I've been looking forward to seeing "Dinah Was!" at the Open Space Cafe Theatre ever since I saw "Rounding Third" there. Mom's birthday is August 29th, and since that was one of the dates for "Dinah Was!," it worked out perfectly as something to do on Mom's birthday.
Before the play, we ate at Bert's Seafood Grille, immediately across the street from the Open Space Cafe Theatre.
I had picked up a cake at Ganache, and Bert's kept it refrigerated for me while we ate dinner. Earlier, I had secured permission from the OSC Theatre management to bring a cake for our party. The theatre sells cake slices and other desserts, but I wanted to ensure that there was enough for our party without "stealing" desserts that other play-goers might want.
We waited until intermission to cut into our cake. It was delicious!
But the real treat came right before the show continued. "Dinah Was!" Director Robin T. Rich McGhie took the stage to select a couple winners for some free tickets to the next show, "Ruthless! The Musical" (September 24-October 3).
But Robin also announced Mom's birthday and then initiated a full-house singing of "Happy Birthday" to my mom. The small band even played. It was one of those special touches that only added to an already perfect evening.
The show itself was a true crowd-pleaser. Along with the drama, listening to LaShon R. Hill sing Dinah Washington's music made you feel like you were enjoying a live concert. Hill captured the power of Dinah Washington's personality while also making us aware of her struggles with alcohol and pills. (I couldn't help but think of Michael Jackson; August 29th would have been Michael's 51st birthday.)
The supporting cast did a very good job also. Toward the end, Ronell Kiensler grabbed the audience's hearts and imagination with her scene-stealing portrayal of Violet, a hotel cook who receives an unexpected invitation from Dinah Washington to join her on stage. Given the chance to take the stage, Violet rises to the occasion, eventually becoming an even more enthusiastic performer than Dinah was at this point in her career.
Dinah Washington died at the age of 39. But she ended up having a stamp with her image on her, allowing us the chance to lick the back of her head, as someone put it.
The August 29th show was a sell-out, as were several others for "Dinah Was!"
Your next chance to visit the Open Space Cafe Theatre is when "Ruthless! The Musical" opens September 24th; it runs through October 3rd. Apparently, Britney Spears and Natalie Portman were understudies for the central role of Tina.
Based on all of my experiences at the Open Space Cafe Theatre over the last couple years, I can only strongly suggest that you consider attending a show there. As I've said before, I think it's very possible that you'll fall in love, just as I have.
Thank you, again, Open Space Cafe Theatre, for yet another special night on my Mom's 66th birthday!
Happy Birthday, Mom! You deserve it!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Scooby, Shaggy, and the Gang Spotted in Australia, Truly Needed for the Case of the Stolen American Passports
This van was spotted in Cairns, Australia earlier this summer.
Wish Scooby, Shaggy, and friends had been able to help recover 15 American passports stolen in Sydney July 4th. Instead, replacements had to be secured, consulate had to be visited.
In Europe, 14 stolen American passports recovered after thief leaves them in airport. No replacements required.
Be very careful with your passports and other treasures. There are thieves out there, ready, waiting, very eager to pounce.
Two Local Blogging Theatres Provide Provocative, Highly Entertaining Shows for Our Community
The Open Space Cafe Theatre is blogging about its current show.
Triad Stage is blogging about its preparations for its season-opening production.
You might still be able to get tickets to the final two shows of "Dinah Was!" at the Open Space Cafe Theatre this weekend (7:00 PM on Saturday, August 29, 2009 and 3:00 PM on Sunday, August 30, 2009). [Box office: 336-292-2285]
Triad Stage's "Picnic" opens with its preview performances on Sunday, September 6, 2009 at 7:30 PM. The show runs through September 27th, with performances every day of the week except Monday. [Box office: 336-272-0160]
I highly recommend both theatres, particularly for everyone who has never experienced these theatres' fantastic shows. You really can't imagine what great local and professional talent you're missing out on, but once you see either theatre's shows, you'll know.
Triad Stage is blogging about its preparations for its season-opening production.
You might still be able to get tickets to the final two shows of "Dinah Was!" at the Open Space Cafe Theatre this weekend (7:00 PM on Saturday, August 29, 2009 and 3:00 PM on Sunday, August 30, 2009). [Box office: 336-292-2285]
Triad Stage's "Picnic" opens with its preview performances on Sunday, September 6, 2009 at 7:30 PM. The show runs through September 27th, with performances every day of the week except Monday. [Box office: 336-272-0160]
I highly recommend both theatres, particularly for everyone who has never experienced these theatres' fantastic shows. You really can't imagine what great local and professional talent you're missing out on, but once you see either theatre's shows, you'll know.
If You Don't Have Plans This Weekend, You Might Not Be Too Late . .
If you're looking for some great entertainment this weekend, you should seriously consider trying to get tickets to "Dinah Was!" at the Open Space Cafe Theatre.
The OSC Theatre's most recent blog post indicates that there may still be some tickets left for the 7:00 PM performance on Saturday, August 29, 2009, and the 3:00 PM show on Sunday, August 30, 2009. (You may be too late, but for your sake, I hope you're not.)
To find out if you can still get tickets, call 336-292-2285. If voice mail picks up, just leave your name, phone number, how many tickets you want, and which show you'd like to attend. Someone will return your call. You can also drop by the box office about an hour before the show to see if tickets are still available.
The Open Space Cafe Theatre is small, intimate, and very unintimidating. It's the kind of theatre where anyone should feel comfortable. (It's not the only theatre in our community about which this is true; Triad Stage, the Broach, and other local theatres also make you feel right at home.)
