Andamion Murataj

A seventeen-year-old boy and his younger sister’s dreams and aspirations are put on hold when their father is accused of murder.

The District of Columbia Public School system faces many challenges, including insufficient resources and large class sizes. Although DC students live less than ten miles from the Kennedy Center, many have never seen a play. Children Will Listen shows how some committed artists, educators and colege students launched an extraordinary group of kids in a new direction. The program follows 140 students from seven Washington, DC elementary and middle schools as they kick off the Kennedy Center's tribute to Stephen Sondheim with their own production of Into the Woods, Jr. This was, for the students, a rare opportunity to experience the theater both in the classroom and on stage. Guided by the mentorship of four professional artists, the students participated in all aspects of the production and experienced the history and techniques of costume design, set construction, and acting. Meanwhile a second group of students recorded their journey on film, with their professor Charlene Gilbert.

Fran, a woman who has chosen to live as a man, following the tradition of Albanian “Burrnesha.” To become a mother to her orphaned niece, Fran must make a difficult decision between preserving her status as a “man” or relinquishing it to reconnect with the maternal feelings she has long suppressed. When the time comes to move forward, her niece’s choice forces Fran to confront her deepest fears: to keep the child close or to give the young girl wings to fly.

During the pandemic, a local hospital suffers during a heatwave while facing a staff shortage. ERMA, a young girl who dreams of becoming a nurse, volunteers to work at the hospital. Although she has the necessary qualifications and is determined to take the risk of doing the work in such difficult circumstances, she must also convince the interviewing panel that she is ready for the task.