> V 4 > V ♦ -» -vr ♦ ■<*•■♦■♦ ÌR r-* S N o v e m b e r 10, 1988, P o rtla n d O b s e rv e r, P a g e 5 xxxr ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ zxxxxxx ENTERTAINMENT XT************* Y * * * xtxxtxxt AFSC To Hold Fundraising Art Exhibition BOUND ideiduidií by Garland Lee Thompson “ ZOOMAN” IS B A D ...... “ ZOOMAN” IS BAD! "Zooman” says, “ I carry a gun and a knife. A gun in this poc­ ke t— and ole’ MAGIC in this one!” Yes, “ Zooman is bad!” It was “ bad” when I saw the original N egro E n sem b le C om pany production at the Theatre Four in New York (1980). Why not, it’s a Charles Fuller play, who later won a Pulitzer Prize for “ A Soldier’s Play,” also at NEC. Fuller is a founding member of the Frank Silvera Writers’ Workshop in New York. "Zooman and the Sign,” was one of the hits of the 1980 season for NEC, under Artistic Director and co-founder, Douglas Turner Ward. "Zooman,” this “ Slow Dance on the Killing Ground-type char­ acter” , played here at the Winn- ingstad Theatre (PCPA) by young actor, Brian Dance, has “a dream entrance.” An actor’s delight. He climbs down a metal ladder onto stage and the neat set (by Jeff Seats) in the currently running production of the Storefront Theatre (Oct. 29th - Nov. 30th). Rick Jones, who appeared in the Brian Dance As “ Zooman” New Freedom Theatre’s produc­ tion of "Zooman,” in Philadelphia, a few years back, directed this Portland premiere. "The spider- man dance” by Dance; the young Black actor, a long and lean dude, is “ Write on!” WITH HIS SWITCHBLADE AND GUN At one point "Zooman,” ap­ peared out of the dark (lighting by Jeff Forbes, costumes by Palette, Colleen Frederick and Charlie Harakawa). He was sitting right next to me in the house, “ running a long rap” about “ holding up” in a porno moviehouse, when the po­ lice arrived (sound design by Bill Reinhardt). The Black family of an ex-boxer; (played strongly by Anthony P. Armstrong), his wife (Wanda Walden), his uncle (Al Jamison), his son (Eugene Hughes Jr.) and a cousin (Brenda Phillips), suffer the outrage of their twelve year old daughter accidentally being killed by a stray bullet in a teenager gang fight in Philly. Does this sound familar right here in "River City?” “Zooman” did it and the father put a sign on the front of the house. “ The sign" indicts the entire block and community for not coming for­ ward to catch “ the killer.” “Zoo­ man” knows it's just a matter of time before “ the Big Blues” will get him and the audience is "suck­ ed right into his world of hard reali­ ty and hellish fantasy,” by him and a solid cast and direction. Everybody wants “ a piece of Zooman,” but the neighbors, played by Rita Bankhead Leduff, Michael Winbush, Nyewusi Askari (alternating with Nathaniel Haynes on different nights), DON’T WANT TO GET INVOLVED. That is the primary point of Fuller’s play; community involvement to break “ the cycle of terror” in our streets and neighborhoods. Right where we all live, “ Zooman lives!” “Write on,” Gary O’ Brien and the Storefront Theatre. On Monday, Nov. 14, the American Friends Service Corp mittee (AFSC) will open an art ex hibition fundraiser at the US Bankcorp Tower & Plaza Lobby, 111 S.W. 5th Ave. The art exhibi tion will close on Dec. 2. It will pro vide a wonderful opportunity to search for that special gift for Christmas while contributing to a good cause. A reception with contributing artists will be held on Saturday, Nov. 19, from 2-4 p.m. at Cafe Vivo, located at the Bankcorp Tower & Plaza. Reservations to attend this reception can be phoned in to 230-9427. This fundraising event will benefit an Oregon Hispanic Youth Delegation scheduled to leave for Central America during Christmas school break. Over 25 artists from Portland, Seattle and around the West Coast have donated their art work to be sold through this one of a kind exhibition. Martin Gonzalez, AFSC’s Ceri tral America Program Director, stated "The aim of this project is to give Hispanic youth the oppor­ tunity to participate in cultural, educational, community