Before the show and during intermission, you can purchase drinks and desserts to take back to small tables. And if you have a larger group, the OSC Theatre staff and volunteers put smaller tables together so that members of your group can sit together.
I've enjoyed every performance I've seen at the Open Space Cafe Theatre, and I've absolutely loved some of the productions.
People who pay a lot more to see shows in other venues should seriously consider giving the Open Space Cafe Theatre a chance. ($20.00 per ticket; $17.00 for senior citizens; $2.00 off each ticket if you have a party of 8 or more.) By attending the Open Space Cafe Theatre, you risk falling in love like I have, and if that happens, you won't want to miss another show.
The OSC Theatre's most recent blog post indicates that there may still be some tickets left for the 7:00 PM performance on Saturday, August 29, 2009, and the 3:00 PM show on Sunday, August 30, 2009. (You may be too late, but for your sake, I hope you're not.)
To find out if you can still get tickets, call 336-292-2285. If voice mail picks up, just leave your name, phone number, how many tickets you want, and which show you'd like to attend. Someone will return your call. You can also drop by the box office about an hour before the show to see if tickets are still available.
The Open Space Cafe Theatre is small, intimate, and very unintimidating. It's the kind of theatre where anyone should feel comfortable. (It's not the only theatre in our community about which this is true; Triad Stage, the Broach, and other local theatres also make you feel right at home.)
Before the show and during intermission, you can purchase drinks and desserts to take back to small tables. And if you have a larger group, the OSC Theatre staff and volunteers put smaller tables together so that members of your group can sit together.
I've enjoyed every performance I've seen at the Open Space Cafe Theatre, and I've absolutely loved some of the productions.
People who pay a lot more to see shows in other venues should seriously consider giving the Open Space Cafe Theatre a chance. ($20.00 per ticket; $17.00 for senior citizens; $2.00 off each ticket if you have a party of 8 or more.) By attending the Open Space Cafe Theatre, you risk falling in love like I have, and if that happens, you won't want to miss another show.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
The Perfect Time for Your First Experience at the Open Space Cafe Theatre!
You only have four more chances to see "Dinah Was!" at the Open Space Cafe Theatre:
- Thurdsday, August 27, 2009 at 8:00 PM
- Friday, August 28, 2009 at 8:00 PM
- Saturday, August 29, 2009 at 8:00 PM
- Sunday, August 30, 2009 at 3:00 PM
When I dropped by Saturday evening, I was told that Friday's show is almost sold out. Hopefully it's not too late for you to get tickets for you, your loved ones, and your friends so that you can enjoy a wonderful night out on the town! (Bert's Seafood is right across the street from the theatre, and I also recommend Elizabeth's Pizza right down the street.)
You can peek in on some of the preparations behind this production.
Discover some of the other talented people behind this show.
Here's a glimpse of some of the characters in costume, ready to perform.
Tickets are $20.00 each. Senior citizens can get tickets for just $17.00. If you get together a group of 8 or more family members and/or friends, you can each get a $2.00 discount on your tickets.
Just call 336-292-2285 to order your tickets before the final shows sell out. If the voice-mail answers, just leave your name, your phone number, the date you hope to attend, and how many tickets you wish to reserve. Someone will call you right back to process your order.
IMPORTANT: If you haven't attended an Open Space Cafe Theatre production before, leave some room in your stomach for dessert. This theatre is small but in a very intimate, very positive way, and you sit at tables at which you can enjoy desserts and drinks purchased before the show or during intermission. The OSC Theatre is only one of the most recent additions to our community's great offerings, and if you haven't seen a show there before, now's a great time to take that plunge!
Are You Ready for the Big Picnic in Downtown Greensboro?
Between September 6 and September 27, you have 22 opportunities to participate in a picnic in downtown Greensboro. Click here and scroll to the bottom to see the calendar of dates and times.
Preparations and rehearsals are already underway to make sure all's ready for a successful "Picnic."
Compare the play's poster to the live-action photos.
Check out the costume and set images, as well as some background details.
Find out who's on the guest list for this "Picnic."
Preston Lane share his thoughts about the "Picnic."
And "INSIDE TRIAD STAGE" is now linked to WE101."
Remember: You're Invited To Attend This "Picnic"!
Preparations and rehearsals are already underway to make sure all's ready for a successful "Picnic."
Compare the play's poster to the live-action photos.
Check out the costume and set images, as well as some background details.
Find out who's on the guest list for this "Picnic."
Preston Lane share his thoughts about the "Picnic."
And "INSIDE TRIAD STAGE" is now linked to WE101."
Remember: You're Invited To Attend This "Picnic"!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Emmett Till's Murder a Part of Our Unimaginably Horrible, Shameful Past
In last week's Go Triad, Joe Scott helped me make a decision about what play to see at the National Black Theatre Festival. Written and performed by Mike Wiley, "Dar He: The Story of Emmett Till" turned out to be a very solid choice.
I knew the very basic details about what happened to Emmett Till: at the age of 14, while visiting relatives in Mississippi, this African-American boy from Chicago allegedly whistled at a white woman and was later brutally murdered. His mother decided to leave his casket open so that others would have an opportunity to see the handiwork of white Southern men.
For about an hour-and-a-half, Mike Wiley went seamlessly back and forth among several different characters, including Till, his mother, the white woman he supposedly whistled at, and the two white men who later confessed to murdering Till after being acquitted in court. (I lost track of exactly how many characters Wiley ultimately played; one suggestion for future programs would be to list all of the characters and include a brief biographical description of each. That would be useful for audience members, many of whom, like me, probably learned far more than just the basic details we might have known before seeing the play.) Wiley is a mesmerizing performer. When he's in front of you, you can't take your eyes off of him; you want to follow his every word, his every movement, his every expression, and you marvel at how he so thoroughly becomes each of the characters he plays.
