New Place for the Play

There's always drama back stage as well as onstage.

I got a phone call saying that I had to change the location of the show. With less than 2 weeks to go until show time, here's a major change to deal with.   All my flyers, all my emails, all the cards sent out on my postal mailing list - now, all of them are wrong!

But the rule in show business is -- the show must go on!

And so Searching for a Signal will go on -- same day, different location:

Sunday, August 1, 2010

NEW TIME:  4:30 p.m

Joe’s Movement Emporium 

3309 Bunker Hill Road.

Mount Rainier, MD 20712

Tickets $15 — Purchase online at www.dcblacktheatrefestival.com

Joe's Movement Emporium is about 2 miles from Dance Place; not far away at all.

It's looking like it'll work out well after all!   Keep your fingers crossed for me and I hope to see your face in the new place!

Searching for a Signal

The show has started -- or rather the process has started.  The actors have been chosen and rehearsals are in play and I’m a nervous wreck.  This is my first time playing the role of producer and there are one million - count ‘em - one million tasks to be done and two million fires to put out. 

But there are "moments" that mellow me out and calm me right on down.  Today, while passing out promo cards at a Fringe Theatre event, I struck up a conversation with a man who had just left his German conversation club.  James told me that now that he's in his forties, he has had a number of "Searching for a Signal" experiences.  He said that he often wonders if he had taken a different road -- would he be happier? After some discussion, he and I both agreed his life would have been different - but not necessarily better.  

Which is PRECISELY the theme of "High School Reunion", the last scene in Searching for a Signal.

Did you see the interview that Jaz of the AAPEX did for me?  Here it is:

 http://africanamericanplaywrightsexchange.blogspot.com/2010/06/aapex-interview-joy-jones.html.

Why Phat is Not Where It's At
by Tony King

Not withstanding the suggestions of super-plus size (size 24) actress Mo' Nique and her box offer failure, the movie, "Phat Girls", when it comes to successful men seeking a wife, fat is not were it's at.

Having an attractive woman as a wife is a boost to a man's status as well as his ego.

It gives a man psychic gratification. It bolsters his self-esteem and builds up his image to the outside world. And, among other men, it implies that "the brother's got game. He must be doing something right to have such a beautiful woman."

And, the higher a man's socio-economic status the more important it is for him to have an attractive, fit, and sexy wife who carries herself with class. So, it is not surprising that high-income doctors, lawyers, businessmen, entertainers, and pro athletes typically have stunningly beautiful wives. And, when you think about it, you rarely see a highly accomplished and successful man with an obese wife.

And, the converse is true. That is, a man who is involved with an overweight or obese woman is seen by other men as a loser. Someone who could not make the cut. And, truth be told, if the brother has any respect for himself then he is embarrassed to be seen out in public with a woman who weighs more than he does.

According to Dr. Ian Smith of State Farm Insurance's 50 Million Pound Challenge and the U.S. Center for Health Statistics two-thirds of American Black women are either overweight or obese. And, the consequences for maintaining overweight or obese status is quite grave for these individuals with long-term chronic illness highly probably if these individuals maintain the excessive weights as they age.

So the epidemic of obesity among American Black women may be another factor that makes many of them unattractive to a large portion of Black men. Although some men have sex with obese women it may be more out of necessity rather than preference.

Most Black men do not want women who are a petite size 6 but we do love the fine, fit, and sexy size 10s. And, becoming indignant about Black men's lack of interest to be involved with 200-plus pound, out-of-shape, overweight women who are above size 18 is an unfair and unwarranted burden for Black women to impose on Black men.

For comparison, the average weight of a linebacker in the National Football League is 225 lbs. Black men should not be made to feel guilty about not being interested in nor romantically dealing with women who think it acceptable to weigh more than a linebacker in the NFL. If American Black women refuse to keep themselves fit, sexy, and healthy for their men; then it is reasonable that Black men will seek to be with women of other cultures who keep themselves fit, healthy, and sexy for their men.

What happens when you find out the boy you’ve been raising is

NOT your biological son?

What do you say when your co-worker claims the man you wanted?

What do you do when you have to miss out on all the fun because of the baby?

How do you feel when you overhear what folks say about you once

they think you’re dead?

Meet these and other characters who have to figure it out, fight it out,
work it out - in

Searching for a Signal

Sunday, August 1, 2010 at 4:00 p.m.

Dance Place • 3225 Eighth Street, N.E.

Washington, DC 20017

(Dance Place is at the Brookland-CUA Metrorail station.)

Tickets $15 — Purchase online at

http://www.dcblacktheatrefestival.com/