Incognito The Play

2008

March 25, 2008

Jersey City, NJ - I am currently in residence at an arts high school, recruiting potential students for the National High School Institute of which I have been on faculty for the past 4 years. I was here last year as part of this recruitment program and performed my show at that time. These are a great bunch of theatre students - eager, focused, and hungry to learn more.

As I gear up for the show on April 4th at the Holy Name Cathedral for the Archdiocese of Chicago to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, I find some strange inconsistencies with our Media forces.

Since the BIG speech on Race delivered by Senator Obama just two weeks ago, the media has plastered the print and airwaves with all kinds of mixed messages. There are of course those who thought the speech was very special - nothing like we've seen from a politician in a very long time! Then there are those in the...shall I call it...asleep-at-the-wheel camp who will only hear what they want; "He shoudl have disavowed his pastor.", "It wasn't strong enough.", "He can't be trusted.", "Typical politician.", or my favorite, "What race problem?" Yes, I actually read this yesterday in of all places, The New York Times! If you consider William Kristol an actual journalist, or just want to get yourself really pissed off, I suggest you seek out this column and read for yourself what the ignorant WHITE (Privilage) MAN had to say. This - HE - is the reason our country is sliding further and further into the abyss. What would it take for a person, a human being, to acknowledge there is a problem and to work to find a way to solve it? Why the denial? What kind of pain, inconvenience, or discomfort would acknowledement of this problem cause to these people's lives?

BUT, here is another troubling thing I have noticed; since Obama's speech there has been a great deal of renewed calls to have the discussions about race that the Senator spoke of. Many newspapers are writing article after article challenging their readership. The Chicago Tribune is certainly one of those and they have written several articles in the past few days (although, I did swear off reading this particular rag after their last endorsement of Bush. Shouldn't a paper reflect the community in which it is published?!?@#!?). I have written to several of the columnists/journalists urging them to back up their words by attending my show on the 4th and participating in the very dialogue their articles suggest. Not a peep out of any of them. Even CNN who came and did a piece on me and my show back in August and was set to run it along with a live interview with me - but didn't, is so much more concerned with election name calling, political sex scandals, or celebrity "news ". All these journalists who profess a desire to start a dialogue aren't even willing to make the first step themselves...talk to people who are out there stirring up conversation on race, identity, and stereotypes every day!

Kristol would have you believe that no one wants to talk about race. More "Liberal" journalists suggest they all want to talk about race. As far as I can tell, they are not much different then what we accuse our politician's of; All talk, and no action!

March 16, 2008

Seems like I have a very dificult time writing with any kind of consisitency on this TOUR BLOG! I've been all over the country - and the Bahama's too! - and experienced some incredible shows and discussions following. When I haven't been performing, or traveling about, I've been writing feverishly in a major effort to finish the last chapters of the memoir which is scheduled to be published late this year / early next, but won't if I don't get the manuscript done. It feels like just when I think I am wrapping up the last chapter, I find I have to include another, or there is an additional story that needs to be told. Maddening, but also reassuring as I find I am really examining a great deal about race, identity, and what it means to be an "American". Hopefully it will be as fascinating as the show has been for audiences to watch.

The Bahama's was amazing. I performed the show twice on the island of Abaco, once in a church of mostly black Bahamian's, and once at a private school which for most of it's existence has been primarily white but currently boasts a 70/30 white to black make-up. Both shows were really well received and if I can find a moment of spare time (!), I plan to post photos, comments, and hopefully video. The church videotaped the show and Q & A session which was amazing. Probably about 100 - 150 people there with kids (no "babysitter's" on the islands!), and mostly black. There is an odd and disturbing kind of racism going on here in that Haitian's escaping strife on their island have come to Abaco seeking shelter and are looked down upon by the Bahamian's. Many adults and children in attendance that night came up to me afterward thanking me profusely for engaging folks in thought and dialogue.

The show at the private school was performed outdoors under an overhang on a tiny stage in front of about 130 high school kids. There were many mixed race kids in attendence and it seemed like they all came up to me after the show to tell me how much the show resonated with them. The students really responded well to it and engaed in some very lively dialogue about the origins of race, and why people are sometimes judged by color. I also spoke and performed bits of the show at a local public grade school for 5th & 6th grades. They were extrememly enthusiastic and all crowded around me afterward! All in all, a great trip, lovely people, stirring discussions, and new friends! A HUGE thanks to my dear friends Zef & Oona for hosting me! It looks as if I have an invite to return and perform again next year!!!

I've been all over performing the show and trying to get a grasp on what is happening in our country as well with the ongoing presidential compaign. So many wild swings with racially charged emotions flying back and forth. The Geraldine Ferraro situation, Senator Obama's recent condemnation of his pastor's use of inflamatory remarks, and of course the still swirling utterly false and hateful rumours claiming Sen. Obama is a Muslem. (Did anyone catch Sen. Clinton's halfhearted denial/revial of this issue? On 60 minutes when asked about whether she thought Sen. Obama was a practicing Muslem, she responded by saying "No, no, not at all...." then adding, "at least not as far as I know." Doesn't that sound just slightly passive-aggressive. In other words, I don't think he is, but maybe.....! At least Sen. McCain denounced the minister who introduced him at a rally for continuing to use Sen. Obama's middle name - Hussen - repeatedly, calling it a deplorable way to insight fear in people.)

A show in Seattle at the Lakeside School was followed by one of THE most lively discussions yet. So many of the students had been moved to ponder deep questions of both race and identity. One white student began to pose a question regarding the dificulties of understanding how to recognize race when he stopped himself and suggested that he didn't want to come off as sounding racist. I immediately stopped him before he had a chance to finish his question as this is one of the main issues in discussing race in a mixed group. Whites are so afraid and careful not to sound racist, or say something emabarassing, or politically incorrect, that the discussions can become stilted. Sometimes blacks can be so overly sensitive that the simpliest suggestion of race can set them off. What if instead both parties came to the table prepared to meet somewhere in the middle? In otherwords, if a white member were to speak freely & honestly in a mixed setting and were to actually utter something that sounded remotely racial, perhaps the blacks in the audience could instead of jumping to arms, call it out, and both sides could dissect the offending language. This way whites could perhaps see how racisim is so deeply rooted under the fabric of our society and language (re: Joe Biden's comment about Barack Obama, "He's very clean and articulate"). And blacks could instead of becoming inflamed, begin to understand that it takes a great deal of effort and understanding to change 200 years of language.

I don't know...just a thought...

February 6, 2008

Whew!!! Been awfully long time since I caught up with the old blog here and all I can say is I've been one busy touring one-man band. I've literally been on the road for the past four weeks and it's all I can do to just get from one town to the next, perform the show, connect with people, take care of travel & housing accommodations, as well as keep up with the business aspects of my touring! It's a bit crazy, but I love presenting the show! I've had some really interesting performances and discussions all over the place.

In Houston several weeks back, I presented the show at the High School of the Visual & Performing Arts. The extremely racial diverse audience of talented arts focused students were comepletely blown away by the show and the response was quite rousing. Several times during the performance I had to stop and wait for them to calm down as their reactions to things like the "identity dance" (clever title, eh?), and the description of my granny's soul food (I actually broke and cracked up from their response!), were so enthusiastic!!

Shows in Milwaukee, through out Pennsylvania, Newburgh & New Paltz NY, and Nashville were equally well received. In Nashville the University School of Nashville - a private HS - lept to their feet at the end of the show in spontaneous applause!

I'm down south now in Georgia, I had some very interesting response from an African-American woman who thought I would have had the same opportunities had I been raised with my black family as I did with my white upbringing. This brought most of the rest of the African-American audience to strongly disagree with her as they all felt life is defined by race & color. It got to be quite a contentious disagreement and I stepped in by saying this is the very reason I am presenting the show as there are so many differing opinions and views on race from all sides of the table.

Next week I take the show out of the country for the first time and I think it should be quite interesting as I visit the islands of the Bahama's.

2007

December 13, 2008

First off, I don't know if anyone ever reads these things...BLOGS! I mean, really, who cares what I have to say? Or what anyone has to say for that matter? Speaking of not listening.....!!!! I've been reading the NYTImes online for weeks and I can't get over the amount of ridiculous CRAP that goes on in our nation's capital under the guise of "Our Representatives"! It's like they do nothing there! I mean really...what have they done to really help you and I? No health insurnace, bad schools (I've been to plenty!), no energy policy (we waste SO much energy under the guise of "that's what the people want"!), and how 'bout that war in Iraq???????? We're spending BILLIONS for what actually?? Our freedom? What freedom? What way of life are we protecting? Why are we wasting so much money??? Who is representing who?

Whew! That rant made me feel a whole heck of a lot better - how 'bout you??

Anyway...I've been on the raod a bit and haven't really reported in here much. Trying desperately to finish the book, so all my writing juices are going to that these days! However, I did have some great shows in Cleveland & Findlay Ohio recently, and a great talk in Cedar Rapids Iowa, along with a terrific show at the Latin School here in Chicago. Something I wondered the other day....When you speak to a stranger on the phone, do you automatically make a mental image of what they look like based on how they sound? Or even their name? You know you do! We all do it! But imagine this, suppose you speak to someone and when you meet them, they are not the COLOR you thought they might be? How does that affect you? For instance, I'd been dealing with a woman who represented Findlay University and her name was Sharinda. We spoke on the phone and she actually sounded like she may have had a bit of a black dialect...however when I met her, she was as white as white can be!! I was kinda taken aback, but then, I'm not who most people think I am either!! I'm sure I can recall other times this has happened as well. And, since I can talk a pretty frighteningly real black dialect, what would that mean if you spoke with me on the phone - I spoke using a thick black dialect - and when you met me...well, you see I am white...BUT, I'm not, you see?!

I had such a big response from audiences the past few shows - I mean ridiculously crazy!! The upper school students at Orange High School in Beachwood (just outside of Cleveland) went absolutely bonkers!! It was a very diverse group and they dug the show a great deal. Kids were shouting out during crazy moments, like when I did the James Brown dance, they went NUTS! One black girl stood up shouting and raised her fist "YAH!!". And when I talked about the soul food, I actually had to stop and wait for them to calm down! At the evening performance with community and parents it was pretty similar. People went Crazy for the piece! There is much talk of me returning to the area to several other schools and perhaps even a theater....

I spoke at Coe College in Cedar Rapids for an ISSUES DINNER and it was a terrific group. They were completely mesmerized by the 20 minute talk and the conversations afterward I'm told were stunning. I've been invited back to campus to perform the entire show in the next quarter.

Getting geared up for a big tour schedule this winter. Beginning mid-January I won't stop moving until the beginning of March!! Some days I'll be doing two different cities! Should be a great stretch of shows. AND, right in the middle of Feb - coldest month here in Chicago! - I am going to the Bahama's to perform the show!!! Very cool stuff.

November 19, 2007

Been furiously busy trying to finish writing the book so I've neglected following up with performance reports here over the past two trips. The first was a trip to Cape May, NJ and the Flying Solo Festival at Cape May Stage - 11/1 - 11/4. A lovely coastal resort town at the southern tip of NJ. Cape May was a three performance gig which was absolutely enchanting! The town, the people, the theater, the run, everything was terrific! The audiences were extremely engaged and the talkbacks quite involved. Unfortunately none of the African-American population turned out for the shows which was the only disappointment over the course of the 4 days there.

Last week I was the featured speaker/performer for the Homwood Flossmoor High School retreat in Frankfort, IL. Approx. 170 students seated on the floor of a lodge-like building sat mesmorized for an hour then rose to their feet in a standing ovation following the performance. There was just time for a short 10 minute Q & A following, but the students werre so engaged and the discussion got into areas of identity and race almost immediately. It was an extremely diverse audience and several students of color approached me afterward to thank me. One caucassion boy approached me, telling me how inspirational the story was simply on the level of overcoming great difficulties in one's life. He himself was living with a brain tumor having just been through a round of chemo and found my story to be a great motivator for him.