Seeing the play reminded me of something that I've long known but which becomes easier and easier to put in the back of one's mind: while America is a great and sometimes absolutely amazing country, there are pieces of our country's history for which we should all be deeply ashamed. Emmett Till's murder is one of those pieces. Audience members last night spent more time watching the play than the 12 white men on the jury spent deliberating before delivering a "not guilty" verdict for the two men tried for Till's murder.
It's been 50 years since Till was murdered. If he was still alive, he'd be between the ages of my father and mother, both in their sixties. While 50 years is a long time ago, it is still within the memory of a signficant portion of the population. Till's 1955 murder (one day before my mother turned 12 and Michael Jackson turned 3) occurred at a time when many white people didn't see anything wrong with how black people were treated in our country, even when such treatment went as far as murder. Such attitudes were still commonplace even more recently than 50 years ago.
I prefer an emphasis on how far we've come, but it's a mistake not to acknowledge how horrible the not-so-distant past was. "Dar He" makes you realize how far we've come, but it also reminds us of how far we had to come to get to where we now are.
"Dar He" is part of a two-part performance at the National Black Theatre Festival. Nora Cole opens the show with "Voices of the Sprits in My Soul." About an hour later, Mike Wiley performs "Dar He." This two-part show is being performed right now at the Ring Theatre on Wake Forest University's campus (3:00 PM start time), and it will play one more time at 8:00 PM this evening at the same theatre. Tickets are $37.00 each. You may call 723-7907 or try to secure tickets at the door. (Last night, tickets were still available at the door.)
To view excerpts from Mike Wiley's performance of "Dar He," visit here. (Past reviews of "Dar He.") Details about some of his other productions that Wiley brings to life can be found here.
I knew the very basic details about what happened to Emmett Till: at the age of 14, while visiting relatives in Mississippi, this African-American boy from Chicago allegedly whistled at a white woman and was later brutally murdered. His mother decided to leave his casket open so that others would have an opportunity to see the handiwork of white Southern men.
For about an hour-and-a-half, Mike Wiley went seamlessly back and forth among several different characters, including Till, his mother, the white woman he supposedly whistled at, and the two white men who later confessed to murdering Till after being acquitted in court. (I lost track of exactly how many characters Wiley ultimately played; one suggestion for future programs would be to list all of the characters and include a brief biographical description of each. That would be useful for audience members, many of whom, like me, probably learned far more than just the basic details we might have known before seeing the play.) Wiley is a mesmerizing performer. When he's in front of you, you can't take your eyes off of him; you want to follow his every word, his every movement, his every expression, and you marvel at how he so thoroughly becomes each of the characters he plays.
Seeing the play reminded me of something that I've long known but which becomes easier and easier to put in the back of one's mind: while America is a great and sometimes absolutely amazing country, there are pieces of our country's history for which we should all be deeply ashamed. Emmett Till's murder is one of those pieces. Audience members last night spent more time watching the play than the 12 white men on the jury spent deliberating before delivering a "not guilty" verdict for the two men tried for Till's murder.
It's been 50 years since Till was murdered. If he was still alive, he'd be between the ages of my father and mother, both in their sixties. While 50 years is a long time ago, it is still within the memory of a signficant portion of the population. Till's 1955 murder (one day before my mother turned 12 and Michael Jackson turned 3) occurred at a time when many white people didn't see anything wrong with how black people were treated in our country, even when such treatment went as far as murder. Such attitudes were still commonplace even more recently than 50 years ago.
I prefer an emphasis on how far we've come, but it's a mistake not to acknowledge how horrible the not-so-distant past was. "Dar He" makes you realize how far we've come, but it also reminds us of how far we had to come to get to where we now are.
"Dar He" is part of a two-part performance at the National Black Theatre Festival. Nora Cole opens the show with "Voices of the Sprits in My Soul." About an hour later, Mike Wiley performs "Dar He." This two-part show is being performed right now at the Ring Theatre on Wake Forest University's campus (3:00 PM start time), and it will play one more time at 8:00 PM this evening at the same theatre. Tickets are $37.00 each. You may call 723-7907 or try to secure tickets at the door. (Last night, tickets were still available at the door.)
To view excerpts from Mike Wiley's performance of "Dar He," visit here. (Past reviews of "Dar He.") Details about some of his other productions that Wiley brings to life can be found here.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Cornell Campaign Needs To Address His Arrest More Thoroughly
Jorge Cornell's campaign for an at-large spot on the Greensboro City Council seems to think that a video of his arrest that was posted on his campaign's website pretty much speaks for itself.
I almost hesitate to comment about the video. There are several surreal qualities to it: a fairly calm but forcefully insistent police officer; a fairly calm but forcefully resistant Cornell; a less calm daughter screaming about her father (Cornell) being arrested; a younger girl who is crying (Cornell's other daughter?); a woman asking for her cell phone, which is apparently in Cornell's possession; Cornell going on about his council candidacy and the current scene validating past claims he's continuing to make about the police unjustly targeting him and the organization he leads; seemingly unrelated people who are right there where the action is but who don't seem that interested, affected, bothered, or concerned; etc. (I'd be curious to know what unaffiliated witnesses thought about the whole scene.)
The best special effect, which well suits the entire scene's surrealism, came at the end of the video: carefree bubbles floating over Cornell and the police officer as Cornell is placed in the police car. (To my knowledge, Just Be has not been accused of arranging for its store to be in the background for this video.)
