Wanda's Picks Friday, August 7, 2015

Take this link and spread the word about this marvelous show: http://tobtr.com/s/7831331

Thanks Dorsey Nunn, Executive Director, Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, The Brothers Size cast (Umbuntu Theatre) and Michelle Jacques, Chelle's Juke Joint, for a great show which moved between human rights for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated Americans; to The Brother's Size, a play that looks at the effects of this system on a family in a small Louisiana town, to closing with Michelle Jacques, a NOLA native, whose culture work with indigenous American-African music resonates with the rhythms and consciousness of "home" and "belonging" for those who through what Dorsey calls, "structural discrimination," might be scattered and displaced, but are not forgotten -- at least not by us, and we are mighty (smile). Michelle's music, as all art does, like Tarell McCraney, playwright, has done with the work, The Brothers Size, humanizes the experience of fraternal love and elevates it to divinity or god consciousness. If you do not know McCraney's work (MacArthur genius awardee), then Umbuntu's staging, with phenomenal direction, is a great entry to his work. This story carried by these remarkable black men, actors: Deleon Dallas (Ogun Size), Terrance White (Oshoosi Size), and William H.P. (Elegba), is awesome. Don't miss it.

Description from website:

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay!

1. Dorsey Nunn, Executive Director, Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, updates us on current issues like the voting rights act for former prisoners and a conference Sept. 20-21 in Oakland.  prisonerswithchildren.org

2. The Brothers Size Cast, Terrance White, Deleon Dallas, William H.P., Umbuntu Theatre through Aug. 22 @ Dana Meyer Auto Care, Albany, CA ubuntutheaterproject.com

3. Michelle Jacques (Street Sounds, Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir, Founder/Director of CHELLE! and Friends, La Mission Band), joins us to talk about CHELLE'S JUKE JOINT A CAPPELLA QUINTET which has a concert coming up August 26 at Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, CA. www.chellesjukejoint.com