In House Freestyle through the years…

In House Freestyle (IHF) began as an improvised performance space (shows took place in the living room of a home on 1000 Eddy Street) during the summer of 2003. Established by several young African-American artist/educators, this collective felt that there was a need for their creative energies to positively influence their communities. Original members included: Aarin Clements, Flexie Giddings, Ghislaine Jean, Jonathan Mahone, and DC Roots.

Because it was literally performed and created in a house, the group took on the name, “In House Freestyle” to represent a grassroots attempt to reach their extended family by opening up their home (some members actually lived at 1000 Eddy Street) for audiences. As they say, “home is where the heart is.”

The Old IHF Crew

In July of 2003, IHF was going to have a one-show engagement. Due to the overwhelming response, the group was asked to perform again three weeks later. Unfortunately, as the summer came to a close, other obligations such as school and relocation took precidence, forcing IHF to disband. From its first summer, IHF became a program that brought current events, history, and spiritual healing to their community, choosing comedy because they understood that laughter was healing and because it allows people to be taught with limited resistance and hostility.

In October of 2003, Ghislaine Jean started a youth theater troupe called The Cornbread Circle for the Met High School’s Black Box Theater. Throughout that school year, she had a total of fifteen students. Jean took the same concepts of IHF and applied them to a youth-oriented curriculum. The youth created two showcases called “Reality at its Best” and “The Ghetto Storybook”. These showcases reflected the creative and factual perspective of Jean’s students, with pieces ranging from personal poetry to political commentary, to simply poking fun at their neighborhoods and family.

Tiger Lily and TK

Current member, Trina Korlie (age 14 at the time), took a particular interest in The Cornbread Circle. Trina’s freshman year at the Met was difficult. Her level of interest was dismal and was unfruitful, and she was absent forty days and late nearly 80% of the time. Due to her tardies and absences, she lost her internship, and became less invested in school. When Trina joined The Cornbread Circle her eyes lit up. She had a natural talent that was not tapped and a thirst for knowledge that she was unaware of. The Corn Bread Circle eventually revitalized her interest in learning, boosted herself confidence and bridged her into new endeavors.

The following school year, Trina began an internship with Ghislaine Jean at the People’s School, an urban education collaborative. While there, she began to study the political voice of comedians such as Dave Chappelle and Richard Pryor. She began to see that comedy was not just a tool for entertainment but also a tool for social justice that one could be used to make an impact.

Together, Korlie and Jean began to rally a performance troupe from the various artists and colleagues that were in their creative circle. The original troupe began performing in the fall/winter of 2004, featuring the talents of Sancious Moore, Jonathan Mahone, Trina Korlie, Yakim Parker and Ghislaine Jean. This group sat down as a collective and began to create pieces that would utlimately be used in the latest incarnation of In House Freestyle.

After only two performances, Sancious Moore left the group to pursue other interests. At this point, Johnny Braithwaite joined the crew. Braithwaite, however left the group after the summer of 2005, and is currently in Baltimore, Maryland pursuing music and a new family. This move solidified IHF as a comedic quartet.

Yakim and Jbro

In the winter of 2005, IHF was awarded a New Works Grant from the Rhode Island Foundation. New Works funds gave IHF the opportunity to create a DVD/Film project that provides its audience (especially urban youth) with proactive, solution-oriented information on such issues as health, education, the prison industry, and the influences of mass media.

A new film In House: Sketching Reality premiered on September 21, 2007. The film will be released on DVD this winter.

Since 2004, IHF has successfully performed for diverse audiences: performing three times at The People’s School, at Hope High School, opening for the Rhode Island Black Storytellers (RIBS) Funda Fest weekend, The Providence Black Repertory Company for their annual Sound Session celebration, and finally, at Brown and Bryant Universities for their Black History Month celebrations. All audiences have been captivated and excited by the group’s live, fresh and unique blend of music, poetry and comedy. Look for us at a venue near you!