In an initial News & Record report, Sgt. Ron Sizemore, head of the Greensboro police gang unit, said, "They got out in the street and started hollering and flashing gang signs, and they knew some Bloods where there."
The N & R report continues: "It was unclear whether Cornell was flashing gang signs. A police report for the incident was unavailable Sunday afternoon. Gang members from the Bloods and the Latin Kings do not get along, Sizemore said, and the arresting officer, R.A. Watkins, attempted to speak to some of the men near Cornell. 'And they needed to talk to them. And (Watkins) tried to step around (Cornell) and Cornell blocked his path,' Sizemore said."
I'm probably not the only one now waiting for Cornell's campaign to post the video showing the events leading up to when Cornell inserted himself between the police officer and the man/men that the officer was attempting to question. (Video is not always the perfect evidence some of us would like it to be, particularly when it's conveniently turned on for one scene but not an earlier one.)
Cornell's campaign cites its endorsement of the Paradigm Shift. Part of that document emphasizes Cornell's efforts to increase the peace among different groups/gangs.
These are some questions I have for Cornell:
1) Did the hollering and flashing of gang signs actually occur? And if so, were Cornell's friends or fellow Almighty Latin King & Queen Nation (ALKQN) members participants in these activities?
2) Did Cornell himself participate in the hollering and flashing of gang signs?
3) Why did Cornell not simply allow the officer to talk to the man/men the officer was originally trying to address?
4) If Cornell, his fellow ALKQN members, or his friends did participate in the hollering and gang-sign flashing, what defense does Cornell have to offer for these actions?
5) Were Cornell and his friends/fellow ALKQN members aware that Bloods were nearby? If so, what kind of dialogue/interactions took place between them? Was peaceful or uncivil discourse taking place between members of the two groups? What was Cornell's role in what was taking place?
I'm also still curious to hear Cornell address some of the issues and questions I raised in this post. It's obvious that Cornell's website has attracted some interest and curiosity. Part of my curiosity stems from seeing students inspired by gangs and not feeling that their interest in gangs is ultimately in their best interests, academically or otherwise. I do think that some less mainstream leadership may be needed to lead some young people away from the negative temptations typically associated with gangs. The Paradigm Shift expresses an interest in addressing these issues, but part of me is skeptical. (The Paradigm Shift literature recognizes that there will be some, if not much, skepticism about some of its proposals.) The video of Cornell's arrest has increased my skepticism rather than raising my hopes in his leadership. If he's serious about his city council campaign, he has an obligation to address the concerns that other citizens and I have about how he handled himself during this incident.
I almost hesitate to comment about the video. There are several surreal qualities to it: a fairly calm but forcefully insistent police officer; a fairly calm but forcefully resistant Cornell; a less calm daughter screaming about her father (Cornell) being arrested; a younger girl who is crying (Cornell's other daughter?); a woman asking for her cell phone, which is apparently in Cornell's possession; Cornell going on about his council candidacy and the current scene validating past claims he's continuing to make about the police unjustly targeting him and the organization he leads; seemingly unrelated people who are right there where the action is but who don't seem that interested, affected, bothered, or concerned; etc. (I'd be curious to know what unaffiliated witnesses thought about the whole scene.)
The best special effect, which well suits the entire scene's surrealism, came at the end of the video: carefree bubbles floating over Cornell and the police officer as Cornell is placed in the police car. (To my knowledge, Just Be has not been accused of arranging for its store to be in the background for this video.)
In an initial News & Record report, Sgt. Ron Sizemore, head of the Greensboro police gang unit, said, "They got out in the street and started hollering and flashing gang signs, and they knew some Bloods where there."
The N & R report continues: "It was unclear whether Cornell was flashing gang signs. A police report for the incident was unavailable Sunday afternoon. Gang members from the Bloods and the Latin Kings do not get along, Sizemore said, and the arresting officer, R.A. Watkins, attempted to speak to some of the men near Cornell. 'And they needed to talk to them. And (Watkins) tried to step around (Cornell) and Cornell blocked his path,' Sizemore said."
I'm probably not the only one now waiting for Cornell's campaign to post the video showing the events leading up to when Cornell inserted himself between the police officer and the man/men that the officer was attempting to question. (Video is not always the perfect evidence some of us would like it to be, particularly when it's conveniently turned on for one scene but not an earlier one.)
Cornell's campaign cites its endorsement of the Paradigm Shift. Part of that document emphasizes Cornell's efforts to increase the peace among different groups/gangs.
These are some questions I have for Cornell:
1) Did the hollering and flashing of gang signs actually occur? And if so, were Cornell's friends or fellow Almighty Latin King & Queen Nation (ALKQN) members participants in these activities?
2) Did Cornell himself participate in the hollering and flashing of gang signs?
3) Why did Cornell not simply allow the officer to talk to the man/men the officer was originally trying to address?
4) If Cornell, his fellow ALKQN members, or his friends did participate in the hollering and gang-sign flashing, what defense does Cornell have to offer for these actions?
5) Were Cornell and his friends/fellow ALKQN members aware that Bloods were nearby? If so, what kind of dialogue/interactions took place between them? Was peaceful or uncivil discourse taking place between members of the two groups? What was Cornell's role in what was taking place?
