BlackNLA - African American Los Angeles

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Lynne Conner
818.749.9695
publicity4you@yahoo.com

COLSAC
Presents The West Coast Premier of: “When It Rains...”
By Levi Frazier, Jr.
Directed by Jo’Sei Ikeda
A Story of Survival…

(Hollywood, CA) The Coleman and Smith Artistic Company is pleased to present the West Coast Premier of “WHEN IT RAINS…” by Levi Frazier, Jr., and directed by Jo’Sei Ikeda, opening Friday, October 7, 2005 and running Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 3:00 pm. through Saturday, November 12, 2005, at the Coleman and Smith Artistic Company, 6902 Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90038.

“WHEN IT RAINS…”, a play set in a Beauty Shop, The Cotillion, on Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee in 1959. The Cotillion, run by Lonnie Mae, a single mother of two, does much more than cut hair in the backroom. She also helps young girls in trouble. In an era when social, economic and racial inequities prohibit the remote possibilities, right or wrong, of a young woman having the right to choose. Lonnie Mae chooses to provide a safe method of giving troubled women’s lives a second chance. Despite obstacles, Lonnie Mae pushes forward to make her dreams a reality while she continues to perform her “services” for the community. Experience what happens one stormy fateful night, when it rains…

Director, Jo’Sei Ikeda, has been acting on stage for twenty-four years and he has been awarded for his stage direction, teleplays, cable and radio productions. He was awarded the Memphis Blue Award for best actor and he has performed in many of the premier African American plays including: Fences, The River Niger, A Raising In The Sun, and Ceremonies in Dark Old Men. Some of his works in the classics include: Sophocles, Medea, Antigone, and Macbeth; with many his television and film credits as well. He tours his one man show, “Life of The Dreamer, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” across the country. Coming to the silver screen this September you can see Jo’Sei in the film States of Graces. Determined to bring this play to life and to the west coast, coupled with a passion for “WHEN IT RAINS…”, Memphis and the issues involved and confronted in play, Jo’Sei Ikeda directs with fervor and dedication.

Levi Frazier, Jr. is a published author and widely produced playwright. His play, WHEN IT RAINS…, won first place in Chattanooga Theatre Center’s 2002 Playwriting Contest. In 1992 he was invited to produce his play with music, A Tribute to Richard Wright, in Paris, France at the Sorbonne as part of the African-Americans and Europe International Festival. In 1994 he was commissioned to write a musical for the Tennessee Bicentennial. The musical, entitled Beale Street Back Again, had its world premier at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center in June of 1996. Most recently, Mr. Frazier has become a book author with the publication of 151 Things That Happen Or Don’t Happen When You Turn 50. Mr. Frazier is co-founder and Artistic Director of the Blues City Cultural Center – Memphis’ only Black professional theatre company. Levi is an instructor of theatre and communications at Memphis State University. He was won many playwriting awards.

The cast includes Lynne Conner-Smith as Lonnie Mae, Jo’Sei Ikeda, Tommy Franklin, Freedom Williams, Romell Giddens, Christima Morris, Addriana Patti, Paris Rumford, Zechariah Mayo, Lisa Deschanel, Erica Sutherland, Cecelia Antoinette, Felice Lebair, Christina Morris, Jamie Randolph, Darley Regent, Adrian McDaniels, Stevin Love, D’Jenelle Hogan, Misha Harris, Tracy Jackson, Talia Bagnerse, Carl Crudup, and Linda Larue

Show times are: Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 3:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $20.00. For advance ticket information and to RSVP, please call 323.467.1599. Group, Student, Industry Professionals and Senior discounts available. Visit the website at www.colsac.org.

COLSAC IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

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			Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Lynne Conner 818.749.9695 publicity4you@yahoo.com COLSAC Presents The West Coast Premier of: “When It Rains...” By Levi Frazier, Jr. Directed by Jo’Sei Ikeda A Story of Survival… (Hollywood, CA) The Coleman and Smith Artistic Company is pleased to present the West Coast Premier of “WHEN IT RAINS…” by Levi Frazier, Jr., and directed by Jo’Sei Ikeda, opening Friday, October 7, 2005 and running Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 3:00 pm. through Saturday, November 12, 2005, at the Coleman and Smith Artistic Company, 6902 Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90038. “WHEN IT RAINS…”, a play set in a Beauty Shop, The Cotillion, on Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee in 1959. The Cotillion, run by Lonnie Mae, a single mother of two, does much more than cut hair in the backroom. She also helps young girls in trouble. In an era when social, economic and racial inequities prohibit the remote possibilities, right or wrong, of a young woman having the right to choose. Lonnie Mae chooses to provide a safe method of giving troubled women’s lives a second chance. Despite obstacles, Lonnie Mae pushes forward to make her dreams a reality while she continues to perform her “services” for the community. Experience what happens one stormy fateful night, when it rains… Director, Jo’Sei Ikeda, has been acting on stage for twenty-four years and he has been awarded for his stage direction, teleplays, cable and radio productions. He was awarded the Memphis Blue Award for best actor and he has performed in many of the premier African American plays including: Fences, The River Niger, A Raising In The Sun, and Ceremonies in Dark Old Men. Some of his works in the classics include: Sophocles, Medea, Antigone, and Macbeth; with many his television and film credits as well. He tours his one man show, “Life of The Dreamer, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” across the country. Coming to the silver screen this September you can see Jo’Sei in the film States of Graces. Determined to bring this play to life and to the west coast, coupled with a passion for “WHEN IT RAINS…”, Memphis and the issues involved and confronted in play, Jo’Sei Ikeda directs with fervor and dedication. Levi Frazier, Jr. is a published author and widely produced playwright. His play, WHEN IT RAINS…, won first place in Chattanooga Theatre Center’s 2002 Playwriting Contest. In 1992 he was invited to produce his play with music, A Tribute to Richard Wright, in Paris, France at the Sorbonne as part of the African-Americans and Europe International Festival. In 1994 he was commissioned to write a musical for the Tennessee Bicentennial. The musical, entitled Beale Street Back Again, had its world premier at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center in June of 1996. Most recently, Mr. Frazier has become a book author with the publication of 151 Things That Happen Or Don’t Happen When You Turn 50. Mr. Frazier is co-founder and Artistic Director of the Blues City Cultural Center – Memphis’ only Black professional theatre company. Levi is an instructor of theatre and communications at Memphis State University. He was won many playwriting awards. The cast includes Lynne Conner-Smith as Lonnie Mae, Jo’Sei Ikeda, Tommy Franklin, Freedom Williams, Romell Giddens, Christima Morris, Addriana Patti, Paris Rumford, Zechariah Mayo, Lisa Deschanel, Erica Sutherland, Cecelia Antoinette, Felice Lebair, Christina Morris, Jamie Randolph, Darley Regent, Adrian McDaniels, Stevin Love, D’Jenelle Hogan, Misha Harris, Tracy Jackson, Talia Bagnerse, Carl Crudup, and Linda Larue Show times are: Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 3:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $20.00. For advance ticket information and to RSVP, please call 323.467.1599. Group, Student, Industry Professionals and Senior discounts available. Visit the website at www.colsac.org. COLSAC IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION # # #