Rodney James' A DREAM INTERRUPTED, A LIFE REBORN Concludes This Weekend, 10/24-25

Playwright Rodney James' latest effort, "A Dream Interrupted, a Life Reborn" is perhaps his most personal yet. Inspired by his wife (and producing partner) Kay Ellison-James' bout with breast cancer in 2008, "Dream" conveys the importance of early detection in cases of cancer, and what happens after the diagnosis.  The show has been playing at the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts this month and will take its final bow on Sunday, October 25.  No future productions plans for the show have been announced.

"Dream," which is not autobiographical, is the story of one woman's battle with breast cancer and how it affects her and all of her relationships in life. James crafted the piece to tell the story of a women's dream life; proposed marriage, betrayal, denial and secretiveness of the breast cancer diagnosis, her partner's perspective, the battles with chemotherapy and recovery. 

In speaking to the San Francisco Chronicle about the play, Ellison-James says "I believe that the reason that I survived is so that I could help someone else," so they hope this play will do that.  To read the full article from the Chronicle, click here.

"Dream" stars Nzingha Dugas and Achebe Hoskins (who also directs).

"Dream" concludes this weekend with performances Saturday October 24 at 8 p.m. and Sunday October 25 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased via www.brownpapertickets.com. "Dream" is playing at the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts, (1428 Alice St., Oakland).

Rodney James a multi-talented San Francisco native who began performing in the mid-sixties as local talent with a variety of vocal groups. In the mid-seventies Rodney became a member of "Talk of Da Town", an Accapella group that over the years has become world renowned and travels to Europe for Italy's Christmas Gospel Tour. In 1999, he also joined the Natural Four where he met Jeffrey Bashir, and soon after became a founding member of The Best Intentions, the featured musical entertainment in "Diva". Rodney has continued to sharpen his theatrical skills as a stage actor, accomplished playwright and producer, performing in numerous bay area productions, and in 2005 realized his lifelong dream as he put pen to paper and wrote "Diva On Tour". Rodney, along with his wife, Kay Ellison-James co-produced and premiered "Diva" in May 2006. Rodney's second play "No! Not My Son" premiered successfully in November of 2008.