What other public figure has been called the “prodigy of protest,” the “conscience of Congress,” and even the “piñata of the civil rights movement”? These nicknames — playful, reverent, and painful all at once — testify to a legacy as vast as John Lewis‘s own. A civil rights acti vist and longtime U.S. Representative, Lewis devoted his life to the struggle for racial justice and equality. In Young John Lewis: Prodigy of Protest, a hip-hop musical with book and lyrics by Psalmayene 24 and music by Kokayi, Mosaic Theater Company revisits the early years of Lewis’s life not simply as history but as a mirror. Directed by Reginald L. Douglas with choreography and associate direction by Tony Thomas, the production invites audiences to see themselves inside the movement that shaped modern America. The 100-minute production opens with the cast in 1960s streetwear — sneakers, bowler hats, and unbuttoned shirts over white tank tops — moving across the stage with infectious energy. When the lights settle, the ensemble launches into a world of Jim Crow realities: segregated schools, segregated pools, and the brutal news of Emmett Till’s murder. In the midst of that chaos, the spotlight finds Lewis. Played by Michael Bahsil-Cook, whose tight-lipped pout and physical mannerisms echo Lewis’s recognizable public presence, the character steps forward and declares: “I be the young John Lewis.” Set against the spiritual number “Wade in the Water,” the moment frames Lewis as a guiding figure emerging through history’s storm. Michael Bahsil-Cook as Young John (center) with the cast of ‘Young John Lewis: Prodigy of Protest.’ Photo by Teresa Castracane Photography. The musical traces Lewis’s journey from youth to organizer and activist, but it rarely presents him as a solitary hero. Instead, the production highlights the network of leaders who shaped the movement — a compound effect. Solomon Parker represents MLK, Latrice Pace portrays Ella Baker, Montel Butler plays Jim Lawson, and Vaughn Ryan Midder embodies Medgar Evers. Each emerges as a voice pushing Lewis — and the movement itself — forward. The ensemble cast embodies this collective spirit with vitality. The live band — Stephen Arnold on bass, Tijan Glover on drums, director Drew Kid on keys, and Jabulani as DJ — drives the production with steady momentum. At times, however, the music and sound design threaten to overpower the lyrics, which often carry the show’s most powerful messages.  Using hip-hop, gospel, rap, and more, Psalmayene 24’s lyrics and Kokayi’s music convey the movement’s emotional complexity. At one moment, the audience is moved to tears when John Lewis’s mother allows him to join the fight for civil rights; the next, it’s laughing during a rap battle; and at the next, the stage fills with the names of the dead. The message is clear: the actors can sing, dance, and rap about it, but this was a weighty, heavy movement that came with a high price.  Michael Bahsil-Cook as Young John in a rap battle with Jordan Essex as Stokely (center), with the cast of ‘Young John Lewis: Prodigy of Protest.’ Photo by Teresa Castracane Photography. A haunting musical sequence named after the “Say Their Name” movement draws an implicit line from the tragedies of the 1950s and 1960s to the continued fight for racial justice today. From the deaths that defined the era — Emmett Till, Medgar Evers, Malcolm X, Jimmy Lee Jackson, Martin Luther King Jr. — to the ones the play doesn’t mention but that remain in public consciousness: Trayvon Martin, Sandra Bland, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd. Christian Emmanuel, as the ghost of Emmett Till, brings unsettling charisma to the role. A striking artistic choice involves the presence of Emmett Till as a ghostly figure who challenges Lewis’s commitment to nonviolence. The character urges Lewis toward retaliation, creating tension between violent resistance and the philosophy of love and nonviolent direct action championed by Lawson and Martin Luther King Jr. The device is dramatically effective but ethically thorny. Reducing a murdered child to a vengeful specter — one who tempts Lewis toward the very violence that killed