Wanda's Picks Radio Show, May 28, 2014

From the Archives, Friday, May 16, 2014 we open with:

Michael Lange (director and actor, role: Hon. Elijah Muhammad) and Kreshenda Jenkins (Sister Betty X) join us to talk about Larry "Americ" Allen's The Expulsion of Malcolm X, opening March 23 at Laney College's Odell Johnson theatre in Oakland, directed by Michael Lange.

Michael Lange, actor, director and filmmaker, is best known for his portrayal as a Malcolm X delineator, having performed the fiery freedom fighter and orator’s speeches nationally on stage since early 1990. He has directed two award-winning plays, ‘Ceremonies in Dark Old Men’ (Best Play Award) and ‘The Old Settler’ (Best Director). As a playwright, he wrote the play ‘Prophet Nat’, a musical docudrama based on the life of slave-prophet Nat turner. Currently, he is on the faculty at San Jose State University, where he has taught since 1998. Lange continues to write and perform for stage and film, and lives in Oakland, California.

Kreshenda Jenkins (Sister Betty X), a thespian at heart, has always had a passion for performing arts.  She started acting on stage at the age of 15 and although she took a hiatus for some time she is back and ready to play her role as “Betty X” for a second time.

Our next guest is:

Beresford McLean, author and playwright, was born in western St. Mary, Jamaica. He attended and taught high school in Kingston. In 1970 McLean immigrated to the United States where he studied physics and subsequently worked in engineering. His current focus is writing. Broken Gourds, his first inspirational folklore, was published to great acclaim in 2003. His second novel, Providence Pond, came three years later. McLean’s third novel, Fish Hook River will be published in the spring of 2015. Beresford McLean’s foray into playwriting is his short play, First Snow. His first full length play The Good Villain will be released in fall 2014. His other unpublished works include Ode to Mali, Walking with Anancy - Book 1 (Jamaica), and Walking with Anancy Book - 2 (New York).