Award-winning CSU Dominguez Hills Black Theatre Program Opens “Jitney” October 16

The California State University, Dominguez Hills Department of Theatre and Dance is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of its nationally recognized Black Theatre Program with an alumni-based production of August Wilson’s “Jitney” under the direction of Donis Leonard, associate professor of theatre arts. The play runs October 16, 17, 23, 24 at 8 p.m. and October 18 and 25 at 2 p.m. at the University Theatre.

Take a funky ’70s ride in a ramshackle taxi depot in the Hill District of Pittsburgh. Here, the middle-aged men who drive unlicensed gypsy cabs, or “jitneys,” strive to find honor and accomplishment amidst a landscape of diminishing opportunity. The station owner, Booster, struggles with the prospect of being closed down by the city, along with the return of his estranged son who has spent 20 years in prison, which unleashes two decades of brutal, raw emotion.

August Wilson stands among other great African American artists who hail from Pittsburgh’s Hill District, such as Lena Horne, Billy Eckstine, Erroll Garner, and Art Blakely.

“Wilson is the greatest black playwright in American history,” says Leonard, who has cast eight CSUDH theatre alumni out of the nine cast members for this production of “Jitney.” “I brought back alums for ‘Jitney’ to showcase their talent and to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Black Theatre Program here at CSUDH.”

Alumni “Jitney” cast members are Shonni Albritton (Rena), Phil Bray (Doub), Myron Campbell (Fielding), Vince Conard (Turnbo), Rahmon Ford (Shealy), Darryl McKellar (Booster), and Robin White (Philmore). Senior theatre major Skylar Brown plays Youngblood and guest artist Greg Thompson plays Becker.

During the 2009 National Black Theatre Festival held in North Carolina in August, the CSUDH Department of Theatre Arts Black Theatre Program was awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award for its presentation of "The Heiress," recognizing it as one of the nation’s premiere collegiate theatre arts programs.

For ticket information please call the Box Office at (310) 243-3589. Tickets are available at the door. General admission tickets are $12 and $10 for students with I.D.

For more information about the CSUDH Black Theatre Program and “Jitney,” e-mail dleonard@csudh.edu or call 310.243.2847.

- Laura Perdew