Back Stage Banter

We are pleased to announce the formation of our Artistic Advisory Board, consisting of:

Ellen Sebastian Chang, Director, Writer and Creative Consultant;

Walter Dallas, Senior Artist in Residence at the University of Maryland;

Harry J. Elam, Jr., Olive H. Palmer Professor in the Humanities, Professor of Drama, Director of the Institute for Diversity in the Arts;

Margo Hall, Director, Dramaturg;

Steven Anthony Jones, Actor;

Whitney Leblanc, Director, Producer, Writer, stained glass artist;

Carey Peroff, Artistic Director, ACT; and

Charles Randolph-Wright, Director, Writer, Producer

Since the untimely and unexpected deaths of our two founders, Quentin Easter and Stanley E. Williams, Lorraine Hansberry  Theatre has received an outpouring of love and support from its  extended family of actors, patrons, and the artistic community in  San Francisco and nationwide. Realizing that LHT is an important piece of San Francisco’s cultural fabric, these artists and educators have joined with us to guide and shepherd LHT into its next phase. We are honored  by their attention and commitment to our mission and we look forward to learning from these inspiring leaders in the arts. Please click here to learn more about our Artistic Advisory Board members!

The Artistic Director Search continues! (And it’s looking great!)

Our Artistic Director search is moving forward. We have been excited and impressed by the resumes and letters that we have received from artists across the city, country, and entire world! The Board’s Search Committee is busy reviewing resumes and consulting with our Artistic Advisory Board. We hope to begin contacting applicants soon.

And finally, check this out — a new one-man show by a Bay Area native and
current theater student.

Today I received an email from Troy Dangerfield, who wrote, “I am a bay area native who is currently studying acting  at Syracuse University. This summer I am putting on a one man show  called Throw Pitchfork,  written by Alexander Thomas. It is a really powerful and inspiring piece. I was wondering if it is at all possible to reach out to the Lorraine Hansberry Mailing List. I don’t know if that is a Taboo request. I am just a young  actor trying to reach out to an African American Audience. It is going to be a really great show I  have an ACT director and its going to be in a nice newly renovated Black Box space on
Hyde and  Golden Gate. I was just hoping that I could get support from another theater who is known for telling African American stories.” No problem, Troy! We are very happy to get the word out about other performers and interesting new works!

Here’s a synopsis of the show: Willie Thomas, an overworked, alcoholic, African-American father, passes on a legacy of self-hate and anger to his four sons: Jimmy, Wesley, Cleve, and the youngest, Alex. Each finds his own way to digest this legacy — Jimmy through hard drugs, Wes through petty  crime, Cleve through education and the arts. The older brothers are seen through the eyes of young Alex, who had a pitchfork thrown at him by  his father during a drunken rage. He desperately  searches for self-definition as he attempts both to emulate and separate himself from his brothers and father. His search crystallizes when his father’s true story is revealed. Want tickets? Check out: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/120169

As always, we love to hear from you! Please contact us at the LHT offices if you’ve got stories to share, ideas to communicate, or if you’d like to give us a hand around the office.  You can reach me at kate@lhtsf.org or (415) 345-3980.