I'm also still curious to hear Cornell address some of the issues and questions I raised in this post. It's obvious that Cornell's website has attracted some interest and curiosity. Part of my curiosity stems from seeing students inspired by gangs and not feeling that their interest in gangs is ultimately in their best interests, academically or otherwise. I do think that some less mainstream leadership may be needed to lead some young people away from the negative temptations typically associated with gangs. The Paradigm Shift expresses an interest in addressing these issues, but part of me is skeptical. (The Paradigm Shift literature recognizes that there will be some, if not much, skepticism about some of its proposals.) The video of Cornell's arrest has increased my skepticism rather than raising my hopes in his leadership. If he's serious about his city council campaign, he has an obligation to address the concerns that other citizens and I have about how he handled himself during this incident.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
"Just Because He Hit a Woman . . . "
This review of "Mad at Miles" (highly recommended) provides more background information than I provided earlier, and it also connects some of the recent domestic-abuse dots from recent and past headlines.
As the as-far-as-I-can-tell unidentified review writer puts it, "I mean come on. Just because he hit a woman, you can’t stay mad at Miles, right?"
Whether you have trouble answering that question or not, I highly recommend that you consider attending "Mad at Miles" in Winston-Salem on Thursday, August 6, 2009, either at 3:00 PM or 8:00 PM. Look back here for more details (scroll toward the bottom).
As the as-far-as-I-can-tell unidentified review writer puts it, "I mean come on. Just because he hit a woman, you can’t stay mad at Miles, right?"
Whether you have trouble answering that question or not, I highly recommend that you consider attending "Mad at Miles" in Winston-Salem on Thursday, August 6, 2009, either at 3:00 PM or 8:00 PM. Look back here for more details (scroll toward the bottom).
"Mad at Miles" Recommended For Men and Women of All Races
I've read about the National Black Theatre Festival for years, but I only attended for the first time two years ago. I had an ulterior motive: to preview a play that I knew that Triad Stage planned to offer the following February and see if it might be appropriate to take my eighth-grade students to see. As it turned out, "From the Mississippi Delta" included content that definitely would NOT have been appropriate for middle-school students, but I appreciated the play enough to check it out again when it did appear on Triad Stage.
I've seen two of the plays that are being performed next week in Winson-Salem: "Mad at Miles: A Black Woman's Guide to the Truth" and "Extremities."
I've never seen "Extremities" on stage; I've only seen the movie version that starred Farrah Fawcett and Alfre Woodard. As I remember, the movie dealt powerfully with painful, provocative issues surrounding rape. On stage, this story might be even more intensely felt by audience members who will witness the action and the characters' interactions live. Attending the play might remind some viewers of the strong performance delivered by Fawcett in the main role. (I believe that Wendy Raquel Robinson, who played Principal Regina "Piggy" Grier on "The Steve Harvey Show," will be playing the part that Fawcett played.)
"Extremities" will probably be worth attending, but if you want a recommendation, plan to see "Mad at Miles." As far as I know, you can't rent "Mad at Miles," and even if you could, I'm not sure that anything less than a live performance could do its content justice.
"Mad at Miles" was peformed on Triad Stage earlier this year in its Cabaret theatre, and while it was an in-your-face performance about how too many men (including Miles Davis) mistreat women, it wasn't a one-note (unforgivingly angry) performance. You wouldn't expect to laugh or feel inspired by such a horrible topic, but as put together by Pearl Cleage and as performed by its three female stars, "Mad at Miles" brought to the surface just about any and every emotion you could imagine, making you feel hopeful at the same time that you felt the intense anger pouring out of its protagonists.
I'm not sure if the same three actresses will be performing "Mad at Miles" in Winston-Salem at 3:00 PM and 8:00 PM on Thursday, August 6, 2009. If it's the same three performers, be prepared to witness an amazing production, and if any or all of the actresses are different than the ones who performed on Triad Stage, hopefully they too will do this important play justice.
Call 336-723-7907 to order tickets ($25.00 each). If voice mail picks up, just leave your name and phone number, and you'll receive a call back. I don't think you'll regret putting forth the time and money to see this play. Just keep in mind that the content is very mature, and it's probably not appropriate to take children to see.
Here are some more details: Venue: RJR Black Box. Phone: 336.723.2266. Thursday, August 6, 2009, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM. 301 N. Hawthorne Rd. Winston-Salem, NC 27104.
I've seen two of the plays that are being performed next week in Winson-Salem: "Mad at Miles: A Black Woman's Guide to the Truth" and "Extremities."
I've never seen "Extremities" on stage; I've only seen the movie version that starred Farrah Fawcett and Alfre Woodard. As I remember, the movie dealt powerfully with painful, provocative issues surrounding rape. On stage, this story might be even more intensely felt by audience members who will witness the action and the characters' interactions live. Attending the play might remind some viewers of the strong performance delivered by Fawcett in the main role. (I believe that Wendy Raquel Robinson, who played Principal Regina "Piggy" Grier on "The Steve Harvey Show," will be playing the part that Fawcett played.)
"Extremities" will probably be worth attending, but if you want a recommendation, plan to see "Mad at Miles." As far as I know, you can't rent "Mad at Miles," and even if you could, I'm not sure that anything less than a live performance could do its content justice.
"Mad at Miles" was peformed on Triad Stage earlier this year in its Cabaret theatre, and while it was an in-your-face performance about how too many men (including Miles Davis) mistreat women, it wasn't a one-note (unforgivingly angry) performance. You wouldn't expect to laugh or feel inspired by such a horrible topic, but as put together by Pearl Cleage and as performed by its three female stars, "Mad at Miles" brought to the surface just about any and every emotion you could imagine, making you feel hopeful at the same time that you felt the intense anger pouring out of its protagonists.
I'm not sure if the same three actresses will be performing "Mad at Miles" in Winston-Salem at 3:00 PM and 8:00 PM on Thursday, August 6, 2009. If it's the same three performers, be prepared to witness an amazing production, and if any or all of the actresses are different than the ones who performed on Triad Stage, hopefully they too will do this important play justice.
