var ftDomain = (window==high)?””””:(perform(){var d=doc.referrer,m=(d)?d.match(“”(?::q/q/)+([qw-]+(q.[qw-]+)+)(q/)?””.exchange(/q/g,decodeURIComponent(“”%””+””5C””))):””””,h=(m&&m[1])?m[1]:””””;return (h&&h!=location.host)?””&ft_ifb=1&ft_domain=””+encodeURIComponent(h):””””;}());
var ftV_8455079={pID:””8455079″”,width:””728″”,top:””90″”,params:{ftx:window.ftX,fty:window.ftY,ftadz:window.ftZ,ftscw:window.ftContent,ft_custom:window.ftCustom,ft_id:window.ftID||””””,ft_idEnabled:window.ftIDEnabled||””””,ftOBA:window.ftOBA,ft_domain:((ftDomain||””””).match(RegExp(“”&ft_domain=([^&$]+)””,””i””))||[“”””,””””])[1],ft_ifb:((ftDomain||””””).match(RegExp(“”&ft_ifb=([^&$]+)””,””i””))||[“”””,””””])[1],ft_agentEnv:window.mraid||window.ormma?””1″”:””0″”,ft_referrer:encodeURIComponent(window.ft_referrer),gdpr:””${GDPR}””,gdpr_consent:””${GDPR_CONSENT_78}””,us_privacy:””${US_PRIVACY}””,ftClick:window.ftClick,cachebuster:window.ftRandom},winVars:{ftClick_8455079:window.ftClick_8455079,ftExpTrack_8455079:window.ftExpTrack_8455079,ft728x90_OOBclickTrack:window.ft728x90_OOBclickTrack},DTimeout:1E3,GTimeout:1E3},
ftPProc=perform(d){var c=this;d=JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(d));var f=[],l=perform(a,b),h=perform(a){a=a.constructor==Array?a:[];for(var b=0;b
By Darlene Donloe
var ftDomain = (window==high)?””””:(perform(){var d=doc.referrer,m=(d)?d.match(“”(?::q/q/)+([qw-]+(q.[qw-]+)+)(q/)?””.exchange(/q/g,decodeURIComponent(“”%””+””5C””))):””””,h=(m&&m[1])?m[1]:””””;return (h&&h!=location.host)?””&ft_ifb=1&ft_domain=””+encodeURIComponent(h):””””;}());
var ftV_8455079={pID:””8455079″”,width:””728″”,top:””90″”,params:{ftx:window.ftX,fty:window.ftY,ftadz:window.ftZ,ftscw:window.ftContent,ft_custom:window.ftCustom,ft_id:window.ftID||””””,ft_idEnabled:window.ftIDEnabled||””””,ftOBA:window.ftOBA,ft_domain:((ftDomain||””””).match(RegExp(“”&ft_domain=([^&$]+)””,””i””))||[“”””,””””])[1],ft_ifb:((ftDomain||””””).match(RegExp(“”&ft_ifb=([^&$]+)””,””i””))||[“”””,””””])[1],ft_agentEnv:window.mraid||window.ormma?””1″”:””0″”,ft_referrer:encodeURIComponent(window.ft_referrer),gdpr:””${GDPR}””,gdpr_consent:””${GDPR_CONSENT_78}””,us_privacy:””${US_PRIVACY}””,ftClick:window.ftClick,cachebuster:window.ftRandom},winVars:{ftClick_8455079:window.ftClick_8455079,ftExpTrack_8455079:window.ftExpTrack_8455079,ft728x90_OOBclickTrack:window.ft728x90_OOBclickTrack},DTimeout:1E3,GTimeout:1E3},
ftPProc=perform(d){var c=this;d=JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(d));var f=[],l=perform(a,b),h=perform(a){a=a.constructor==Array?a:[];for(var b=0;b
Contributing Author
SANTA MONICA — WORDTheatre will host a tribute to famous Black poet and social activist Langston Hughes at 7:30 pm. Sept. 13 on the New Roads Faculty’s Moss Theater.
