Smith returns to the stage with Frederick Douglass Now, which he began the development of as an undergraduate at Occidental College and has since played to international acclaim. “Theater has the unique ability to force us to grapple with our past while reimagining our future, and I’m incredibly grateful to Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association for partnering with us to share Frederick Douglass’ invaluable words and Roger’s work bringing them to life.” I am honored to partner with him as we create a direct line from the historic tabernacle on Martha’s Vineyard to the August Wilson African American Cultural Center by sharing his work with both communities, and to further expand our programming next season,” said AWAACC President and CEO Janis Burley Wilson. ![]() “Roger Guenveur Smith is a prolific writer and performer, and ever since his performance of Juan and John at the Center, we’ve had a strong desire to build an ongoing relationship with him. The partnership will bring thought-provoking works and artists to the Center, one of the largest non-profit cultural organizations in the country focused exclusively on the African American experience and the arts of the African diaspora. Tickets for Frederick Douglass Now at the Tabernacle are available now at Furthering the ongoing artistic relationship between Smith and the Center, AWAACC announces that with Smith joins AWAACC as the first-ever guest theater curator for the 2022-23 season. Smith’s work, inspired by the life and legacy of pioneering abolitionist and feminist, marks his long-awaited return to the stage and the first time he has performed the work on a site where Frederick Douglass himself spoke 145 years ago. Kicking off with a performance of Smith’s acclaimed solo show, Frederick Douglass Now, presented in partnership with the Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association on Saturday, August 21 at 7:00pm ET, the one-night-only event takes place at Tabernacle in Oak Bluffs, a National Historic Landmark on Martha’s Vineyard. Pittsburgh, PA – J– The August Wilson African American Cultural Center (AWAACC) announces today live, in-person performances and an ongoing artistic partnership with Obie Award-winning playwright, actor, and educator, Roger Guenveur Smith. Smith also joins August Wilson African American Cultural Center as Guest Theater Curator for 2022-23 season And we have to work it out beyond that.Live, one-night-only Performance takes place at the Tabernacle in Oak Bluffs, where Frederick Douglass spoke 145 years ago I can't breathe.' And that becomes the new mantra of America. I have to quote somebody else and I say, 'I can't breathe. We can work it out.' But then at the end of that speech, the remix of that speech. We're all stuck here for a while so let's work it out. We can get along, we just have to work it out. Rodney King asked the question, 'Can we all get along?' And he answers his question at the end of that speech and those of us who want to listen can listen and we can hear him say, 'Yes, we can. ![]() Again, I would hope that this work would re-engage us in the very fundamental function of human civilization. Tragically it has given those who would perpetrate violence and opportunity to expose it to the world in even more of a perverse way than they would have previous to the invention of the technology. Now, has that in some way affected the pervasive nature of violence in this world? No it has not. We are now struggling with the ability to document violence instantaneously. I'd like the audience to look beyond the screen, beyond the soundbite to try to recognize and embrace the humanity of, not just Rodney King, but all of these people who have emerged through our television screens and now through our smart phones. I call Rodney King the first reality TV star.
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