Call 336-723-7907 to order tickets ($25.00 each). If voice mail picks up, just leave your name and phone number, and you'll receive a call back. I don't think you'll regret putting forth the time and money to see this play. Just keep in mind that the content is very mature, and it's probably not appropriate to take children to see.
Here are some more details: Venue: RJR Black Box. Phone: 336.723.2266. Thursday, August 6, 2009, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM. 301 N. Hawthorne Rd. Winston-Salem, NC 27104.
Considering Council Candidate Cornell
From John Robinson's post about Greensboro City Council candidates' web presences (and absences), I had noticed that Jorge Cornell had among the most impressive online content available for citizens to check out. I wasn't the only one to notice this; Jeffrey Sykes and Ed Cone both shared their observations on their respective blogs.
Sue Polinsky asked some questions, some of which had already been answered by the News & Record, but from her questions, I started thinking about my own thoughts and questions related to Jorge Cornell. I hope Ed didn't mind the rather long comment(s) I ended up posting at his website. It made me realize that, except for one June post about "Driving Miss Daisy," I hadn't posted anything on my own blog in months. I didn't set out to go on as long as I did, and once I did, I probably should have just done as I'm going to do now and posted my comments here:
I've listened to a couple of the posted press conferences, and Jorge Cornell seems to feel that the organization he leads here in North Carolina, the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation, and its local members have been unfairly targeted by anti-gang law enforcement. Apparently, the ALKQN has a very contradictory history that bounces between the extremes of murderous drug lords and sincerely interested community organizers. I guess the question is how sincere Cornell and his local Latin King followers are about focusing on the positive and turning their backs on any violent and drug-based temptations. I would like to see Cornell address these issues in great detail, particularly since a significant number of the organization's/gang's members (on the national level--I'm not sure about locally) have embraced horrible, indefensible acts against fellow human beings. I appreciated that Cornell attended and spoke out against domestic violence, sharing that he had witnessed this problem within his own family. (I don't think there was any posted video of his comments, which I would have liked to have watched.) The Troublemaker posted some questions and comments about Cornell in a July 1st post (July 1, 2008). (When you look up "Jorge Cornell" online, the link listed at the top takes you to the Troublemaker website.) If Cornell has made mistakes but has every intention of putting any negativity from his past behind him and moving in a positive direction, he deserves a chance to prove himself. Electing him onto the City Council right now may or may not be too early.
Wikipedia offers this: "But their "apparent contradictions", the Latin Kings may argue, can be better understood when viewed through the lens of their teachings. Once a member of the Almighty Latin King Nation, according to the "Latin King Manifesto", a member naturally passes through three stages of consciousness:
(1) the Primitive Stage, wherein the neophyte member is expected to be immature and to be involved in such activities as gang-banging and being a street warrior without the full consciousness of Kingism ;
(2) the Conservative or Mummy Stage, which is where a member tires of the street gang life but is still accepting of life as it has been taught to him by the existing system that exploits all people of color, dehumanizes them, and maintains them under the conditions and social yoke of slavery;
and (3) the New King Stage, where the member recognizes the need for a revolution of the "mind". According to the Manifesto, "The New King is the end product of complete awareness, perceiving three-hundred and sixty degrees of enlightenment; his observations are free and independent; his thoughts are not clouded by any form of prejudice...For him there are no horizons between races, sexes and senseless labels", including gang labels for recognition. The New King no longer views the rival warriors as the cause of his ills and seeks world unity for the sake of humanization and freedom for all the "Oppressed Third World Peoples".
Therefore, as appropriately expressed by their own teachings, a great majority of Latin Kings live a criminalistic lifestyle while a select few seek to better their communities and fight against social oppression and injustices."
Is Cornell in the New King Stage? Can he be a powerful voice in encouraging young people to bypass the Primitive Stage? If he can be a voice of positive inspiration for young people, I wish him the very best, and if his intentions and personal pursuits are honorable and positive, I wish him great all-around success. Perhaps Cornell can enlighten us about his perspective on all this.
Sue Polinsky asked some questions, some of which had already been answered by the News & Record, but from her questions, I started thinking about my own thoughts and questions related to Jorge Cornell. I hope Ed didn't mind the rather long comment(s) I ended up posting at his website. It made me realize that, except for one June post about "Driving Miss Daisy," I hadn't posted anything on my own blog in months. I didn't set out to go on as long as I did, and once I did, I probably should have just done as I'm going to do now and posted my comments here:
I've listened to a couple of the posted press conferences, and Jorge Cornell seems to feel that the organization he leads here in North Carolina, the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation, and its local members have been unfairly targeted by anti-gang law enforcement. Apparently, the ALKQN has a very contradictory history that bounces between the extremes of murderous drug lords and sincerely interested community organizers. I guess the question is how sincere Cornell and his local Latin King followers are about focusing on the positive and turning their backs on any violent and drug-based temptations. I would like to see Cornell address these issues in great detail, particularly since a significant number of the organization's/gang's members (on the national level--I'm not sure about locally) have embraced horrible, indefensible acts against fellow human beings. I appreciated that Cornell attended and spoke out against domestic violence, sharing that he had witnessed this problem within his own family. (I don't think there was any posted video of his comments, which I would have liked to have watched.) The Troublemaker posted some questions and comments about Cornell in a July 1st post (July 1, 2008). (When you look up "Jorge Cornell" online, the link listed at the top takes you to the Troublemaker website.) If Cornell has made mistakes but has every intention of putting any negativity from his past behind him and moving in a positive direction, he deserves a chance to prove himself. Electing him onto the City Council right now may or may not be too early.
