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Karamu House Inc. Announces the Beginning of the 16th Annual R. Joyce Whitley Arenafest: Festival of New Play Readings The Year of the female Griot *ADMISSION FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Ms. Lady Lincoln by Naomi Brown This challenging period piece set in 1940s Mississippi follows one woman’s search for identity and answers to the one fundamental question. Who am I? Set against the backdrop of the past, this piece mirrors the struggle of woman to find a place in a sometimes hostile world. Monday January 7th, 6pm January 14th, 8pm Not My Father By Joyce Andrea Sampson This terrific family drama addresses issues of loss, grief and forgiveness. Washington D.C. playwright, Joyce Andrea Sampson, pens an explosive narrative on how a dysfunctional family can sometimes pull together in times of crisis and find the courage to love one another. Monday January 7th, 8pm January 14th, 6pm Conner’s Boy By Zetta Elliot This domestic drama explores the social and racial politics that occur when an African American man named Conner kills himself and leaves behind a son. Soon a custody battle ensues leaving "Connor’s boy" trapped between Connor’s African American fiancee and the white family that raised Connor. Thursday January 10th, 6pm January 17th, 6pm Hurting Starr By Ameena Brown This engrossing heart rending drama follows the plight of Starr, a young girl who, due to the death of her grandparents who were raising her finds herself back with her mentally unstable mother. Refusing to properly medicate herself, the mother spirals down a tragic path of drug addiction. Starr attempts to find the strength to persevere through mental and physical abuse. Tuesday January 8th, 8pm January 15th, 6pm All Over By Jamie Brunson This fascinating romp alternates between drama and comedy and follows the adventures of Clive a newly discharged Gulf War veteran. Upon his release from the armed services Clive finds himself up to his ears in trouble and winds up in purgatory. This wonderful piece explores Clive’s desperate attempt to escape purgatory and get back to the arms of East, his lady love. Wednesday January 9th, 6pm January 16th, 8pm The Heart of God By Joan Wheeler This poignant piece explores one man’s loss of faith and the journey he must take to re-strengthen the beliefs given to him by his beloved mother. Thursday January 10th, 6pm That Word By Henry Miller This comic curtain raiser deals with America’s pre-occupations with the word Nigger and the social impact of the word in the African American Theater. Thursday January 17th, 6pm Summer Night and Fireflies By Bianca Samms This wonderfully delightful piece centers on the story of Zandra, a young woman who is struggling to get over a hurtful past. In love with Sean, the best man she has ever known, Zandra must discover a away move-on and accept love. Set in an East Texas bar in the ‘80s this atmospheric piece is quietly surprising and uplifting. Tuesday January 8th, 6pm January 15th, 8pm Ride the Rustling Wheat By Francesca Sanders This engrossing drama follows the story of Laurie, a young idealistic African American professor who lands her first job in a small Kansas University. Soon this dream job as a botany professor turns out to be a nightmare, as she realizes that she has been deceived by her department chairman, who secretly intends to force her to teach African American history because she is black. Laurie is thrown into a tailspin and soon visited by ghosts from the past who teach her the value of her people and her culture. Friday January 11th, 6pm January 18th, 6pm *All 8pm show times are tentative and may be briefly pre-empted by earlier performance. Share life as it happens with the new Windows Live. Start sharing! |