
Look Both Ways resources
Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks is a musical stage production based on the award-winning novel by Jason Reynolds. The show offers ten unique perspectives, brilliantly woven into a funny, piercingly poignant look at the detours we face on the walk home and in life. There’s something for everyone across these ten vignettes about identity, compassion, fear, and friendship—as told through puppetry, dance, music, projections, audience participation, kamishibai (paper theater), and more. The play encourages audiences to look both ways, not only when crossing the street, but also when acknowledging the people walking by.
Look Both Ways was adapted by El Chelito and Raymond O. Caldwell, who also directed the production. It’s a co-production of the Kennedy Center and Theater Alliance, based in Washington DC.
About Jason Reynolds
Jason Reynolds is a bestselling author of many award-winning books, including Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks, All American Boys (with Brendan Kiely), Long Way Down, and the Track series. He’s received a Newbery Honor, a Printz Honor, an NAACP Image Award, and multiple Coretta Scott King honors. Reynolds was the 2020-2022 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. He is on faculty at Lesley University for the Writing for Young People MFA Program and lives in Washington, DC.
About Raymond O. Caldwell
Raymond O. Caldwell is an award-winning director, writer, and producer. He has directed for Folger Theatre, 1st Stage, The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio, Signature Theatre, Washington National Opera, Round House, Imagination Stage, Mosaic Theater, The Kennedy Center, National Players, Olney Theater Center, Solas Nua, CulturalDC, African Continuum, and the Hegira. Raymond spent six seasons as Artistic Director at Theater Alliance. He is also a former faculty member and resident director in Howard University’s Department of Theatre Arts.
About El Chelito
El Chelito is a former Artistic Associate with GALA Hispanic and Associate Artistic Director at Theater Alliance in DC. He’s also collaborated with The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 1st Stage, Extreme Lengths, Imagination Stage, Young Playwrights’, and Pointless Theatre Company. El Chelito has worked with the Latino Theater Company at the Los Angeles Theatre Center and serves on the Latinx Theatre Commons Steering Committee.
ACERCA DEL NJPAC EN EL MIC PODCAST
NJPAC On the Mic invites your students to expand their experience of attending a SchoolTime Performances show. We provide three podcast episodes for each production, suitably aligned with New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS) and New Jersey Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Competencies. With NJPAC on the Mic, the learning begins before—and continues beyond—your visit to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center!
Cómo escuchar njpac en el podcast de micrófono
ANTES DE LA ACTUACIÓN
Episodio: ACERCA DE (5 minutos)
Listen to this audio via the embedded media below for an introduction to the performance, the artist or company, and the venue.
Incluye: Introducción a la performance, & lugar del artista, mensaje de bienvenida
Written and hosted by Dania Ramos
Sound editing, sound design, and voiceover by Michael Aquino
Theme and outro music: NJPAC Student Hip Hop program
Additional music from Epidemic Sound
Welcome message voiced by Raymond O. Caldwell
Series producers: Michael Aquino and Dania Ramos
DESPUÉS DE LA ACTUACIÓN
Episodio: CONECTAR (8 minutos)
Listen to this audio via the embedded media below for reflection questions, a closer look at an aspect of the performance such as historical context or background on the art form, and a brief selection of vocabulary words.
Includes: Reflection question, a look at author Jason Reynolds and his literary works
Written and hosted by Dania Ramos
Sound editing and design by Michael Aquino
Theme and outro music: NJPAC Student Hip Hop program
Additional music from Epidemic Sound
Opening question voiced by Raymond O. Caldwell
Series producers: Michael Aquino and Dania Ramos
Episodio: FOCO (10 minutos)
Listen to this audio via the embedded media below for an exclusive interview with an artist from the production or an NJPAC staff member followed by discussion prompts.
Includes: An interview with the director and co-adapter of Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks, discussion starters
Written and hosted by Dania Ramos
Sound editing and design by Michael Aquino
Theme and outro music: NJPAC Student Hip Hop program
Additional music from Epidemic Sound
Interview guest: Raymond O. Caldwell
Series producers: Michael Aquino and Dania Ramos
NJPAC On the Mic is produced in partnership with CM Studios.
Equipo de actuaciones de NJPAC Arts Education: Rosa Hyde, Treasure Borde y Kendall Lipham
Productores de CM Studios: Michael Aquino, Dania Ramos
NJPAC y CM Studios están ubicados en el condado de Essex, Nueva Jersey, situados en el territorio tradicional del pueblo Leni Lenape.
Enlaces y fuentes de episodios
NJPAC | Programas de educación artística: njpac.org/artes-educación
NJPAC | Acerca del NJPAC: njpac.org/sobre
Recursos de la NJPAC | Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks: njpac.org/arts-education/teacher-resources
Look Both Ways: kennedy-center.org/whats-on/explore-by-genre/young-audiences/2024-2025/look-both-ways*
Jason Reynolds | Author website: jasonwritesbooks.com*
Raymond O. Caldwell | Artist website: raymondocaldwell.com*
El Chelito | Artist website: chelitoteatro.com*
PBS Books | Jason Reynolds on Fantasma Y All American Boys, 2017 AWP Book Fair: youtube.com/watch?v=t-sfn76yW4I*
PBS Books | Jason Reynolds on All American Boys, 2016 LA Times Festival of Books: youtube.com/watch?v=GulgW5Smh-I*
Kennedy Center Education Digital Learning | Jason Reynolds, author of Long Way Down: youtube.com/watch?v=cuXNsJvNaFs*