All photos: Inna BorysevychA bold and thought-provoking piece, Pain to Power: A Kanye West Musical Protest LiveEvents March 12, 2025 108 The Segal Centre and Black Theatre Workshop present Pain to Power: A Kanye West Musical Protest Starring CJ Capital and Seth Zosky, and created with Dan Petrenko and Tracey Erin Smith, Pain to Power challenges audiences to examine their relationships with their idols and confront the difficult questions: can you truly separate the art from the artist? What do you do when your hero breaks your heart? How do you fight back against so much hate? In recent developments, Kanye West has been at the center of several controversies including West’s antisemitic remarks and the promotion of propaganda merchandise. These actions have led to significant backlash, with West being sued and dropped by his talent agency, and the reported end of his marriage. Additionally, his fashion brand, Yeezy, was taken offline by Shopify after he sold T-shirts with swastika designs and praised Hitler. This production challenges us to examine what happens when our heroes betray us—and how we find the strength to respond. CJ Capital and Seth Zosky, winners of Canadian Family’s Got Talent, once considered Kanye West as one of their biggest musical inspirations. However, with their hero turning against their communities, they grapple with the complexities of admiration and betrayal. Repurposing Kanye West’s music seamlessly interwoven with Seth’s and CJ’s heartfelt stories of family, faith, and friendship, this production is set to be a powerful and thought-provoking experience. CJ Capital and Seth Zosky “What drew me to this project is the power of theatre to heal, to help people feel seen and heard, and to bring communities together. Theatre has always been a place where we find strength in each other, and where we remind ourselves that, even in difficult moments, we are not alone,” says Segal Centre Artistic Director Lisa Rubin. “Seth and CJ bring an electrifying energy to the stage, confronting the legacy of this music while using it as a vehicle to tell their own powerful story of identity and reckoning.” “I am thrilled to bring this unique and timely production to Montreal alongside my brother from another mother,” says performer Seth Zosky. “Pain to Power is more than just a musical; it’s an immersive exploration of personal struggle, resilience, and the pursuit of social change through music.” Audience Advisory • The show is recommended for grade 9+ (or minimum ages 14-15) • There is swearing in the lyrics • Themes include racism, slavery and the Holocaust. March 19, 2025 – 7:00pm March 20, 2025 – 7:00pm March 21, 2025 – 1:00pm March 22, 2025 – 7:00pm & 10:00pm March 23, 2025 – 2:00pm & 5:00pm To purchase your tickets, visit: www.segalcentre.org or call 514-739-7944 Segal Centre 5170 chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine Montreal, H3W 1M7
