Black Theatre Troupe to present Toni Robinson’s one-woman show

Black Theatre Troupe will be presenting “Between Masks and Mirrors,” a new one-woman show created and performed by Toni Robinson. Robinson joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss the upcoming show.

“The title really looks at where we sit as human beings,” Robison said. “We sit between the masks that we wear on the outside and the mirrors that reflect who we really are. So it’s really inviting people to say ‘who am I under my external mask?’ and ‘when I look at myself and I do some self-examination, am I who I want to be?’ Are those two people the same? Because sometimes they’re not.”

The show features five characters, both men and women, who represent a range of professions and personal challenges. Robinson choose to represent all five characters because she has always liked the genre of a one-person performance.

She added, “As a performer it gives me an opportunity to show my range, to show that I can be different characters. I love the ability to do that. But the other thing is, I think it gives the audience the chance to really delve into characters and to people and their stories as human beings.”

Robinson was inspired by her real life while creating the show. She came up with the five characters over the course of ten years, where she listened to peoples stories about what they were going through in various challenges and jobs.

In addition to the performance, during intermission, audiences are invited to participate in optional interactive stations in the lobby, including reflection prompts, conversation spaces and creative activities.

Robinson will be performing on May 15 and 16 at 7:30 P.M. and on May 17 at 2:30 P.M. at the Helen K. Mason Performing Arts Center in Downtown Phoenix at 1333 E. Washington St. To learn more about the production and the Black Theatre Troupe visit their official website.