It is these kinds of comments and thanks which keep me going out on the road. I know the show deals with complicated issues of race & identity, but to hear about how it inspires young people (and old) in ways that I never dreamed is such an honor. I am always amazed by the wide variety of response the show draws and how it touches people on so many different levels. Something I never could have imagined when I first set out!

October 16, 2007

Last week I performed my show at the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO. This city is the birthplace of my grandfather, Roy A. Woods and although there is no family left that I know of on his side of the family, it was an honor to be on that campus, in that city. It was here at the U of Mizzou that my grandfather could not attend school because he was black. He wound up at the all black school in Jefferson City, Lincoln University (more on this later). He along with my great uncle's, Charles Anderson, and Harry L. Johnson (married to my grandmother's sisters) set forth on what would become highly decorated careers having been shunned by the all-white big state school. This has of course changed now and there were many blacks in attendance at the show last Wednesday evening.

Once again it was a very responsive audience concluding with a standing ovation and an extremely thoughtful Q & A session. Several questions were aimed at the current state of racial affairs in our country. We discussed the fact of Senator Obama's candidacy in such a highly charged and polarized country. We also discussed the difference in opportunities both then and now.

I followed this with a trip back to Kansas City where I performed the show at Center High School for a group of about 250 predominately black students. The "surprise" (finding out my father is black) was quite a pleasant shock to to the audience. The students' restlessness from time to time was tempered by moments of absolute silence during the deeply emotional portions of the play. And, as is usual after most high school shows, the applause begins slowly, and eventually leads to standing. Many teachers remarked how amazingly attentive their students were for such a long assembly - a testiment to the power of the story and performance.

During the Q & A after the Mizzou show, an African-American woman approached the microphone (they had set up two at the base of each isle), and carrying a card in her hand, said she would like to ask two questions. I joked that she needed to write the questions down to remember them, but she shot back, "No, this is something for you. I'm the head librarian at Lincoln University and have brought a group from Jeff City. We're wondering why you don't come to our school? You mentioned your family is from there and I think it would be important for you to perform this on our campus." She later wrote me; "It was an honor to meet you and hear your presentation. I believe young people today need the message you bring more than ever. Racism is alive and well and we must attack it with everything we have. Keep doing your work, you are making a difference, changing things for the better, one show at a time. Your ancestors will be so happy to look down and see you at their alma mater, LU, the Harvard of the midwest back in their day."

October 7, 2007

Back in Chicago after a highly successful presentation of the show at the ProARTS Collective's Black Arts Movement Performing Arts Festival in Austin, Texas. The show was completely sold out, as a matter of fact, over sold! We wound up putting about ten student audience members on the sides of the stage both right & left. I had been asked to teach a couple acting classes at the Austin Community College the two days prior to the show and many of these students were invited to attend. Since the show had been sold out, I suggested we make room for them on the sides of the stage. There was also a group of about 50 students from a local high school in attendance as dear old friends of mine from my early theater days in Chicago who now live in Austin, got their daughter's teacher interested in the presentation. He put together a group of students which kept growing over the days leading up to the show.

The show itself went very well; theaudience was with me the entire way - lots of big laughs, and dead silence during the emotional moments. It's always great to play in front of a primarily black audience as they tend to be much more "involved" in the show - talking back to me on stage, answering the questions I pose to the audience, and shouting out things of approval. During one speech, I remark about how "the table in front of my grandparents blue naugahide sofa is piled high with back issues of..." And, as I paused gazing at the imaginary table with shock, slowly look up to the audience, then begin to describe what is on the table, before I could even get the words out, someone from the audience shouts out, "Jet magazine!". I couln't contain my onstage laughter and used it in reference to their revelation with a joyful exhuberance. The description of the soul-food dinner my grandmother prepares nearly brought the house down! And, near the end of the show when I ask, "Do I need a "box" to fit in?", an audience member shouts out, "HELL NO!". My curtain call was met with a thunderous standing ovation...it was a wonderful experience.

