TheatreLAB presents TWILIGHT: Los Angeles, 1992

TheatreLAB, Richmond's home for unexpected and evocative performance, is proud to present Anna Deavere Smith's stunning work of "documentary theatre," TWILIGHT: Los Angeles, 1992 as part of The Cellar Series: When The Other Becomes The Self. Directed by Addie Barnhart and starring TheatreLAB Associate Artistic Director, Katrinah Carol Lewis (2016 Richmond Theatre Critics Circle Award Winner, Best Actress in a Musical). The show will run March 24 thru April 1 at TheatreLAB's venue, The Basement (300 East Broad Street). TWILIGHT: Los Angeles, 1992 is being performed 25 years after the Rodney King Riots.

More about the show -

Acclaimed as "an American masterpiece" (Newsweek), TWILIGHT: Los Angeles, 1992 is a stunning work of "documentary theatre" in whichAnna Deavere Smith uses the verbatim words of people who experienced the Los Angeles riots to expose and explore the devastating human impact of that event. From nine months of interviews with more than two hundred people, Smith has chosen the voices that best reflect the diversity and tension of a city in turmoil: a Korean shop owner, a white male Hollywood talent agent, a Panamanian immigrant mother, a teenage black gang member, a macho Mexican-American artist, Rodney King's aunt, beaten truck driver Reginald Denny, former Los Angeles police chief Daryl Gates and other witnesses, participants and victims. A work that goes directly to the heart of the issues of race and class, TWILIGHT: Los Angeles, 1992 ruthlessly probes the language and the lives of its subjects, offering stark insight into the complex and pressing social, economic and political issues that fueled the flames in the wake of the Rodney King verdict. With an added performance on May 4, 2017 - 25 Years after the last day of the Rodney King Riots.

From TWILIGHT: Los Angeles, 1992 Director, Addie Barnhart:

"We're living in an era where lost black lives continue to be in the papers on almost a daily occurrence, and police brutality is hardly shocking. Working on a play like this 25 years post-riots of April 29th and during a time where arts, education, and humanity aren't considered valuable makes me all the more aware of how influential, essential, and relevant our voices are in America, 2017."

From Associate Artistic Director, Katrinah Carol Lewis:

"In TWILIGHT: Los Angeles, 1992, we explore violence, prejudice between minority groups, compassion, hatred, isolation, apathy, entitlement, bitterness, shame, love, pain, rage, racism, destruction, privilege. We look at perspectives of the race riots in LA from all sides and then we ask: 'What has changed in 25 years? Has our society gotten better with regards to police brutality? Attitudes about race?' In 1992, the cry of protest against the abuse and destruction of black bodies was 'No Justice, No Peace!' Today, I unflinchingly support the Black Lives Matter movement -what will we be saying 25 years from now? I am one actress inhabiting many people in this play - I take on this challenge in an effort to expand myself, and to help us all explore what can happen when the other becomes the self."

The production team includes Direction by Addie Barnhart; Lighting Design by Erin Barclay; Costume and Props Design by Monica Geraffo; Sound and Projection Design by Kelsey Cordrey; with Dramaturgy by Dylan Jones, Dialects by Erica Hughes, and Stage Management by Morgan Howard.

TWILIGHT: Los Angeles, 1992 runs March 24 thru April 1 for a special two-week engagement. Post-show talkbacks will take place on March 26th after the4pm performance and on March 28th after the 8pm Industry Night performance (with discounted tickets for only $15). Full schedule and ticket information available at TheatreLABrva.org or by calling the Box Office at (804) 506-3533. Seating is limited and ticket prices range from $10-25. Reviewing members of the press are invited to attend free of charge. Please schedule tickets, media coverage, and interview requests with TheatreLAB Managing Director, Annie Colpitts at annie@TheatreLABrva.org.

TheatreLAB is Richmond's home for unexpected and evocative performance. Create. Collaborate. Cultivate. The Basement is located at 300 East Broad Street in Richmond's Arts District. Learn more about TheatreLAB by visiting TheatreLABrva.org