The 9th Annual Shades of Black Theatre Festival will be held at the Darkhorse Theater, September 2nd-28th. The festival will feature mixers, workshops, film screenings, poetry and comedy shows and six different theatre productions presented by Darryl Van leer, Kennie Playhouse Theater, Sista Style Productions, The Destiny Theatre Experience and Dream 7 Theatre Productions. Admission for events vary. Worskhops and special events currently being added. Check event page for updates. Tuesday, 9/2 Opening Mixer 6 p.m. Thursday 9/4 Staged Reading of short plays 6 pm Friday 9/5 - Rubycat Lawsons Roadhouse Lounge 7:30 p.m. Saturday 9/6 - Rubycat Lawsons Roadhhouse Lounge 7:30 p.m. Late Night Comedy Show hosted by Renard Hirsch 11 pm Thursday 9/11 - Do Over Written & Directed by Mary McCallum (Sista Style Productions) 7:30 p.m. Friday 9/12 - Songs For Our Sons Written & Directed by Shawn Whitsell (Destiny Theatre Experience) - 7:30 pm Saturday 9/13 - Do Over 7:30 pm Late Night Poetry Jam - Hosted by Jene India - 11 pm Sunday 9/14 - Songs For Our Sons - 3 pm Monday, 9/15 - A Poem For Broken Boys Written by Terrance Cirvant French and Directed by Shawn Whitsell (Destiny Theatre Experience) Tuesdsay, 9/16 - The Meeting Written by Jeff Stetson & Directed by Chuck Smith - 7:30 pm (Kennie Playhouse Theatre) Wednesday 9/17 - A Poem For Broken Boys (Destiny Theatre Experience) - 7:30 pm. Thursday 9/18 - Songs For Our Sons (Destiny Theatre Experience) - 7:30 pm Friday 9/19 - Do Over (Sista Style Productions) - 7:30 pm Saturday 9/20 - The Meeting (Kennie Playhouse Theatre) - 7:30 pm Sunday 9/21 - The Meeting (Kennie Playhouse Theatre) -3 pm Friday 9/26 - Black Knight Society Written & Directed by Michael L. Walker (Dream 7 Theatre Productions) - 7:30 pm Saturday 9/27 - Black Knight Society (Dream 7 Theatre Productions) - 7:30 pm Sunday 9/28 - Black Knight Society (Dream 7 Theatre Productions) - 3 pm Rubycat Lawsons Roadhouse Lounge Written by Darryl Van leer and Pete Edwards Produced and Performed by Darryl Van Leer Synopsis: This stunning, foot-stomping musical tale of redemption follows the story of Matthew Porter, proprietor of the once famous Blues and Rock & Roll juke joint. The Roadhouse has been deteriorating for more than a decade, and Matthew has been declining along with it. When he receives a letter from the government claiming eminent domain for a new interstate highway, Matthew reaches the depths of despair and begins to mourn the loss of a historic landmark. Hope walks in - in the form of New York Times reporter Dawson Edwards, who has come to write an article on famous juke joints in the South. Matthew transports the reporter and the audience back in time to when the Roadhouse was booming, and transforms into the most electrifying performers of all time:Ray Charles, Little Richard, Elton John, Sam Cooke, Muddy Waters, Jelly Roll Morton, Big Joe Turner, Lionel Richie, and Jerry Lee Lewis. Together, Matthew and Dawson launch a plan to save the Roadhouse by earning the building a place on the National Register of Historic Places. Van Leer, a trained musician, brings to stage live music. With 21 on stage costume changes and 115 different sound effects, the audience will laugh, sing, and be inspired in this one-hour and thirty-five minute feel-good production. Do Over Written and Directed by Mary McCallum Presented by Sista Style Productions Synopsis: At her twenty year reunion, a woman wonders if she chose the right guy for her senior prom. When she wakes to find herself back at the prom, will she make the right decisions given her opportunity to do it all over? Songs For Our Sons Written and Directed by Shawn Whitsell Presented by the Destiny Theatre Experience Synopsis: As a group of fathers mourn the loss of their sons to gun violence at the hands of police and other young black men, they lean on each other, fight for justice and work to bring about change in their communities. The Meeting Written by Jeff Stetson Directed by Chuck Smith Cast: Kenny Dozier, Willie Robbins, Michael McClendon Synopsis:Fascinating and dramatically compelling, this eloquent play depicts the supposed Meeting of two of the most important men of modern times: Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Differing in their Philosophies, but alike in their mutual respect, the two men debate their varying approaches to the same grave Social problems, both prepared to die for their beliefs but neither aware of how soon their assassins bullets would await them.The story takes place in a suite high up in a Harlem Hotel room where Malcolm X and his bodyguard Rashad are resting before Malcolm Xs fateful speech at the Audubon Ballroom. Malcolm X has requested a secret meeting with Dr. King who is also in New York.Cautious at first, the two quickly fall into a spirited debate about their different approaches to improving the lot of the Black Man in a predominantly White society. Dr. King (the lamb) hoping to find racial harmony through Love and Peaceful Resistance while Malcolm X (the lion) is reconciled to violence and revenge if Blacks are to win out over oppression. The Meeting received a Louis B. Mayer Award, eight NAACP Theater Awards, and six New York AUDELCO nominations. A Poem For Broken Boys Written by Terrance Cirvant French Directed by Shawn Whitsell Presented by the Destiny Theatre Experience Cast: Terrance French, Damien Horne, Patrick James, Rashad Rayford, Gene Jones Synopsis:Many men live with scars from their past that never heal. These scars often result in issues that spill over into other areas in life. The issues manifest is various ways. A Poem for Broken Boys explores the impact silence has brought into the lives of five men: Church, Dance, Comedy, Music and Poet. Church the leader of the bunch is exemplified as a zealous Reverend loved by all but behind his faith lies a past he avoids. Dance is a feminine man given to his artistry yet uses it to escape his childhood reality. Comedy avoids attacks by using humor to shield the secret he holds. Music is a suave ladies man whose charm often leads him captive. Poet is a writer and thinker who has a quest to write a Poem for the least of these in the world on his journey he finds the freedom they all need. In what was to be a routine mens meeting these young men are confronted with their own reality. In exposing their wounds these Wounded Men are left with the truth. They were all once Broken Boys. The play seeks to provoke conversation. It challenges its audience to look at the reality of what is happening to young men around the world who suffer silently with wounds from their childhood. The Black Knight Society Written and Directed by Michael L. Walker Presented by Dream 7 Theatre Productions Synopsis: Do you believe in Urban Legends? Should people sometimes take the law into their own hands? In one city all the citizens in one neighborhood know is that sometimes bad people disappear off the block for one reason or another. Join the staff of Reigns Bail Bonds as they deal with the myths and truths in their neighborhood. Worskhops and special events are currently being added. Check the darkhorstheater or the Shades of Black Facebook page: Facebook/shadestheatrefest for updates. For more information, contact Shawn Whitsell at (270) 366-6266 or shadesofblacktheatrefestival@gmail.
Posted on: Fri, 29 Aug 2014 02:13:13 +0000
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