The Q & A was equally overwhelming! From the first questions on..... A woman stood and asked how was it the Brit (my former girlfriend Jo) didn't know I was black....perhaps indicating some kind of black male sexual prowess.... I didn't know how to answer and the audience and we all had a good laugh over that beginning! One woman posed; since I now had experience in both black & whote cultures, why is it that white people despise blacks? This drew a great deal of vocal approval from many black members of the audience. I immediately mentioned that I am not the biracial spokesperson - which also drew applause - and that I am simply a guy with a story, trying to share that story in order to provoke deep discussions about race that otherwise might never be happen. I also suggested that not all people have the same "experience" and that there is no ONE black experience (again applause). A white gentleman suggested that there was no ONE white experience either - to which I agreed. However a black woman addressing that particular response said, "The problem is that when blacks are viewed in our society, they tend to get painted with one brush no matter whether they are lighter, darker, well-dressed, or not. While whites are viewed with many different brush strokes. This really hit it on the head for many in the audience.

Afterward during the reception, so many folks came up to me complimenting me on my amazing ability to create each distinctive character, the beautiful writing of the intriguing story, and the wonderful way in which the show opens the door on so many important discussions. Several folks asked me to come back to town and perform the show again - including a woman who wanted to talk to folks at several schools in the area about that possibility. Overall, it was a wonderful experience, from the terrific folks who run the festival, to the wonderfully inquisitive audience.

September 20, 2007

FREE THE JENA 6! Enough is Enough! For those of you who have been following this barely written about story, today was the national protest day in Jena, Louisiana - a small town of about 3000 - 3500 (depending upon which news source you read) with African-American's representing about a tenth of the population. The item has rarely reached the Press' long and probing fingers so many people have not heard a peep about this - what I will call - defining moment in race relations post 9/11. Believe it or not but I doubt Katrina has raised such a furor amongst people of color. This is just my opinion of course, but Katrina seemed to be about the Bush administration's ineptitude (ongoing both in New Orleans & Iraq - don't get me started!), not so much our entire country's denial of racism.

I could go into a long winded recitation of the particulars of the case, however after following the story for a few months myself, and recently scaning the web for various descriptions of what happened, I am completely shocked by the lack of coherency and consistancy in reporting. The difference in details from one news report to the next is astonishing. I MEAN ASTONISHING!! Where one news source will describe an extremely improtant detail, another will leave that same detail out of their report entirely. It makes one wonder about all the news we read. How do we get to the truth? Why are reporters soooooooooo lazy? What does it take to get all the details and fully report a STORY? Seriously, I am truly stunned by the lack integrity in news reporting. Especially when you scan reader's comments on news stories and realize they are forming judgments on vitally important issues with critical facts mysteriously missing. This from trusted and world renown news sources such as The New York Times!

I just finished reading what they call the LEDE - a section of breaking news stories which also allow readers to post comments. The "lead" - opening sentences of a story, aka lede - was so fragmented and disjointed, it was hard to make sense of the entire story and I had already read so much about it. This LEDE was devoted to the national protests happening in Jena and the thousands of people who had congregated there to bring awareness of the inequity of justice being practiced in this case. However, the posts were numbing, shockingly blunt. So many were extremely racially bias and seeped in such unconcious White Privilage, it was difficult for me to read on. One in particular which absolutely stopped me in my tracks read; "As in the 1960's, outside troublemakers and agitators are seeking confrontation." This comment was not as mean and racially worded as others amongst the posts, but the spirit of it's sentiments sent a chill through me. "Trouble makers and agitators seeking confrontation"?! To suggest in the 1960's when African-American's literally had next to no rights; were force to ride in the back of buses, drink from different fountains, eat at different counters, act subservient to whites, and those who protested that treatment were "trouble makers" and "agitators" is beyond comprehension. It is exactly why I continue with great passion to tour my show. WE MUST TALK ABOUT RACE. It is imperative. So many people, such as the one I just quoted, and the dozens of others who wrote mind-numbing racist blather calling for "blacks to stop whining", or wrote about the "meaningless nooses", need to hear the message and discuss the problem in a real way.

