Brian Copeland: Plays 3 Shows in 3 Days, 6/20-7/2

The Marsh presents a special opportunity for audiences to see award-winning performer Brian Copeland (Not a Genuine Black Man) in three of his acclaimed works in three days: THE WAITING PERIOD on June 30, THE SCION on July 1, and THE JEWELRY BOX on July 2, 2014. These shows are written by Brian Copeland, developed by Brian Copeland and David Ford, and directed by David Ford. All performances will begin at 8pm at The Marsh San Francisco, 1062 Valencia Street. For tickets (individual shows: $30-$35, packages: $60-$100), the public may visit www.themarsh.org or call 415-282-3055 between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday.

THE WAITING PERIOD (8pm, Monday, June 30, 2014)

This riveting drama provides an unrelenting look at a key turning point in Copeland's life-the mandatory ten-day waiting period before he could lay his hands on the newly purchased gun with which he planned to take his own life. Laced with surprising comedy that serves him insidiously well as a buffer against the grim reality of his intention, Copeland hopes this very personal, and ultimately redemptive, story will reach people who struggle with depression-often called the last stigmatized disease-as well as their families and loved ones. As critic Sam Hurwitt put it in The Idiolect: "It's a play I'd strongly recommend to anyone who is now or has ever been depressed or who knows someone in that situation. But honestly, it's such a strong piece that I'd recommend it just as heartily to anyone who's ever been human."

THE SCION (8pm, Tuesday, July 1, 2014)

Copeland employs his razor sharp wit to explore the roles of privilege and government regulation in this expose of license, murder, and sausage. Using the events surrounding the infamous Santos Linguisa Factory triple homicide as a case study, Copeland examines the uneasy relationship between the law, and those who grow up believing they are above it. Delivered with Copeland's signature style, THE SCION skillfully tiptoes the line between comedy and tragedy, adding a dash of humor to this riveting ripped-from-the-headlines subject matter. Copeland broke the record for the longest-running solo show in San Francisco history with Not a Genuine Black Man, which received a 10th anniversary production at Berkeley Repertory Theatre this spring.

THE JEWELRY BOX (8pm, Wednesday, July 2, 2014)

In this hilariously heartwarming story, a prequel to Copeland's hit solo show Not a Genuine Black Man, a young Brian heads to the "mean streets" of Oakland to buy his mom a present. When he finds the perfect gift - a jewelry box in the White Front store - six-year-old Brian sets out to earn the required $11.97. Rife with references to 1970s Oakland, THE JEWELRY BOX follows Brian's adventures as he scours the "help wanted" ads, applies for jobs, and collects bottles, inching his way toward the perfect gift. Presented as a workshop production to San Francisco audiences in December 2012, the show was an instant success, and returned to The Marsh in 2013 where it opened to critical acclaim and played to sold-out houses.

Brian Copeland has been in show business since he first stepped on the comedy stage at the tender age of 18. Soon he was headlining clubs and concerts across the country and opening for such artists as Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, Ringo Starr, and the Queen of soul Aretha Franklin, in venues from The Universal Amphitheater to Constitution Hall in Washington DC. Soon, Copeland branched off into television, appearing on comedy programs on NBC, A&E and MTV. He spent five years as co-host of San Francisco FOX affiliate KTVU breakfast program Mornings on 2 and two years hosting San Francisco ABC affiliate KGO's Emmy Award winning afternoon talker 7Live.

In 1995, ABC affiliate KGO Radio premiered "The Brian Copeland Show." Its unique mix of talk and entertainment soon made it the most listened to program in its time slot. Copeland branched out into theater in 2004 with his first solo play, Not a Genuine Black Man. This critically acclaimed exploration of race and identity created an audience pleasing blend of laughter, tears and sociology that led to the show becoming the longest running solo play in San Francisco theatrical history. Successful runs in Los Angeles and Off Broadway and a bestselling book adaptation followed. Genuine has been performed in over 30 cities across America.

David Ford is a director, collaborator, and Goldie Award-winning playwright who has worked on countless solo shows over his 25-year career in the business. Frequently working on projects at The Marsh, Ford has collaborated with many Bay Area favorites including Charlie Varon, Marilyn Pitman, Geoff Hoyle and Cherry Terror.

Photo Credit: Carla Befera

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