Playwright, Emma Choi, of Vienna, says she likes to take a really good idea and “destroy it” through her writing. Photo by Maggie Giordano/The Connection
Marshall High School student, Emma Choi, will be premiering her play,
“J-Swizzle’s (And D-Man’s) Epic Awesome Swaggy Broventure for Sweet Rhymes,” at the Capital Fringe Festival. The Dodgeball Theatre production will take place at the Atlas Performing Arts Center: Lab II located at 1333 H Street, NE, D.C. and runs from July 6 to July 30.
“J-Swizzle’s (And D-Man’s) Epic Awesome Swaggy Broventure for Sweet Rhymes” is about two middle school Jewish boys who want to rap and have to go through three magical tests of friendship while learning what it takes to follow their dream.
“I want people to have fun and have an emotional reaction. I want them to hug their friends a little tighter,” the Vienna resident, Choi said.
Choi has always been passionate about writing; she wrote her first story in third grade with her teacher at Forestville Elementary School when she did not have a part in the play and wanted to have a role. However, she actually started writing plays on a serious note in the eighth grade when she was at Kilmer Middle School. This is the third play that Choi wrote herself that has been directed. She has also co-written multiple plays she that have been directed as well.
She has received many awards and honors for her writing, including winning first place of the Jelly Bucket Magazine Prize for Fiction and receiving four silver keys and two gold keys in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.
DODGEBALL THEATRE was established in 2009 by Director Haley Murphy, and offers performing art classes, workshops, and camps for young men and women. The objective has always been working with young artists and new voices. Murphy says they are currently focusing on young women’s voices after being inspired by what is going on in the world right now.
The Capital Fringe festival caters to independent theater, music, art, dance and unclassifiable forms of live performance and visual art. It was founded in 2006 and serves as a celebration of cultural expression and art for everyone.
Choi says the story is inspired by two of her good friends who are charismatic young men. She says it is a mix between the movie Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and the persona of Lil’ Dicky, who is a Jewish rapper.
“That’s one thing I love about the play. It’s warm and funny. It’s modern and you’re going to feel good about it,” Murphy said.
“J-Swizzle’s (And D-Man’s) Epic Awesome Swaggy Broventure for Sweet Rhymes,” runs for 65 minutes and will have six showings: July 6 at 9:45 p.m., July 8 at 12:45 p.m., July 12 at 7:15 p.m., July 15 at 8:15 p.m., July 19 at 7:30 p.m. and July 23 at 2:30 p.m. For more information about the Capital Fringe festival schedule and tickets, visit www.capitalfringe.org.