Wikipedia offers this: "But their "apparent contradictions", the Latin Kings may argue, can be better understood when viewed through the lens of their teachings. Once a member of the Almighty Latin King Nation, according to the "Latin King Manifesto", a member naturally passes through three stages of consciousness:
(1) the Primitive Stage, wherein the neophyte member is expected to be immature and to be involved in such activities as gang-banging and being a street warrior without the full consciousness of Kingism ;
(2) the Conservative or Mummy Stage, which is where a member tires of the street gang life but is still accepting of life as it has been taught to him by the existing system that exploits all people of color, dehumanizes them, and maintains them under the conditions and social yoke of slavery;
and (3) the New King Stage, where the member recognizes the need for a revolution of the "mind". According to the Manifesto, "The New King is the end product of complete awareness, perceiving three-hundred and sixty degrees of enlightenment; his observations are free and independent; his thoughts are not clouded by any form of prejudice...For him there are no horizons between races, sexes and senseless labels", including gang labels for recognition. The New King no longer views the rival warriors as the cause of his ills and seeks world unity for the sake of humanization and freedom for all the "Oppressed Third World Peoples".
Therefore, as appropriately expressed by their own teachings, a great majority of Latin Kings live a criminalistic lifestyle while a select few seek to better their communities and fight against social oppression and injustices."
Is Cornell in the New King Stage? Can he be a powerful voice in encouraging young people to bypass the Primitive Stage? If he can be a voice of positive inspiration for young people, I wish him the very best, and if his intentions and personal pursuits are honorable and positive, I wish him great all-around success. Perhaps Cornell can enlighten us about his perspective on all this.
Feel the Bahama Breeze in Raleigh!
A few days ago, I visited my brother and his wife in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Dinner time arrived, and we discussed going out to get a bite to eat. The all-important question: where? Brother Brice mentioned a few possibilities, but his strongest suggestion seemed to be a place called Bahama Breeze, a restaurant he vaguely recalled having eaten at once before some time ago.
We enjoyed very good meals there, but beyond the food quality (and quantities), Bahama Breeze's atmosphere itself is special. A particular part of the restuarant really grabbed us, and after we finished our dining experience, we all remarked on what a treat it was to enjoy the indoor "outdoor" seating. It was raining when we arrived, and I dropped my brother and his wife off at the door before rolling around to the other side of the restaurant to park. Had I not driven to the other side of the restaurant, my dad and I might have missed noticing the open-windowed patio seating. Brice and Lynette were already inside and had put us down for a table, receiving one of those devices to alert us when a table became available. My dad and I asked if they would be interested in the semi-outdoor seating we had noticed, and they found the suggestion agreeable. When we indicated our preference to the hostesses, we were told that we didn't even have to wait; if tables were available there, all we had to do is go sit at one, which is what we did. I'm assuming the food would have tasted just as good had we chosen to eat at one of the traditional "inside" tables, but I can't imagine that we would have enjoyed the atmosphere as much (and that's not saying anything negative about what we observed on the inside; I'm just emphasizing how cool our surroundings were "outside").
Apparently, Raleigh is the lone North Carolina city to have a Bahama Breeze, and the only other bordering state to have one is Georgia. (Georgia and Florida seem to be the most popular locations for this chain.) From the website, I did notice that at least one Bahama Breeze appears to be on the water, and that's perhaps the only missing ingredient for the Raleigh restaurant. The website offers a virtual tour, but I'm not sure that it really captures the quality of the experience we had. (I haven't even mentioned the service, something that always matters when dining out, but that too was on a superior level; we had a great waiter!)
So if you're in the Raleigh area, I recommend Bahama Breeze for your consideration. More specifically, I recommend trying the virtual "outdoors" dining the patio area provides.
From the website: "Bahama Breeze brings you the feeling of a Caribbean escape, featuring Caribbean-inspired seafood, chicken, and steak, handcrafted tropical drinks, and a vibrant island atmopshere." From my perspective: Bahama Breeze achieves exactly what it sets out to accomplish.
CORRECTION: I indicated that Bahama Breeze is only located in one of North Carolina's bordering states; I just realized that, in addition to having three stores in Georgia, there's one in Memphis, Tennessee also.
Dinner time arrived, and we discussed going out to get a bite to eat. The all-important question: where? Brother Brice mentioned a few possibilities, but his strongest suggestion seemed to be a place called Bahama Breeze, a restaurant he vaguely recalled having eaten at once before some time ago.
We enjoyed very good meals there, but beyond the food quality (and quantities), Bahama Breeze's atmosphere itself is special. A particular part of the restuarant really grabbed us, and after we finished our dining experience, we all remarked on what a treat it was to enjoy the indoor "outdoor" seating. It was raining when we arrived, and I dropped my brother and his wife off at the door before rolling around to the other side of the restaurant to park. Had I not driven to the other side of the restaurant, my dad and I might have missed noticing the open-windowed patio seating. Brice and Lynette were already inside and had put us down for a table, receiving one of those devices to alert us when a table became available. My dad and I asked if they would be interested in the semi-outdoor seating we had noticed, and they found the suggestion agreeable. When we indicated our preference to the hostesses, we were told that we didn't even have to wait; if tables were available there, all we had to do is go sit at one, which is what we did. I'm assuming the food would have tasted just as good had we chosen to eat at one of the traditional "inside" tables, but I can't imagine that we would have enjoyed the atmosphere as much (and that's not saying anything negative about what we observed on the inside; I'm just emphasizing how cool our surroundings were "outside").