health, and agricultural efforts with their peers in El Salvador and Nicara gua.” Gonzalez added, Upon return, the delegation will share their experiences with the com­ munity in hopes of fostering greater awareness of the ways in wnich the two communities can cooperate with one another.” In light of the recent disaster caused by hurricane Joan, funds raised beyond what is required for the delegation will be donated for hurricane relief in Nicaragua's Atlantic Coast. ZOOMAN AND THE SIGN Z • * * » / by Lisa Collins S mokey Robinson— Man of the Month: Smokey Robinson will be honored by the entertain­ ment community when Retinitis Pigmentosa International, pre­ sents him with a musical tribute Nov. 30 in Beverly Hills. Berry Gordy will chair the event with Dick Clark, while Ed McMahon will serve as master of cere­ monies. Robinson was featured in video of the song “ Forgotten Eyes,” written especially for RPI. In addition to Robinson, the video featured Bob Hope, Dionne War­ wick, Herbie Hancock, Marilyn McCoo, Angie Dickinson, Sammy Davis Jr., and others. Meanwhile, just last week, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers honored the singer with a starstudded recep­ tion at the exclusive Chasen's restaurant in Los Angeles. Robin­ son received the prestigious Founders Award. Among those well wishers on hand were Berry Gordy, top model Beverly John­ son, Sheryl Lee Ralph. Mary Wells, famed songwriter Sammy Cahn, Knots Landing's Lynne Moody, and Natalie Cole, who is in the studios working on her latest LP. Tentatively titled “ Glad To Be Back,” the LP is not due out until March. Meanwhile, Cole will tour Europe in December and is work­ ing out a deal where she and Dionne Warwick will headline at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve. Is Pebbles pregnant? Rumor has it that MCA recording star "Peb­ bles” is with child. Pebbles, who earlier this year reportedly sep­ arated from her husband, was seen out and about with The Deele’s Antonio Reid, alias LA of the talented producing team, “ LA & Babyface.” Still, there is no con­ firmation on this rumor, and of- fical word is that she is still very much married. Halloween Delight: It was big fun once again when the Kwanza Foundation hosted its annual fundraiser in Los Angeles. Kwan­ za, composed of 27 Black act­ resses (including Jayne Kennedy, Marla Gibbs, Beverly Todd, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Telma Hopkins, Esther Rolle, Marilyn McCoo, to name a few) dedicated to giving back to the community Natalie Cole and Lou Gossett hosted the costume ball, the proceeds of which went to benefit the Jenesse Center, which houses victims of domes­ tic violence. Lou Gossett, whose wife Cyndi James Reese-Gossett is a Kwanza member, came as the Phantom of The Opera. Married life seems to agree with Lou who is sporting a few extra pounds around the middle lately. Natalie Cole was a flapper, as was Bernie Casey's wife, Paula, while Beverly Todd, Whoopi Goldberg's arch­ nemesis in Clara's Heart," came as an angel. Raymond St. Jac­ ques won an award for his orig­ inal costume. (He came as a Zulu warrior). Rick Jones, Actor/Director "Zooman and the Sign” The Portland Observer salutes Mr Rick Jones for his efforts to highlight the talents and excellence of Afri­ can-American actors/actresses from Portland's Black community. Keep up the good work Rick! t* Let Me Help Your Holiday Correspondence: Letters and Cards, WX. 236-9687 E thnic Cuisine Southern Style S t o r e f r o n t T h e a tr e p r e s e n t s t h e N o r t h w e s t P r e m ie r e o f t h is e x p l o s i v e d r a m a , w r it t e n b y C h a r le s F u lle r , a u t h o r o f " A S o ld ie r 's S t o r y . ” 'Z o o m a n N e il K e lly R e m o d e lin g and is s p o n s o r e d b y N a tu r e 's F r e s h N o r t h w e s t . KBOO R a d io . " Z o o m a n ” r u n s O c t o b e r 29 t h r o u g h N o v e m b e r 2 0 f o r t ic k e t s p h o n e S t o r e f r o n t T h e a tr e a t 2 2 4 -4 0 0 1 . 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