Toshi Reagon: The Parable Path: Walking in the Footsteps of Octavia E. Butler

Overview

Join acclaimed musician, composer, producer Toshi Reagon for a captivating 90-minute journey into the prophetic world of Octavia E. Butler’s Parable series, which envisions a dystopian America startlingly beginning in 2024.

Step into an immersive experience where powerful discussions and soul-stirring musical performances delve into the urgent themes of Butler’s Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents. Toshi will be in conversation with Jungwon Kim, Intentional leader for social and environmental impact, Najee Omar, award-winning writer, performance artist, and Alsarah, organizer, singer, songwriter, and ethnomusicologist.

With Adanne Bookshop on hand, you’ll have the opportunity to explore Butler’s visionary works further. Don’t miss this extraordinary event that celebrates Butler’s enduring legacy while grappling with the most pressing challenges of our time. Prepare to be moved, inspired, and empowered to imagine a more just and sustainable future.

Leadership support for The Greene Space’s Artist in Residence program is provided by the Jerome L. Greene Foundation. Additional support is provided in part by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, the Howard Gilman Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Toshi Reagon

Credit: Photo by Erin O'Brien

Toshi Reagon is a multi-faceted artist with a profound ear for sonic Americana who has made an unforgettable mark on the world of music, theater, and activism. As a singer, composer, musician, curator, and producer, Reagon has showcased her immense talent through residencies at prestigious institutions such as Carnegie Hall and the Paris Opera House, as well as numerous festivals and venues worldwide.

In 2018, Reagon founded Wise Reagon Arts, a production company initially created to bring the opera of Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower to life. Co-created and composed by Toshi and singer, composer, scholar, producer, and activist Bernice Johnson Reagon, this congregational opera draws inspiration from Octavia E. Butler’s novels Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents. Since its debut, the opera has traveled to three continents, captivating over 45,000 audience members.

Inspired by Butler’s novels, Reagon developed the Parable Path, a heartfelt endeavor that fosters collaboration among artists, art presenters, community activists, and creators across various disciplines. Leveraging the power of collaboration, she created Songs of the Living, a groundbreaking initiative that builds community choirs and fosters collaborations with local artists and creatives across the globe.