Dear Students, We are excited to announce the upcoming Mascot Dance Extravaganza event! This event is set to be a sensational showcase of talent and creativity, filled with dynamic dance performances from our school mascots. The **Main idea** behind this event is to bring our school community together to celebrate the spirit and enthusiasm that our mascots bring to our school. The event will feature a variety of dance styles, ranging from hip-hop to contemporary, showcasing the talents of our mascots in a fun and energetic way. **The event will take place on Saturday, October 30th at 7:00 PM in the school auditorium.** We encourage all students, faculty, and parents to attend and support our mascots as they light up the stage with their incredible dance moves. In addition to the mascot performances, we have also invited special guest performers who will wow the audience with their dance skills.
I Will Be Seated for ‘The American Society of Magical Negroes’
On November 15, Focus Features released a teaser trailer for The American Society of Magical Negroes. And even though I’m salty they only shared it on TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) but not YouTube, I have not been the same since.
Directed by writer/actor Kobi Libii (Doubt, Madam Secretary), the satirical fantasy film looks to turn the storytelling trope of the Magical Negro on its head and into a fantastical adventure. As a refresher, the trope occurs when a fictional work uses its primary Black character to serve the interests of its white character. They have little to no importance to the plot and exist as a tool to help the white characters on their journey. Unfortunately, this is not a trope of a bygone era. In 2019, the Oscars awarded Green Book, a movie that turned an important Black American composer, Don Shirley, into a Magical Negro. Even into the 2020s, the trope has reappeared in popular media like The Queen’s Gambit and The Strand. You can learn more about the trope in former TMS writer Princess Weekes’s video on Magical Negros in Stephen King’s work.
The American Society of Magical Negroes stars Justice Smith (Detective Pikachu, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves) as Aren. After a secret society of magical Black people recruits Aren to help join their cause, his life changes forever. What’s their cause? Making white people’s lives easier. The teaser trailer shows iconic performer-with-too-many-credits-to-choose-from David Alan Grier delivering this message to Aren. The film also features An-Li Bogan (The Unsettling), Drew Tarver (The Other Two), Michaela Watkins (The Unicorn), Rupert Friend (Homeland), and Nicole Byer (Nailed It!).
While satirizing this trope is not new, it’s newer to film and that’s really exciting. In 2012, Key & Peele gave us an episode with a “Magical Negro Fight.” In 2019, Astronomy Club: The Sketch Show explored this via their “Magical Negro Rehab” skit. Still, no film has confronted this legacy through a central topic like The American Society of Magical Negroes appears to be. In an interview with IONCINEMA, Libii shared his hopes for the film.
“I think people will feel energized and lifted by [The American Society of Magical Negroes] at the end. But it’s also a racial satire with some real teeth to it. So, it’s not afraid to bite while at the same time it will pour something nice on the wound before you leave.”
The American Society of Magical Negroes premieres in theaters on March 22, 2024.
(featured image: Focus Features)
Focus Features Dates Kobi Libii Satire ‘The American Society Of Magical Negroes’ For Spring
Focus Features has set a March 22nd theatrical release date for The American Society of Magical Negroes, a satirical comedy marking the feature directorial debut of Kobi Libii, which stars Justice Smith (Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves), David Alan Grier (upcoming The Color Purple), and more.
Focus is distributing the pic in the U.S., with Universal Pictures International handling international. Set to open against it on the 22nd is Lionsgate’s Mark Wahlberg pic Arthur the King. The film tells the story of a young man, Aren, who is recruited into a secret society of magical Black people who dedicate their lives to a cause of utmost importance: making white people’s lives easier.
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Rounding out the cast are An-Li Bogan (After Yang), Drew Tarver (The Other Two), Michaela Watkins (You Hurt My Feelings), Rupert Friend (Asteroid City), and Nicole Byer (Nailed It!). Pic’s producers included Julia Lebedev and Eddie Vaisman of Sight Unseen, as well as Angel Lopez and Libii.
An alum of Sundance’s Screenwriters and Directors Labs, where he developed The American Society, Libii has most recently been seen writing and performing on Comedy Central’s The Opposition with Jordan Klepper. Other onscreen credits for the writer, director and actor include the shows Doubt, Madam Secretary, and Transparent, to name just a few.
