EST=Youngblood: Oh, The Places You'll Brunch! Review

The Ensemble Studio Theatre hosted their final Sunday Brunch of the season at the 52nd Street Project yesterday. Youngblood/EST which is headed by Co-Artistic Directors, Graeme Gillis, and RJ Tolan. The program helps young playwrights with the creative process of playwriting "through meetings, readings, retreats, workshops and mainstage productions." Once the youngbloods reach 30 they age out/graduate from the program.

The program consisted of seven plays and one poem. Featured in her final Youngblood brunch playwright was Bleu Beckford-Burrell. Her 'Pina Coladas' play was second for the evening. 

Her play was about a young woman who refused to go an event where she was being honored. She felt she had nothing good to say. She had given so much of herself doing the thing she was being celebrated for. 

In her journey, she thanked her friends and her boyfriend for always being there for her throughout the breakdowns. It was without them, she realized she wouldn't have made it without them. 

It definitely resonated with the sentimentality of the whole event. What happens now? You have studied and worked hard for this moment. As Michelle said, I want to leave the same way I came in. Who really likes to say goodbye? (Of course, I am paraphrasing here.)

Beckford-Burrell's words were honest. How many of us have gone through moments of self-doubt and moments of fearing the unknown? 

Wherever her journey takes her, I hope Ms. Bleu Beckford-Burrell will continue her wonderful work. 

Best of luck to her and the rest of the Youngblood crew.