Black Lives Monologues
American Poetry Theater Production Debuts Feb 10 At Second Baptist Church On Atkins Avenue
The latest play by the American Poetry Theater will make its local debut 7 p.m. Feb 10 at Second Baptist Church of Asbury Park.
A compilation of monologues that answer the question – why do these lives matter, the play offers real life vignettes from African Americans as they were lived in 2017, said Rich Quatrone, AD of The American Poetry Theater.
“The underlying force of the play is love, connection, hope,” Quatrone said.
The American Poetry Theater is a progressive theater founded in 2014 in Asbury Park. Over the past two years, the theater company produced The American Flag, Eastside Westside, The Bombing of Flint, and Trumped at the House of Independents on Cookman Avenue.
Black Lives made its debut in November at the New Jersey Repertory Co in Long Branch.
The monologues are written by area residents Rev. Gil Caldwell, Muata Greene, Velda Harris, Lorraine Stone, Sister Isis, Timothy Scott, and members of the theater company.
A part of the Atkins Avenue based church’s Black History Month Celebration, Black Lives made its debut in November at the New Jersey Repertory Company in Long Branch.
“The driving forces of the play are respect, connection, and love,” Quatrone said in a written statement.
Suitable for all ages, the production features and after show book signing featuring Kay Harris, author of From Amistad to the White House, and Rev Gil Caldwell, author of five books [including What Mean These Stones], chapters in several books, and numerous articles in magazines and newspapers. In 2016, he released the documentary From Selma to Stonewall: Are We There Yet with author Marilyn Bennett.
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- Kay Harris
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- Rev. Gil Caldwell
Second Baptist Church is located at 124 Atkins Avenue. Light refreshments will be served. Tickets are $15.00 and can be purchased by calling the church from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday at 732-774-5347, by email at churchoffice@sbcapnj.org or via the website. Tickets will be available at the door.
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