“The Colored Museum” Opens at Edison Theatre February 22

As part of Black History Month, the California State University Dominguez Hills Department of Theatre Arts is pleased to present George C. Wolfe’s satirical view of black life, “A Colored Museum.” The third play of the 2007-2008 season opens Feb. 22 and runs through March 2 at the Edison Theatre.

Written by playwright Wolfe in 1986, “The Colored Museum” is one of the most well-known satires on black culture. In a series of 11 vignettes, Wolfe puts African American imagery and stereotype on display as a commentary on their struggle to reconcile the past and find a true identity. As one character concludes, “I can’t live inside yesterday’s pain, but I can’t live without it.”

Wolfe is best known for his plays “Jelly’s Last Jam,” about performer Jelly Roll Morton, and the musical, “Bring in ’Da Noise, Bring in ’Da Funk.”

Bill DeLuca, CSUDH professor of theater arts, finds the play unique in African-American playwriting.

“This work is a modern symbolist morality play,” he says. “Wolfe derives his inspiration from the surrealist traditions, drawing more from Amiri Baraka (“Dutchman”) and Ntosake Shange (“For Colored Girls…”) than from the realist works of Lorraine Hansberry (“A Raisin in the Sun”) and August Wilson (“Fences”). It’s black theatre of the absurd.”

Directing the production is Jeffery Wright, a CSU Dominguez Hills alumnus (Class of ’04, B.A., theatre arts/speech) and current graduate student in the humanities program. Also working as a graduate instructor and speech coach at his alma mater, Wright says he chose Dominguez Hills because he wanted the experience of attending a small but growing university.

“As an undergraduate, the time I spent coaching the speech team and directing some of the acting classes have been the best part of my life,” he says. “I’ve met and helped some amazing students and built lasting relationships with my former professors who are now my colleagues.”

Wright decided he wanted to be an actor after he saw his brother act in the Christmas play at their elementary school. His mother enrolled him in Karamu House a nonprofit community-based arts and educational organization centered on African-American culture in Cleveland.

He has directed several shows at CSU Sacramento and the Pacific Conservatory Of The Performing Arts in Santa Maria, Calif. He has also played several leading and supporting roles in productions at these institutions, including "Macbeth," "The Dutchman," and "The Pajama Game." He played a supporting role in the CSU Dominguez Hills production of "Dinner With Friends" and makes his directorial debut on campus with "The Colored Museum."

Wright, who is writing his thesis on The Man Who Lived Underground by Richard Wright (no relation), feels that the author did a lot to shape the future of black identity and he believes “Colored Museum” contributes to that.

“Each character in this play struggles with the crisis of black identity by protecting themselves in a hostile world which views their existence as being an outsider,” Wright says, “and insulates themselves by becoming the image white America has deemed acceptable. Many African Americans have been miseducated in a sea of European designed half-truths and lies about the people, history, culture, and significance of Africa. I feel that this is important for young African Americans to remember as they try to navigate through the upper levels of academia.

“I want people to walk away from this show knowing one thing,” says Wright, "to never let any book, painting, poem or any piece of art help shape the image of who you are in a negative way. Challenge everything you read and attack it through education and not just during African History month, but every month.”

Leading the cast, who all double in various roles, are students Candice and Martina Boutte, Renea Myles, Marcus Moody, Chrisgen Whitfield, Akida Naloo, Dueal Andrews, and Erica Bailey. They are joined by alumni Phil Bray and Trenzette Mack. The stage manager is Chenaye Gaston.

Performances will take place weekends, Feb. 22, 23, 24, 29, and March 1-2, with Friday and Saturday shows at 8 p.m. and Sunday shows at 2 p.m. Individual ticket prices are $12 or $10 for students and senior citizens. Special group rates are available for groups of 10 or more. Tickets may be purchased by calling (310) 243-3589. Online ordering is also available at www.zaptix.com (browse “California”).

- Amy Bentley-Smith and Joanie Harmon