Solo Show BLACK! Shatters Stereotypes in L.A. Premiere

Healing, funny, touching and brutally honest. British actor, playwright and storyteller Michael Washington Brown shatters stereotypes in a critically acclaimed solo work that examines race from a global perspective. "BLACK!"opens at the Zephyr Theatre on Sept. 9 for a six-week run, performing every Sunday at 7 p.m. through Oct. 14.

Brown's dynamic and deeply truthful performance, which the Chicago Sun Times calls "highly recommended... in turn shocking, funny and engaging," brings us the life stories of four men from around the world - the U.S., England, Jamaica and Africa - each of whom is black, but each of whom has a very different idea about what that means.

"This is a conversation that needs to be had," says Brown, who has enjoyed successful runs in New York, Chicago, Phoenix, Seattle and San Francisco. "There are so many stereotypes that seem to mesh all black people and their stories together. But not all of us are African-American, and we don't all share the same experience. This show looks at race through a much wider lens."

Part of the first generation in his family to be born outside of the Caribbean, Brown, who grew up in London, is of Jamaican andBarbadian descent. Media coverage of his show has included interviews on NPR affiliates WBEZ in Chicago and KJZZ in Phoenix, as well as with WGN 720 AM News/Talk Radio and CBS affiliate KTVK-3TV.

Technical design for "BLACK!" is by Caitlin Rucker.

"BLACK!" runs every Sunday at 7 p.m., opening Sept. 9 and continuing through Oct.14. Tickets are $25. The Zephyr Theatre is located at 7456 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046 (between Fairfax and La Brea). For reservations and information, call (800) 838-3006 or go to blackonemanshow.brownpapertickets.com/

Photo by Sandey Tenudo

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