September 18, 2007

The Columbia College presentation was once again a sure-fire hit. Great response to the show, lots of intelligent questions following the performance, and many students - as well as faculty approached me after the show to offer their thanks and appreciation. Between the show and the workshop I hung out in the Multicultural Center on campus and engaged in some spirited dialogue with students and faculty. Questions about "ownership" of one's experience, culture, and artistic expression were discussed along with my own family experience. Does a particular culture have exclusive rights to itself? Is it disrespectful, disingenuous, or theft for someone of another culture to desire to possess things/ways of another culture? How does one navigate and show respect to another culture? If one accepts the theory of "white privilage" as being fact, what can be done to balance the tables? And this was just the tip of the iceberg....!

The workshop started slowly - I had to relate the show as many had not seen it earlier - but once we got going, things got very spirited. I lead the group through the concept of stereotypes & categories, starting with music, and moving on to people. By the end, students were shouting out solutions to the problem of the harmful use of continued stereotyping. I spoke with several students afterward at length about their own experiences & encouraged them to use their art as a weapon against hate and racial-profiling.

Several faculty members expressed a desire to tell their fellow colleagues at other institutions about the show/program. Please...Help spread the word! I am determined to get this out into as many campus', theaters, and performing arts centers as possible in order to engage audiences in meaningful dialogue about race & identity in America and beyond! THANK YOU!

September 15, 2007

Fresh off another show - Elmhurst College, Elmhurst, IL. Sold-out, standing ovation, great Q & A, many students and members of the community in attendance. Several members of the staff spoke with me about the possibility of bringing the show back again next year. Very few African-American's in the audience. Don't know if it is because there are few at this school (which is probably the case), or just not many interested in the show. I am learning more and more about how to navigate discussions after the show - what kinds of things to discuss, how to bring them to the forefront, where to draw the line on facts versus opinions, and how to better engage both blacks & whites in the discourse. Monday the 17th I am at Columbia College in downtown Chicago and will be presenting a workshop along with the show. Should be an interesting crowd, discussion, and session.

Still no word from CNN on the possible air date for the 3 minute piece they put together on me & the show three weeks ago. They had expressed an interest in interviewing me live after the piece aired - which would be terrific - but it keeps getting pushed and I've not heard back from anyone in over a week now! CNN? Are you out there?? Wanna talk about race?!

September 7, 2007

Back once again from presenting a show at Lincoln College in Lincoln, IL - a small liberal-arts college smack-in-da-middle of Illinois! The trip there - which should have taken no more than 3 hours by car - took 4 hours due to terrible traffic leaving Chicago and bad weather. The moment I raced into Lincoln, a vicious storm hit with blowing rain and high winds. It took everything I had just to be able to see the road and to find the school. I hurried in just 20 minutes prior to the 8PM presentation time and was greeted by staff and a few students. Unfortunately, there was no real audience assembling due to the heavy rainfall (and subsequent tornado sighting!) The Student Activities Coordinator, John, roamed the halls and pulled in 5 kids - all African-American - literally begging them to watch.... AND, boy did they love it! They absolutely ate the show up - commenting throughout as I explored my AA family and roots! Afterward they had all kinds of questions about family and friends, reactions, and rejections. As they left, they each thanked John for making them attend. John, along with the Theatre Dept. Chair, and tech crew, LOVED the show and want to bring me back next year. Overall a weird circumstance of weather, but a much appreciative audience.

John mentioned how they have seen a sharp increase in African-American students over the past few years. He's not sure what to attribute it to, but finds it interesting that a small, mostly white town in the middle of farmland-white-Americanna has suddenly attracted many more inner-city kids. He thinks it's great for the community, but the school itself struggles with trying to make it a home for the students of color. Some extra-curricular groups still do not have sponsors and lack administrative support.

Another thing John and I discussed quite a bit are the difficulties he has as the Student Activities Director to get students to attend events. He said he's been doing this for 6 years and each year he has experienced increasing difficulties getting students to come out to shows. He finds it extremely discouraging especially when presenting high quality shows - such as mine.