Apparently, Raleigh is the lone North Carolina city to have a Bahama Breeze, and the only other bordering state to have one is Georgia. (Georgia and Florida seem to be the most popular locations for this chain.) From the website, I did notice that at least one Bahama Breeze appears to be on the water, and that's perhaps the only missing ingredient for the Raleigh restaurant. The website offers a virtual tour, but I'm not sure that it really captures the quality of the experience we had. (I haven't even mentioned the service, something that always matters when dining out, but that too was on a superior level; we had a great waiter!)
So if you're in the Raleigh area, I recommend Bahama Breeze for your consideration. More specifically, I recommend trying the virtual "outdoors" dining the patio area provides.
From the website: "Bahama Breeze brings you the feeling of a Caribbean escape, featuring Caribbean-inspired seafood, chicken, and steak, handcrafted tropical drinks, and a vibrant island atmopshere." From my perspective: Bahama Breeze achieves exactly what it sets out to accomplish.
CORRECTION: I indicated that Bahama Breeze is only located in one of North Carolina's bordering states; I just realized that, in addition to having three stores in Georgia, there's one in Memphis, Tennessee also.
At Least Two Local Theatres Blogging Away
Two local theatres have blogs that highlight both current and upcoming productions: the Open Space Cafe Theatre Blog and the Triad Stage Blog.
Up next at the OSCT is "Dinah Was!: The Dinah Washington Musical," running from August 20-30, 2009.
Triad Stage is preparing for a "Picnic" that will be held between September 6th and September 27th.
If you've never visited these theatres before, I recommend both very highly. The only regrets I've ever experienced with these two theatres are the performances I haven't found/made time to attend. While very different from one another, what they share is the ability to bring highly entertaining, very provocative productions to life on their respective stages.
Knowing date ranges for each theatre's next productions, you seriously should consider making plans to attend these shows. Unless you make plans to do so, chances are high that you will end up missing great opportunities to see great entertainment practically in your own backyard.
Up next at the OSCT is "Dinah Was!: The Dinah Washington Musical," running from August 20-30, 2009.
Triad Stage is preparing for a "Picnic" that will be held between September 6th and September 27th.
If you've never visited these theatres before, I recommend both very highly. The only regrets I've ever experienced with these two theatres are the performances I haven't found/made time to attend. While very different from one another, what they share is the ability to bring highly entertaining, very provocative productions to life on their respective stages.
Knowing date ranges for each theatre's next productions, you seriously should consider making plans to attend these shows. Unless you make plans to do so, chances are high that you will end up missing great opportunities to see great entertainment practically in your own backyard.
Policeman and Professor Didn't Invent the Art of Stepping on Toes
When I saw "Rounding Third" last Saturday at the Open Space Cafe Theatre, I didn't realize that I would have the opportunity to witness a preview of the conversation between a police officer and a professor (with a president and a vice president on the sidelines).
"Rounding Third," a play about two little-league baseball coaches who have very different views about what should matter most for their players (winning vs. having fun), does not mention race at all, and I don't recall any law enforcement issues leaping off the stage.
But throughout the play, the two characters stepped on each other's toes by saying and doing things that were unintentionally but effectively hurtful or offensive to one another. (Fortunately for audience members, the characters' words and actions provoked not only deep thinking but also strong laughter.)
Race is cited as a topic that has the potential to bring out the worst from our human natures, but we don't require the presence of racial issues for us to manage to hurt and offend one another on still very significant levels. Without race, we still manage quite well to figure out other ways to be jerks toward one another, whether we mean to be or not. (It's arguably an American tragedy how many of us have no conscience about intentionally trying to hurt and offend others around us.) And almost without fail, at the same time that we step on other people's shoes without realizing that we're doing so, we have a sixth sense for immediately being able to perceive when other people are stepping on our own shoes. We're infuriated at the people who step on our own shoes, but we more often than not regard ourselves as blameless and can't see our own natural abilities for doing the very same in reverse.
Maybe someone needs to create a play for us to watch about the conversations that take place between a police officer and a professor, and if it helps the cause, maybe their races can be a part of their conversations. Just remember though, that while race matters, it's not a prerequisite for humans to fail to communicate adequately and respectfully with one another. Ultimately, it's just as much a human thing as it is a race thing.
"Rounding Third," a play about two little-league baseball coaches who have very different views about what should matter most for their players (winning vs. having fun), does not mention race at all, and I don't recall any law enforcement issues leaping off the stage.
But throughout the play, the two characters stepped on each other's toes by saying and doing things that were unintentionally but effectively hurtful or offensive to one another. (Fortunately for audience members, the characters' words and actions provoked not only deep thinking but also strong laughter.)
Race is cited as a topic that has the potential to bring out the worst from our human natures, but we don't require the presence of racial issues for us to manage to hurt and offend one another on still very significant levels. Without race, we still manage quite well to figure out other ways to be jerks toward one another, whether we mean to be or not. (It's arguably an American tragedy how many of us have no conscience about intentionally trying to hurt and offend others around us.) And almost without fail, at the same time that we step on other people's shoes without realizing that we're doing so, we have a sixth sense for immediately being able to perceive when other people are stepping on our own shoes. We're infuriated at the people who step on our own shoes, but we more often than not regard ourselves as blameless and can't see our own natural abilities for doing the very same in reverse.
Maybe someone needs to create a play for us to watch about the conversations that take place between a police officer and a professor, and if it helps the cause, maybe their races can be a part of their conversations. Just remember though, that while race matters, it's not a prerequisite for humans to fail to communicate adequately and respectfully with one another. Ultimately, it's just as much a human thing as it is a race thing.
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