Paige Hernandez.

Ever since neo-soul became its own genre during the 1990s, there has been a movement within the jazz, R&B and hip-hop communities to create art that captures all facets of the contemporary African American experience. This has spread into other forms as well, with theater and dance companies also exploring similar possibilities. This weekend, the Atlas Performing Arts Center hosts a show that ties together all of these elements into one multi-media performance.

The production, Liner Notes, is the brainchild of Paige Hernandez through her company, B-Fly Entertainment. B-Fly’s mantra is “elevated art for the hip-hop generation,” and so Liner Notes is aimed at exploring culture through a hip-hop lens, while also showing how the genre has adapted itself into different social movements and its potential as a tool for cultural preservation.

An actress, singer, dancer, and writer, Hernandez’s talents have made her a familiar face within the local arts community. The Baltimore native has written and performed several original works and tours the country with her children’s show Havana Hop and her solo show, Paige in Full: A B-girl’s Visual Mixtape. Her multi-ethnic heritage has also made her an effective collaborator with performers of all different backgrounds, both as a performer and director.

Undoubtedly an accomplished artist, Hernandez’s biggest impact perhaps comes through her work as an educator. Through her workshops, residencies and performances, she has to date worked with over 10,000 students from Pre-K through college. Her work has gained recognition from the Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning through the Arts and Arena Stage, where she was awarded the Thomas Fichandler Award for exceptional promise in theater education. The Huffington Post also named Hernandez a “Classroom Hero” because of her efforts in integrating arts education with STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) initiatives.

Hernandez took some time out of her schedule to answer questions from DCist about her work and this weekend’s edition of Liner Notes.

What first drew you to the stage?

In elementary school, I competed in dramatic reading or oratory competitions. I got such a thrill standing on stage and watching a packed auditorium react to my smallest spoken nuances. I went on to win at every regional and national level of the competition throughout middle school. By the time high school came around I knew I wanted to study theater at the Baltimore School for the Arts. After that I got my B.A. in Theater and Broadcast Journalism at University of Maryland—Go Terps! From there I was very fortunate to have apprenticeships, fellowships and full time positions with Round House Theatre and Arena Stage.

What is the basic concept behind Liner Notes?

Liner Notes is a live musical journey through hip-hop’s many intersections. I wanted to create a theatrical performance that I had never experienced before. There’s theater, spoken word, multimedia projections and electrifying music all within one show, blended seamlessly together. We bring to life the actual liner notes of your favorite artists and give you the inspiring back story to your favorite songs. All the while, the audience is encouraged to sing along, live tweet and to be as interactive as possible. The love from a Liner Notes audience is enough to move mountains. It’s truly a community coming together to celebrate music from the past and present, all supported in hip-hop. Sometimes, I can’t believe what we’ve created, so much so that I wish I was in the audience to experience the total picture. It’s a music lover’s dream.

As for what to expect, think artists that range from Art Blakey to Aerosmith, Tribe Called Quest to the Bee Gees. We also have Liner Notes that range in topic from being Mormon to being a black panther.

It’s also a family friendly show so the content is relate-able and appropriate. All of my shows, and especially Liner Notes, are to be enjoyed by a multi-cultural and multi-generational audience. We have whole families that have made Liner Notes their seasonal family outing. Bring your granddad, your daughter, your aunt, your grandson. We can all party together.

When did you stage the first iteration of Liner Notes, and how has it changed over time?

Liner Notes premiered at the Intersections Festival in 2012 at the Atlas Performing Arts Center. We had a one-hour show that brought the house down! We then went on to do the show several times at the Dunes in Columbia Heights. During that time, the Atlas asked us if we would be interested in developing a series to which I barely blinked before I said yes. Since then we’ve gone on to do an entire series with three thematic installments. In our series, we cover over 200 songs and pay homage to dozens of artists, genres and liner notes. Each installment has a whole new set of music, feature performers and liner notes.

Who are your collaborators for the show?

Liner Notes has many amazing elements but the one I’m most proud of is the collaboration on stage. There are 12 of us in our ensemble and they are truly the best artists in the jazz, spoken word and theater worlds. Kris Funn and the Cornerstore Quintet which includes John Lamkin, Sam Prather, Angelo Hernandez, Herbert Scott and Dante Pope. We also have the amazing jazz vocalist Akua Allrich, lyricist Baye Harrell, projection designer Tewodross Melchishua, lighting designer Ayesis Clay and artist liaison Missy Hernandez. The show is also very special for me as I get to create and perform with my husband [Kris Funn] and father [Angelo Hernandez] on a regular basis. It’s a bit surreal, but man-oh-man, am I lucky girl.

Where do you see Liner Notes going in the future?

It’s hard to say. I still can’t believe we’re in our second season and I’m so grateful that Liner Notes has a home at the Atlas. The Atlas provides the perfect space, support and staff to ensure that Liner Notes is a continued success. I can easily see new shows being created, another series, and touring. Vegas,Cuba, the possibilities are endless. But maybe a beach and a mojito first.

You juggle a lot of projects, what are some of the other things you have going?

I’m still touring my one-woman show, Paige in Full. The next stops in the fall are in Kentucky and Baton Rouge. Other tour stops through 2014 include Des Moines, Austin, Nashville and Brooklyn. I’ll continue my national residencies with Wolf Trap as well as training and professional development workshops in Charlotte, Poughkeepsie and here in the DMV area.

As a writer/director/choreographer, I’m writing a new piece, the Nayika Project, with classical Indian dancer Chitra Kalyandurg. Nayika Project will premiere in the spring of 2014. I’m directing Anu Yadav‘s solo show, Meena’s Dream this winter at Forum Theatre and I’m choreographing all over in many different pieces including Olney Theatre’s spring production of The Piano Lesson.

As performer I’ll be starring in Shape of a Girl at the Wharton Arts Center in Michigan in November and in the spring, I’ll be Cinderella in Imagination Stage’s Cinderella: The Remix, written by a dear friend and colleague of mine, Psalmayene 24.

B-Fly Entertainment’s production of Liner Notes will take place tonight and tomorrow night at the Atlas Performing Arts Center. 8 p.m. Tickets $20.