him — risks flattening Till’s humanity into allegory. The show never fully reckons with that choice, and the silence lingers. One of the production’s most pointed satirical moments arrives in a musical number performed by white café owners (played by Harrison Smith and Kit Krull) who openly defend segregation. Rather than presenting them as overtly threatening figures, the scene leans into absurdity. With exaggerated cheer, the characters sing about their discriminatory practices, essentially announcing that they exclude Black customers simply “because we’re racist.” The staging echoes the heightened theatricality of minstrel traditions, featuring blackface, exaggerated gestures, and clownish characterizations. But the production flips that history. Instead of reinforcing racist caricatures, the number turns the spectacle toward the perpetrators themselves. Racism becomes the object of ridicule. By presenting these characters as buffoonish rather than powerful, the production reframes white supremacy as rooted in ignorance, not strength. The scene could have taken a darker approach, but Douglas lets satire carry the critique, exposing the illogic of racist ideology. The production’s strongest visual element is its use of projections designed by Zavier Augustus Lee Taylor. Archival footage and historical photographs appear throughout the performance, grounding the theatrical storytelling in documented history — from the March on Washington to the Selma marches. The projections provide context without overwhelming the action onstage.Ultimately, Young John Lewis: Prodigy of Protest suggests that Lewis’s famous call to make “good trouble” was never meant to belong to one person alone. It began before him, and it belongs to anyone willing to continue the work. Running Time: One hour and 40 minutes with no intermission. Young John Lewis: Prodigy of Protest plays through May 3, 2026, presented by Mosaic Theater Company, performing at Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H Street NE, Washington, DC. Tickets ($42–$70) are available online or through the box office, (202) 399-7993 or [email protected]. Information about discounts is here. Tickets are also available through TodayTix. The program for Young John Lewis: Prodigy of Protest is online here. Buy Tickets Discount Tickets Young John Lewis: Prodigy of ProtestBook and Lyrics by Psalmayene 24Music by KokayiDirected by Reginald L. DouglasChoreographed Associate Directed by Tony Thomas CASTMichael Bahsil-Cook: Young JohnMontel Butler: Jim Lawson/A. Philip Randolph/EnsembleChristian Emmanuel: Emmett Till/EnsembleJordan Essex: Stokely Carmichael/Bayard Rustin/EnsembleKit Krull: Joan T. Mulholland/Waitress/EnsembleVaughn Ryan Midder: Medgar Evers/Eddie/EnsembleLatrice Pace: Ella Baker/Willie Mae/EnsembleSolomon Parker: Reverend Doctor/Hosea Williams/EnsembleNia Savoy-Dock: Diane Nash/Mamie Till/EnsembleHarrison Smith: Bobby Kennedy/Ensemble UNDERSTUDIESTrenton Beavers: Young John and Medgar EversTy’ree Hope Davis Emmett Till and Stokely CarmichaelKecia Deroly: Ella Baker and Diane NashNoah Israel: Bobby Kennedy and Joan T. MulhollandKevin A. Lacey: Jim Lawson and Reverend Doctor BANDStephen Arnold: BassTijan Glover: DrumsDrew Kid: KeysJabulani: DJ CREATIVEScenic Designer: Andrew CohenLighting Designer: Alberto SegarraCostume Designer: Moyenda KulemekaWig Make-Up Designer: Larry PetersonBand Director: Drew KidVocal Music Director: Marika CountourisCo-Sound Designers: Nick tha 1da, Ian VespermannProjections Designer: Zavier Augustus Lee TaylorProperties Designer: Pauline LambStage Manager: Shayna O’NeillIntimacy and Violence Director: Sierra YoungCasting Director Dramaturg: Chelsea RadiganAssistant Stage Managers: Claire Fogle, Luis Rámon Córdovez SEE ALSO:Mosaic Theater Company presents ‘Young John Lewis: Prodigy of Protest’ (news story, February 22, 2026)New hip-hop musical at Mosaic reveals John Lewis before he became a legend (interview with playwright Psalmayene 24 and director Reginald L. Douglas by Teniola Ayoola, January 27, 2026)Mosaic Theater Company launches ‘Young John Lewis’ reflection series (news story, October 9, 2025) ...read more read less