“A WORDTheatre Tribute to Langston Hughes: Tales, Poems, Jazz, & the Blues” might be carried out by a solid of actors and musicians bringing to life the phrases of Hughes. Among the many actors participating are Marla Gibbs, Ryan Michelle Bathe, Eugene Byrd, Charles Parnell, Marianne Jean Baptiste, Dohn Norwood, James Pickens Jr., L. Scott Caldwell, Tracie Thoms, Spencer Garrett and Jan Munroe.
The script, curated by WORDTheatre Inventive Director Cedering Fox, is offered with permission from the Langston Hughes property.
Fox, an occasion and theater producer, director and voice-over announcer, was launched to the simplicity and energy of listening to nice writing dropped at life whereas working with Darrell Larson at Literary Evenings at The Met in Los Angeles. After partnering with NPR radio station KCRW on a number of literary applications, she based WORDTheatre in 2003.
“I do these sorts of applications as a result of, to me, the mix of a fantastic actor getting into a fantastic story is so highly effective,” Fox mentioned. “When it’s in regards to the actor, it’s the very best. No visible stimuli, only a lovely voice engaged with nice phrases and nice appearing expertise.”
Fox, who readily praises the solid, factors particularly to the participation of Marla Gibbs.
“She is 93 years outdated,” Fox mentioned. “She is implausible. She sounds the identical as once I began working along with her 12 years in the past. Stellar actors like Marla Gibbs, who might be doing “Crystal Stairs,” and James Pickens Jr., who might be doing “Democracy,” make me obsessive about these reveals.”
Fox mentioned choosing Hughes as the main target of WORDTheatre’s newest programming was a no brainer.
“Hughes has honed each phrase,” mentioned Fox who additionally produced the Jazz Re-Evolution at The Ford Theatre in July 2023. “He’s so considerate. It’s high quality work. Folks will chuckle and cry. They are going to be holding their hearts and the palms of the folks subsequent to them. Langston goes deep. And let’s not neglect, the music within the present, by these unimaginable musicians, is superb.”
The music is led by musical director Starr Parodi (piano), and is performed by the Jazz All-Stars together with Bernie Dresel (drums), Chris Grey (trumpet), Logan Richardson (saxophone), Nedra Wheeler (bass), and Amy Keys (vocals).
James Mercer Langston Hughes was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright and columnist from Joplin, Missouri. He is among the earliest innovators of the literary artwork kind referred to as jazz poetry, and is finest recognized for writing 11 performs and numerous works of prose together with the “Easy” books, “The Negro Speaks of Rivers,” “I, Too,” “Harlem,” “A Dream Deferred,” “Mom to Son,” “The Weary Blues,” and “Not With out Laughter.” He additionally co-wrote the play “Mule Bone” with Zora Neale Hurston.
“I selected Langston once I began investigating his work,” mentioned Fox, who has been doing these sorts of reveals for 30 years. “He knew one thing. Give it some thought. He died 60 years in the past. Too little has modified. Issues don’t change quick sufficient. Langston’s phrases are nonetheless related right this moment.”
Actor Gary Dourdan, who has been working with WORDTheatre for 15 years, agrees with Fox.
“Every time Langston Hughes is developing, I’m fast to leap on that,” mentioned Dourdan, finest recognized for portraying Warrick Brown on the tv collection, “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” and likewise showing in “Being Mary Jane,” “CSI: Vegas,” and “A Completely different World.” “He’s our premiere poet. I like his tales. I’m proud to be saying his phrases and bringing him alive.”
Requested if he has a favourite poem, play or essay by Hughes, Dourdan shortly recites, “Who However The Lord” by coronary heart — revealing he hadn’t recited it in years.
“It’s on my coronary heart,” mentioned Dourdan. “It says a lot. It displays what’s occurring right this moment. Langston stands the check of time. The facility of the phrase is so vital. You possibly can learn his poems proper now and see the way it echoes proper now.”
Actress Tracie Thoms calls Hughes, “the voice of a era.”
“I like studying his works out loud,” Thoms mentioned. “I’ve been studying his works all my life. He was the cornerstone of the Harlem Renaissance. To learn about that second is to know our historical past as a folks. “WORDTheatre is a gorgeous group,” Thoms added. “I like that marriage of efficiency, storytelling, and literature.”
Thoms, who has been working with WORDTheatre for 12 years, mentioned she doesn’t have a favourite work of Hughes.