September 4, 2007

Just arrived back in Chicago from a show date in Rock Island, IL at Augustana College - a small Lutheran-based liberal-arts college located in the "Quad" Cities on the border with Iowa. I performed two shows back-to-back, a gueling way to present the piece. There was a short Q & A following each performance and these proved once again to be quite insightful. I presented a "new" version of the show - an edited 50-some minute version which should play nicely in schools conforming to the standard one-hour assembly time availability. Both shows had approx. 350 to 400 students per session in a large and wide assembly space with good amplification. The audience was generally quiet throughout both performances - not much laughter, albeit in the very humorous spots. Initially I found myself working harder - this due to the therory of solo performance where the performer gets energy from his audience, and less energy coming back pushes the performer to work harder. However, that being said, I found them to be absolutely still in the very intense & quiet moments of the show. You could hear the perverbial pin drop during several moments - meaning, they were completely with me the entire way!

Afterward, questions ranged from "What box do I check?", to "How did your families reacte to seeing the show?", to "Can you comment on the DNA project which has shown that many light-skinned Americans have been found to have African ancestry?" The questions were thoughtful and the discussion spirited. Several students & advisors - both black (although few in number here) and white approached me afterward thanking me for the presentation.

After the second presetnation, the students were required to attend group discussion sessions with their student leaders and faculty advisors. They had asked for study gudie materials - which they were able to pull off my website (these need to be revised urgently as they were done years ago and do not reflect my more recent discoveries through audience participation). I can only hope these session were spirited and lively.

Meanwhile CNN called again and requested my availability for the week. I told them Wed. & Friday, as Thursday I have a show at Lincoln College in Lincoln, IL. They tell me they will call today with a date. The good news is, they remain very interested in doing a live interview along with the 3 minute piece!

August 31, 2007

A representative from CNN called yesterday and told me they were going to go ahead with the three minute piece they had composed about me & the play and air it on the show, "Out In THe Open", 7PM CST. They also wanted me to be available to do a live on-air interview after the piece ran. Then this morning just before noon, they called to tell me the piece had been bumped due to the nature of the breaking news surrounding the Republican Senator from Idaho, Larry E. Craig, who had been arrested and pled guilty to a sexual misconduct charge stemming from an altercation in a bathroom at the Minneapolis airport back in June. Apparently he propositioned an undercover officer from the stall next to his. He claims it never happened but pled guilty to make the charges go away quickly! This from a guy who for years has been beating the drum for family values (aka - anti-gay, anti same-sex marriage)! Isn't it always the ones who pound the drum loudest, that turn out to be the biggest hypocrites? In his statement to the press, he thanked every one for "coming out"?! And they are gonna run this on a show called, "Out in the Open"?!! You can't make this stuff up!!! Unless you're "The Onion".

SO...as I like to say...I blame it on the Republican's!!

The piece AND interview has been pushed to Monday or Tuesday they tell me. It took me an hour just to call and e-mail all the folks I had already told about the change in schedule, but it's certainly worth it!

Yesterday while discussing my pending appearance on CNN, the father who raised me (rather than "step-father"!) mentioned how he thought it was interesting that Mr. Obama is referred to as a black man, although he has a white mother & a black father. Yet I am referred to as a white man and I have a white mother & a black father. What is the difference? Skin color yes...but? As I pointed out to him (John Fosberg), why is Mr. Obama getting flack from some in the African-American community about not being black enough to run for president, when last I checked he is certainly blacker that the guy who currently holds that office, AND all those who are crazy enough to seek it. Would I be considered not white enough if I were to run?

August 30, 2007

So...I embarked on a "Blog" several months ago and I've yet to make an entry! This is new for me - not the "journaling" concept, but the "write about what you do" concept...consistantly. So bare with me, those of you who are actually bothering to read, and I will try and navigate the racial divide, one show at a time!