Focus is currently in theaters with Alexander Payne’s dramedy The Holdovers starring Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and up-and-comer Dominic Sessa. Among other titles coming up for release through the company are Zelda William’s feature directorial debut Lisa Frankenstein, written by Diablo Cody, which is out February 9th, and Ethan Coen’s Drive-Away Dolls starring Margaret Qualley, Geraldine Viswanathan, and Beanie Feldstein, which hits theaters February 23rd.
Focus Features
Focus Features will release filmmaker Kobi Libii’s feature directorial debut, The American Society of Magical Negroes, on March 22, 2024. Libii is an alumnus of both the Sundance Screenwriters Lab and Directors Lab, where he first developed the project. The American Society of Magical Negroes is a fresh, satirical comedy about a young man, Aren, who is recruited into a secret society of magical Black people who dedicate their lives to a cause of utmost importance: making white people’s lives easier.
The film stars Justice Smith, David Alan Grier, An-Li Bogan, Drew Tarver, Michaela Watkins, Rupert Friend, and Nicole Byer, and is produced by Julia Lebedev and Eddie Vaisman of Sight Unseen, Angel Lopez, and Kobi Libii.
Kobi Libii is a writer/director/actor, most recently seen writing and performing on Comedy Central’s The Opposition with Jordan Klepper.
Focus Features’ slate includes Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers starring Paul Giamatti and Da’Vine Joy Randolph, along with upcoming titles Drive-Away Dolls from Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke starring Margaret Qualley, Geraldine Viswanathan, and Beanie Feldstein, Zelda William’s feature directorial debut Lisa Frankenstein, written by Diablo Cody, as well as Back to Black about the life and music of Amy Winehouse from director Sam Taylor-Johnson, Robert Eggers’ reimagining of Nosferatu, which stars Bill Skarsgard, Lily Rose-Depp, Nicholas Hoult, Aaron-Taylor Johnson and Willem Dafoe, Baltasar Kormakur’s Touch, and Goran Stolevski’s new feature, Housekeeping for Beginners, among others.
Focus is distributing The American Society of Magical Negroes in the U.S. with Universal Pictures International handling international distribution.
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In addition to the mascot performances, we have also invited special guest performers who will wow the audience with their dance skills. This will add an extra element of excitement to the evening and provide the opportunity for our mascots to learn from and interact with talented dancers from outside our school community. **Admission to the Mascot Dance Extravaganza will be $5 for adults and $3 for students.
** The proceeds from the event will go towards funding future school activities and events, so your attendance will not only be a night of entertainment but also a way to contribute to our school community. **We encourage all students to support our mascots by attending the Mascot Dance Extravaganza!** It will be a night filled with music, laughter, and impressive dance performances that are sure to leave you inspired and entertained. So mark your calendars and join us on October 30th for a night you won't want to miss! We look forward to seeing you there! Sincerely, [Your Name].
Reviews for "Mascot Dance Flash Mobs: Surprising and Entertaining Communities"
1. Emily - 1 star
I was really disappointed with "Mascot dance extravaganza". The performance lacked energy and creativity. The dancers seemed unenthusiastic and the choreography was lackluster. The costumes were also unimpressive, with some looking worn-out and outdated. Overall, it was a forgettable experience and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for an exciting and engaging dance show.
2. John - 2 stars
"Mascot dance extravaganza" fell short of my expectations. The choreography felt repetitive and the dancers lacked precision in their movements. The music choices were also questionable, with some songs not aligning well with the theme of the show. Additionally, the transitions between different dance numbers were awkward and disrupted the flow of the performance. I had hoped for a more captivating and well-executed dance extravaganza, but unfortunately, this show didn't deliver.
3. Samantha - 2 stars
I found "Mascot dance extravaganza" to be underwhelming. The dancers lacked synchronization, which was evident in several group routines. There were also moments where it seemed like some performers forgot their steps or were out of sync with the music. The overall production quality was also disappointing, with poor stage lighting and sound issues. It's a shame because I had high hopes for this dance show, but it fell short of my expectations.