frustrates them about "this messed-up society." The jukebox can give them the "sound beds" to frame their timing and technique; if time and interest allow, a class poetry slam can be staged. (See resources at left for tips on holding a Slam.)

Technical Requirements

The print guide requires the Acrobat Reader (version 6.02 or above). The online jukebox requires Flash Player 7, as well as speakers or headphones for listening.