Two days ago I presented the show in a one-night only special performance at Chicago's prestigious Victory Gardens Theatre in the old Biograph movie theatre space. (It is a lovely remodel with 300 plush seats!) The show was taped by Number 8, the film company which for the past six months has been slowly crafting a documentary about my life & play. In Chicago it can be difficult to draw attention to, and get audiences for, a one-night only type theatre event, especially one with a non-national name (me!). We did however attract a good deal of media attention (thanks to the VG PR wiz, Jay Kelley!) and did pretty well on the audience size with slightly over 170 in attendance I'm told. I participated in interviews with The Pioneer Press newspapers, as well as on WVON (Voice of the Negro as it was originally conceived!) with Roland Martin, and WMAQ-NBC with LeeAnn Trotter. I enjoyed each one very much, and each reporter in their own way helped stir up the "racial pot" while relating the story of my life/play.

The show went fabulously! Great audience reaction - lots of laughter, dead-silent moments, gasps, and a standing ovation! As always I facilitated a Q & A following the performance which was profoundly engaging and lively. Since the audience was comprised of a very diverse cross-section of people, we had a wide variety of response and questions to the material and issues the play presents. I'd have to say it was one of the most engaging dialogues I've yet to provoke with the show. In addition to some very thoughtful questions (those in a moment), there were some strong and, at least from my perspective, very painful comments shared. An older African-American gentleman expressed his beliefs about how the government uses race & economics to suppress people. An African-American woman, couching her comments as questions, expressed powerful views about the difference in socioeconomic realities between my discovered prominent African-American family and those of less fortunate means. Another light-skin "brother" posed the hypothetical; what if I'd discovered my family/father was of working-class means?

In my own way I tried to allow everyone the time, place, and opportunity to express their opinions, since in a way I guess I had just done so for 75 minutes - although I would beg to differ, as what I think I am presenting is more of a life story, less a manifesto on race/stereotypes/identity. I certainly pose many questions throughout the show, and at times try to skew many of the racial/biracial stereotypes that exist. I have repeatedly stated I am not the biracial spokesperson, rather just a guy with a story. My story certainly does not cover all the racial "bases" as it were. No one's does! Nor is there any "one" definitive black experience. If that were the case then all the stereotypes for all blacks would hold true. But that is not the case, and that is exactly what I so desperately want to confront and challenge.

Questions ranged from inquiries about reaction to the play from various family members, to social issues about our current state of affairs and the ongoing candidacy of Mr. Obama. As I said, it was extremely engaging and quite thought-provoking. One woman (identifying herself as Greek-American) approached me following the Q & A and told me she was not a theater-going person at all - as a matter of fact, didn't much care for theatre - however, she said this event was one of THE most engaging and provocative evenings she'd ever experienced and, she added, she would remember it the rest of her life! Powerful endorsement.

And so...here's the other CRAZY thing going on as a result of that evening. The day prior to the show, Monday the 27th, I had a crew from CNN come to my house, interview me for most of the afternoon, then follow me to the theatre and tape a good portion of our tech rehearsal! The next afternoon (before the show) I went to their studios and taped a "walk-by" down Michigan Avenue (a "where's Waldo" moment perhaps?!). They are composing a piece on me & the show which I'm told will air sometime this week. Yesterday they called to tell me there is a chance they may want to do a live interview along with the airing of the segment and I should be prepared in case I get the call! The interviews went terrific! The correspondent, Keith Oppenheim was great and really GOT my show & what I am trying to do. I am excited to see the piece and would be thrilled to participate in a forum of discussion following the airing. More Later......

May 17, 2007
The tour blog begins....

So much has happened over the past year. 2007 has really seen a sharp increase in demand & interest for the show. For the most part I have been traveling non-stop since January, visiting all types of schools across the country. Each experience has presented huge opportunities to open doors on discussions about identity, race, & stereotypes in America. The discussion and comments have been absolutely incredible. It was now time to track these profound experiences by putting them in print. So....from this day forward - May 17, 2007 - I will begin the tour blog. Hoping to capture some of the excitement, profound discussions, and deep thought audiences have shared with me following presentations of the show.