1* ».»-»» * * * * * * * * ' > •• » » Page 4, Portland Observer, June 15, 1988 £ & ENTERTAINMENT BROADWAY BOUND In The Know REPOR T me about the possibility of pro­ ducing my musical, "A Gypsy Girl." And I am working like hell on a new play, "The Tenure Track Position.” There are just not enough hours in the day to com­ plete all that I should be doing. Anyway, like you, I am in there, trying. We'll be talking, meantime, keep on keeping on. Best, best, Lotten Mitchell P.S. - I’d like permission to send your wonderful letter to Boston University archives. There is a Loften Mitchell Collection up there. By Garland Thompson received a letter from my friend, playwright, and scholar, Loften Mitchell, whose career and Works span the Federal Theatre, the American Negro Theatre, Author of the Broadway Musical, "Bubbl­ ing Brown Sugar,” a numbers of plays and productions. I want share with all you theatre "affl- cionados” some of his words and my response, which he is includ­ ing among his official papers in the Loften Mitchell Collection at the Boston University archives. Also, if any of you theatre buffs, especially Black Theatre, have some interesting “ tibbits” or questions to raise, please do to by writing to us, care of the ‘Broadway Bound Report,’ Port­ land Observer, P.O. Box 3137, Portland, Oregon 97208. I Memorandum To: Loften Mitchell, Playwright and Historian From Loften Mitchell: I ■» 1 ' Hear the pounding of the Afri­ can drum — July 1. The heartbeat of Africa comes alive at the Ore­ gon Art Institute, with African drummer and drum maker, Kobla Mensa Dente. His “ informance” (interactive-performance) begins at 8:00 p.m. in th Sculpture Mall outside the Pacific Northwest College of Art. Dente s work is based on the aesthetic tradition of the Akan people of West Africa, among whom he lived and studied. He introduces the African culture and music to audiences across the country in an effort to provide a greater understanding and by Danny Bell here is unheralded group of young black musicians, who have been professionally perform­ ing in the Portland, S.W. Washing­ ton and rest of Oregon since 1978, this has been since they were just adolescents. Who’s this you ask yourself, as well you should? Its Romeo which is what the band goes by now; a high tech, sophisticated, creative, in­ tense energy urban contemporary band that really rocks. Comprised of band members Darrnell Love; bas, keyboards, T appreciation of this rich heritage. He encourages audience par­ ticipation during his performance which includes solo drumming and storytelling. Immediately following Dente’s performance, Boka Marimba, a Portland marimba band, will play upbeat and danceable marimba music! Tickets for the event are $5 and are available at the Pacific Northwest College of Art and Ar­ tichoke Music. This event is sponsored by the Oregon Art Institute's Pacific Northwest College of Art, KBOO Radio and Artichoke Music. For more information, call 226-0462. Exciting Mini-Fashion Workshop! Experienced Make-Up Artistry • Poise & Projection • Wardrobing Of Course • Ramp Techinques For Information And Reservations Cal: 293-7999 JUNE MON.-SAT 13th-18th ‘The Heros’ (Las Vegas) SUNDAY, 19th ‘Curtis Salgado & The Stalettos MON.-SAT 18th-25th Ron Haywood & Stripes (Vancouver, B.C.) SUNDAY, 26th Michael Harrison (Album Release) MON.-SAT. 27th-May 2nd Ron Haywood & Stripes (Vancouver, B.C.) THE SHANGHAI LOUNGE 220-1865 — Limited Space Available - at the Downtown Marina Be Your Own Kind Of Beautiful!! Besaw’s HUNGRY? ‘The Place To G o’ For Early Mornings, Laie Night Breakfasts, — After Hours — Opened 24 Hours „ hd * open /> v INNER-CITY SWAP MEET 0 «n »* “ ? : i '-' O*' ^2 6 ^ * Look What’s Added To P & J s Beauty & Barber -'VÄ • Vendors Needed • NEW or HAND-CRAFTED ITEMS ONLY CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION: (503) 288-45270 Ask for Steve or Blanche Cleo’s 3140 N . W illia m s • 284-7150 Ethnic Cuisine Southern Style ★ HOUSE SPECIALTIES ★ Come and meet the operators Including: Cleo’s Zesty Ribs In Sauce — HO M E CO O KED DESSERTS - Come See 'Luberta' For Some Down Home Cookin'! And, remember, we still have a wide range of hair care products. Open to the Public 9:00 am . — 6:00 D.m. Monday — Saturday - - fjf .« 5ç3< o T Calvin Walker and The Answer have a pop music sound with a to funk edge. It is great dance music with soulful texture. Walker’s new group has been garnering critical acclaim for their crisp and origi­ nal sounds. The three piece band Dial Memphis will open the set with more dance music that is funky and rooted in soul. They draw from such greats as James Brown, Jr. Walker, and Wilson Pickett with some original sounds thrown in. A New, Two-Chair Salon Of r e * * California Style Shopping Arena he kickoff performance of the "Music By Blue Lake” sum­ mer concert series promises be a popular event as Calvin Wal­ ker and The Answer, with special guest Dial Memphis perform on Thursday, June 23rd from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Blue Lake Park. The cost is still only $3.00 per car. Multnomah County Parks Serv­ ices Division puts on the series which is co-sponsored by 62 KGW R a d io and K a is e r Permanente. Chitterlings • Meatloaf • Mix Greens • Beef Stew Catfish • And Many Other Southern Dishes AM'® June 17th, 18th, & 19th — 9 a.m.