10 Seconds resources
Set in Washington DC, 10 Seconds tells the story of Ray and Jimi, two African-American high school students who have a police encounter that changes their lives forever. This interactive play asks students to question their assumptions and consider the possibilities for change.
10 Seconds was written by Miriam Gonzalez, directed by LeeAnét Noble, and produced by Imagination Stage. Development for the play began in 2017 with creative sessions and interviews with local youth and police officers in Washington DC. In 2020, the script was still being workshopped when the COVID pandemic began. The company continued to workshop the play virtually and recorded a performance that was shared online. The touring production of 10 Seconds debuted in late 2022.
Based in Bethesda, Maryland, Imagination Stage commissions new works for children every year. These productions have been recognized with awards and productions by other companies around the world. The company believes “theatre experiences are a fundamental aspect of children’s lives, nourishing their creative spirit, inspiring them to embrace the complexity and diversity of their world, and helping them overcome their challenges with hope, courage and, above all, creativity.”
Miriam Gonzales’ works include 10 Seconds; The Smartest Girl in the World; Sunny and Licorice; Bertie, Maggie and the Magic Zero; Óyeme, the Beautiful; The South Overlook Oaks (adaptation); and Girl Power! (Kennedy Center, NSO youth concert series). Her work has been produced at Childsplay (Tempe, Arizona), Imagination Stage (Bethesda, Maryland), Arts on the Horizon (Alexandria, Virginia), Atlas Performing Arts Center (Washington, DC), Columbus Children’s Theatre (Columbus, Ohio) and Austin Playhouse (Austin, Texas). In addition to stage productions, Miriam’s work has toured extensively into schools and communities throughout the DC area and Arizona. Her work has been developed and has received professional readings at the Write Now Festival, La Jolla Playhouse’s DNA New Works Series, Northwestern University’s PLAYground Festival, the AATE National Conference, Imagination Stage, Latinx Theatre Commons, Georgetown University’s CrossCurrents Festival and the TCG National Conference. Gonzales is a former teaching artist with Young Playwrights’ Theater (YPT) in Washington, DC, and served as YPT’s board chair. She currently serves on the board of the Children’s Theatre Foundation of America. Gonzales is the co-developer of Imagination Stage’s ¡Óyeme! project, which is a theatre arts program for Central American refugee youth. Gonzales is the recipient of the Write Now Award, the Aurand Harris Memorial Playwriting Award, the AATE Distinguished Play Award and Imagination Stage’s Imagination Award. She is a graduate of Brown University and received her PhD in education and MA in sociology from Stanford University. Gonzales hails from Corpus Christi, Texas, and currently lives in Washington, DC, with her husband and two daughters.
ABOUT THE NJPAC ON THE MIC PODCAST
NJPAC On the Mic allows students to engage their listening skills and deepen their understanding of creative content. This installment features three exclusive, curriculum standard-aligned episodes that supplement the play 10 Seconds, presented as part of NJPAC’s 2023-2024 SchoolTime Performances series.
How to Listen to njpac on the mic podcast
BEFORE THE PERFORMANCE
Episode: ABOUT (6 minutes)
Listen to this audio via the embedded media below for an introduction to the
performance, the artist or company, and the venue.
Includes: An introduction to the performance, artist & venue, welcome message
Written and hosted by Dania Ramos
Additional writing by the team behind 10 Seconds
Sound editing, sound design, and voiceover by Michael Aquino
Theme and outro music: NJPAC Hip Hop program
Additional music from Epidemic Sounds
Welcome message voiced by Travis Xavier Brown
Series producers: Michael Aquino and Dania Ramos
AFTER THE PERFORMANCE
Episode: CONNECT (8 minutes)
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 literature about issues between youth and police
Written and hosted by Dania Ramos
Sound editing and design by Michael Aquino
Theme and outro music: NJPAC Hip Hop program
Additional music from Epidemic Sounds
Opening question voiced by Travis Xavier Brown
Series producers: Michael Aquino and Dania Ramos
Episode: SPOTLIGHT (10 minutes)
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 Imagination Stage’s Theatre for Change manager, discussion starters
Written and hosted by Dania Ramos
Sound editing and design by Michael Aquino
Theme and outro music: NJPAC Hip Hop program
Additional music from Epidemic Sounds
Interview guest: Travis Xavier Brown
Series producers: Michael Aquino and Dania Ramos
NJPAC On the Mic is produced in partnership with CM Studios.
NJPAC Arts Education performances team: Rosa Hyde, Treasure Borde, and Kendall Lipham
CM Studios producers: Michael Aquino, Dania Ramos
NJPAC and CM Studios are located in Essex County, New Jersey, situated on the traditional territory of the Leni Lenape people.
Episode links and sources
NJPAC | Arts Education programs: njpac.org/arts-education
NJPAC | About NJPAC: njpac.org/about
NJPAC resources | 10 Seconds: njpac.org/arts-education/teacher-resources
Imagination Stage | Theatre for Change: imaginationstage.org/in-the-community/theatre-for-change
Imagination Stage | 10 Seconds promo video: youtu.be/cDjMp0d9hoM
Imagination Stage | Zoom conversation video: youtube.com/watch?v=YflQCE6gxi0
Travis Xavier Brown: travisxavier.com
Social Justice Books: socialjusticebooks.org
Angie Thomas | The Hate You Give: angiethomas.com/the-hate-u-give
Zetta Elliot | Say Her Name: zettaelliott.com/book/say-her-name
Lee and Low Books | I Am Alfonso Jones: leeandlow.com/books/i-am-alfonso-jones
Kosoko Jackson | Surviving the Dome: kosokojackson.com/survive-the-dome
Shout Mouse Press | The Day Tajon Got Shot: shoutmousepress.org/bookstore/the-day-tajon-got-shot
Kojo Nnamdi Show: thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2017-06-22/local-youth-collaborate-on-book-about-police-shootings