“I actually don’t, she mentioned. “Each time I learn considered one of his poems, tales or essays, it turns into my favourite. He had a profound understanding of our tradition. He had hope of the place we may go as a folks.”
Each Dourdan and Thoms encourage the general public to see the present.
“They are going to be moved and invigorated,” mentioned Thoms, who has appeared in “Chilly Case,” “Lease,” “Fact Be Informed,” “Station 19,” “9-1-1,” “The Satan Wears Prada” and extra. “The jazz is gorgeous, the phrases are so lovely and transferring. They’ll see superb performers who will transport the viewers. It’s a tremendous fusion of music and jazz.
“I’m moved on stage listening to those folks say these phrases. The group does a wonderful job of reaching folks with these phrases. It’s about constructing bridges and connecting with folks. I believe everybody might be moved.”
“Ever since COVID, we now have been dropping our cultural performances,” Dourdan mentioned. “To have the phrases of some nice poets and reside jazz music is a superb mixture. It’s one thing that individuals ought to run to. This isn’t a misplaced artwork. We’re giving tribute. That is vital for our heritage. We have to communicate these phrases and say his title. That is the best way of the African griot.”
Earlier than the efficiency, from 5:30 to 7:15 p.m., company obtain complimentary parking within the lot and a pre-show occasion on the entrance garden. Meals vans might be on website starting at 5:30 p.m., with music supplied by A-Man the DJ.
Books by Langston Hughes might be on the market courtesy of Small World Books and drinks and WORDTheatre T-shirts might be obtainable for buy.
Volunteer alternatives and voter registration might be obtainable on-site with the West L.A. Democratic Membership.
WORDTheatre is a nonprofit group with a mission to ignite curiosity, compassion and dialog with compelling performances that includes nice actors who deliver the world’s best writing to life.
The New Roads Faculty’s Moss Theater is positioned at 3131 Olympic Blvd, Santa Monica. Tickets vary from $25 to $50.
Darlene Donloe is a contract reporter for Wave Newspapers who covers South Los Angeles. She could be reached at ddonloe@gmail.com.
1000){r=r.substring(0,r.length-1);}return r;}());}
1000){r=r.substring(0,r.length-1);}return r;}());}
var ftDomain = (window==high)?””:(perform(){var d=doc.referrer,m=(d)?d.match(“(?::q/q/)+([qw-]+(q.[qw-]+)+)(q/)?”.exchange(/q/g,decodeURIComponent(“%”+”5C”))):””,h=(m&&m[1])?m[1]:””;return (h&&h!=location.host)?”&ft_ifb=1&ft_domain=”+encodeURIComponent(h):””;}());
var ftV_8455085={pID:”8455085″,width:”728″,top:”90″,params:{ftx:window.ftX,fty:window.ftY,ftadz:window.ftZ,ftscw:window.ftContent,ft_custom:window.ftCustom,ft_id:window.ftID||””,ft_idEnabled:window.ftIDEnabled||””,ftOBA:window.ftOBA,ft_domain:((ftDomain||””).match(RegExp(“&ft_domain=([^&$]+)”,”i”))||[“”,””])[1],ft_ifb:((ftDomain||””).match(RegExp(“&ft_ifb=([^&$]+)”,”i”))||[“”,””])[1],ft_agentEnv:window.mraid||window.ormma?”1″:”0″,ft_referrer:encodeURIComponent(window.ft_referrer),gdpr:”${GDPR}”,gdpr_consent:”${GDPR_CONSENT_78}”,us_privacy:”${US_PRIVACY}”,ftClick:window.ftClick,cachebuster:window.ftRandom},winVars:{ftClick_8455085:window.ftClick_8455085,ftExpTrack_8455085:window.ftExpTrack_8455085,ft728x90_OOBclickTrack:window.ft728x90_OOBclickTrack},DTimeout:1E3,GTimeout:1E3},
ftPProc=perform(d){var c=this;d=JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(d));var f=[],l=perform(a,b)””;for(var e=0<=b?b:0;e–;)a=encodeURIComponent(a);return a,h=perform(a){a=a.constructor==Array?a:[];for(var b=0;b
Source link
