Breaking Barriers: axes, herbs and satchels Brings Suppressed Black Midwives History to the Bronx Stage
- Damian Ali
- Apr 25
- 4 min read
Updated: 17 hours ago
Archived Event: This event took place from May 9–11. This article remains available as part of TalkTeaV’s Bronx Moments archive.
The Anthropologists bring a powerful mix of storytelling, research, and movement to The Bronx — closing their NYC tour with a production rooted in memory, resilience, and justice.
Cast of axes, herbs and satchels: open the archives performing at JACK, a community-centered arts space in Brooklyn, during the NYC tri-borough tour: Image Courtesy of Jody Christopherson/The Anthropologists
For 17 years, The Anthropologists—a women-led NYC theater company known for physical storytelling and research-based works—have created investigative theater that brings untold stories to the stage. Their latest piece, axes, herbs & satchels: open the archives, is now heading to The Bronx for the final stop on its NYC tour. This artistic piece explores the birthing traditions of Black women.
The story centers on Kamara, a journalist grieving her sister’s tragic death due to complications during childbirth. Her journey to recover the wisdom that might have saved her sister leads through oral history, ancestral Black midwife traditions, and a deep reckoning with systems of care that have long failed Black midwives and doulas.
This investigative theater piece is grounded in ethnographic research and guided by the expertise of anthropologist-in-residence Nadia N. Mbonde. The production was co-directed and co-written by Sandie Luna and Melissa Moschitto. The result is a show that ties historical memory to today’s most pressing issues.
ID Studio Theater’s ¡ARSENIO! brought Afro-Caribbean music and culture to The Bronx, honoring Arsenio Rodríguez’s legacy and his impact on salsa and Latin music during a special Black History Month celebration. Read the archived event article here.
Lead ensemble of axes, herbs and satchels: open the archives, featuring Jan Andree, Qianna Brooks, Genevieve Ngosa Daniels, Sandie Luna, and Enette Fremont, portraying key figures across generations of Black birthing history: Photo courtesy of The Anthropologists
The ensemble includes Jan Andree, who appeared in Hole in the Wall Theater’s Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde. She brings that historical stage experience into her roles as Beulah and Josephine. Qianna Brooks, a life coach and founder of Bragging Rights for Women, plays Alice and Trudy — midwives full of generational strength.
Genevieve Ngosa Daniels, an Afro-Caribbean actor and dancer based in NYC, leads as Kamara. Enette Fremont plays Cynthia. Sandie Luna — the show’s co-director — also steps into the role of Imani while balancing her work as a cultural leader and educator.
Stage managers Verena Lee and Miranda Sage Rhode keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes, with Miranda also designing the show’s sound. Matías Ulibarry shapes the lighting design, while costumes by Calypso Michelet help bring the past and present to life on stage. [See Additional Cast Here]
Additional contributing artists include Nazlah Black, Dr. Haile Eshe Cole, Jalissa Fulton, Miranda Hall, Asha John, Brianna Johnson, Jayda Jones, and Devynity Wray (contributing writer), whose collective work helped shape the voices and histories brought to life on stage.
Here’s a first look at axes, herbs and satchels: open the archives, where solemn performance meets rhythmic storytelling in a clip that offers a glimpse into the movement-driven language of the show.
Critics praise the production as “surprisingly funny, yet unapologetic,” with Jersey City Times highlighting its ability to mix communal reckoning with powerful storytelling. The Theatre Times called it a work of art that stays with you for days.
Performance of axes, herbs and satchels at JACK in Brooklyn, part of The Anthropologists’ NYC tour.
The Bronx run will take place at Tiffany Street Theater, hosted by Inspiration Point and ID Studio Theater — two Bronx-based arts organizations with deep roots in community-centered storytelling. This final leg of the NYC tour is made possible through their producing partnership, a reflection of how creative collaboration can bring meaningful work directly into neighborhoods that deserve to see themselves represented on stage.
The final performance on Mother’s Day (May 11 at noon) includes free childcare, provided by the Parent Artist Advocacy League and Broadway Babysitters, with advance signup available through the ticketing site. The production was Developed in partnership with the American Anthropological Association.
As May begins, The Bronx will experience not just a theater production, but a meaningful act of reparative history that centers recognition and empowerment — right here in the community.
NYC Tour Stops
Washington Heights: Hebrew Tabernacle
551 Fort Washington Ave
Thursday, May 1 at 7:00 PM
The Bronx: Tiffany Street Theater at Inspiration Point
710 Tiffany Street, East Bronx, NY 10474
Friday, May 9 at 7:00 PM
Saturday, May 10 at 7:00 PM
Sunday, May 11 at 12:00 PM (Mother’s Day – with free childcare)
Getting there: Take the 6 train to Hunts Point Ave, then transfer via bus or walk.
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