-6 p.m. 1834 N.E. Alberta (formerly Y.O.A. Club) Oregon extensively and by the summer of 1986 had opened for such major acts as Tyrone Davis, Con Funk Shun, Zapp & Roger. However by this time they had come to realize that there was more to show business than just playing a song in some tidewater flat. The desire to define their own personal kind of music and an youthful curiosity as to what suc­ cess could be in terms of fulfilling their lives lead the threesome to attend Clark Community College in an effort to become familiar with the business aspects of the entertainment industry. It was during this period that Visions dissolved, and after some lead singer, and primary song brainstorming and maturation the writer, Tony Winters; drums, busi­ concept for Romeo came into be­ ness manager, Bobby Winters; ing. Although the band members lead & rythmn guitar, keyboards, readily admit they are from contributing writer and public Prince’s Minneapolis School of relations, and Tracy Stone; lead contemporary music. They have and background vocals. Romeo been able to separate themselves makes up a self-contained musi­ from the generic brand X label. cal unit that can be heard all to in­ A good example Is when I frequently at the likes of Eli's and caught them at Eli’s opening for Key Largo. Shock. They have what is describ­ B a sica lly the nucleus of ed in the business as "the pack­ Romeo is made up of the two age” ; that is they are high energy, Winter brother and their cousin with tight choreography, a theatri­ Darrnell Love. They got their start cal look, that conveys youth and in the church, writing gospel ma­ sex appeal, with just a splash of terial for the Hughes Memorial nasty, maturity. Their delivery ap­ United Methodist Church back in pears effortless held together 1978. The experience of working with first quality profession­ in the church environment led to alism — and on top of all that the various engagements throughout bars clientele was partying down. the state of Oregon playing the church circuit. By 1982 the group , . . To My Father Visions was created. It was dur­ Mr Edward William Callivcr, Jr. ing the period between 1982-1986 May God Forever Bless You plus a good working relationship and Sustain You! with talent agent Tom Stinette / Love You, Daddy! that the aspiring artists cut their teeth as professionals. As Visions — Your daughter. Teal these young gentlemen toured UPCOMING SCHEDULE — MODELS WANTED — African Drummer Performs V- think that’s the correct spelling of Her last name), the late Spencer Williams ("Andy" of the "Amos ’N Andy" TV show), as "Bodiddly,” Robert DeCoy, as "Simple,” (after Johnny Lee of the Old "Amos ’N Andy" TV Fame, became ill in re­ hearsal), Isabel Cooley, as "Sarita” (remember her following Hilda Simms in “ Anna Lucasta,” correct spelling?) and Pauline Myers, was my mother, “ Arcie." Yes, it was my beginning in theatre, after first landing a small "dance bit” role in the 1957 movie, "South Pacific,” a few months earlier at Twentieth Cen­ tury-Fox Studio, as a teenager on a visit to Hollywood. That was some thirty years ago. Some be­ ginning in “ the BIZ,” huh? I was a black teenager in Hollywood! I would sit everyday during breaks and lunch, at the great Spencer Williams' side and listen to all of his endless stories of his life and the history of black folks in SHOWBIZ and the theatre. Yes, it was my introduction to the real black theatre history from a truly "living master” and artist, Spencer Williams, who told grip­ ing stories of his “ young spy” role days in the army as well as his performing career as an actor. This was “ a walking library history book” that made me hang on every word that came out of his mouth! And bless his heart, he was my "daddy” in Langston’s play as well! So, I’m here In the Pacific Nor­ thwest, to teach in the Upward Bound Program at PSU and direct some projects before returning to New York, the Frank Silvera Writers’ Workshop and other pro­ jects. I would like to get the 2nd Frank Silvera Film Festival plann­ ing, underway and begin the publishing and documentation of the best of the more than 3.000 play manuscripts, currently on file in the Workshop’s collection, at the Schomberg Center Archives, as a part of the Frank Silvera Library Of The Living Playwright. Indeed, we must leave a clear record of this current period in our theatre history for future generations, or like so many art­ ists and their works in the past, such as in the Federal Theatre years, may be lost forever! We must not let that happen! 231 N. Lombard, Suite 200 (503) 289-0205 *• * * • * * * * * * • * “ < . , I » # 5 « M * 1 V?- MEMBERS & GUESTS Actors, Actresses, Models Wanted for local productions and advertising F ÏU v f \ ’ ‘ »._ Steve Cary Talent Agency (503) 233-1035 >