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» > v^r* w August 5, 1992„.The Portland Observer...Page 5 Portland Observer ENTERTAINMENT •*/ .♦.?/ • T O T A L EC LIPSE P ortland B lack R epertory Theatre Opens O rig in a l M usical C om edy » . • -J ■ .-w . .* • * 5 3 ,0 * È & fò /i L eontine G uilliard The 1980 PBRT h it musical com edy, Red Beans & Rice, w ritten and directed by Rosemary A llen w ill open August 14 and run through September 6 (Previews, August 12, 13) at the Portland C ivic Theatre B uilding, 1530 SW Y am hill. Performances are Tues day, Wednesday, Thursdays at 7pm; Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm and 7pm. Tickets are available fo r S I3.50, $15.00; and fo r opening night $17.50, and $10 fo r pre views. They can be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets, Ja’ Bells Beauty Supply, 5834 NE M artin Luther King, Jr. B lvd., and at the Pordand C ivic Theatre box office, 226-4026. There is an additional $1.00 per ticket service charge at Ticketmaster outlets and the C ivic theatre box office. Season sub scriptions fo r the last tw o shows o f the season can be purchased at #23.40 for non-members, and $16.50 for PBRT members. Red Beans & Rice is the second presentation in the Portland Black Rep ertory Theatre 1992 season, which is the firs t Equity season o f black theater presented not only in the history o f Oregon, but in the entire Northwest. The Pordand Black Repertory Theatre season is presented under an A cto r’ s Equity Association small professional theater contract. Red Beans & Rice is a m usi cal comedy that dramatizes the story o f the history o f black music in America. The setting moves from church to n ig h tc lu b to church; featuring the songs o f Bessie Smith, B illie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, James Cleveland; duke E llington, and more. There is choral singing and jazz and tap dancing, w ith a con gregation o f co lo rful characters and a zany romantic couple. L ive music is performed by a sic piece jazz band under the d i rection o f local jazz pianist, J amcc Scroggins. The original theme song. Red Beans & Rice, was written and arranged by Thara Memory, Janice Scroggins, and members o f the original 1980 Red Beans and Rice cast. Vocal director, W illie Binns has created original ar rangements o f spiritual and gospel songs. Choreography is by Sagirah Banks, set design by Patrick Steward, costume design by Wanda Walden, and lighting by Jon Ares. The play was first presented to sold-out audiences in 1980 in repertory w ith the choreodrama, For colored girls w ho’ ve considered suicidc/whcn the rainbow is enuf. According to play w right, Rosemary A llen, “ It was meant to give us an opportunity to laugh to each other, and to get away from the serious problems that seem to always be prevalent in theater about the black experience. W e s im p ly wanted to unapologetically embrace the wonder ful and th rillin g soulfulncss o f black people.” Red Beans & Rice features a danc ing, singing and acting cast o f 18 artists and a 6 piece band. Actors include: Vernon Ambus, Johnathan Berry, Rose Ann Butler, Debra Brown, Leontine G u illia rd , L e w is Dwayne G olden, Gypsy Dance, Tabari Jones, Soomi K im , Gayle M ille r, Louise Moaning, Kudra Owens, Brenda Phillips, Karen P h ill ips, Zawdic Phillips, Barbara Thomas, Denise W illiam s, and Jessie Jackson. Actress and blues singer, Leontine G uilliard, is a special featured artist. She w ill recreate her popular role o f “ Messy Bessie” (Bessie Smith). Ms. G u illiardcurrently lives in Los Angeles where she has played leading roles in television movies, and performed as a blues and jazz singer in clubs. She currently performs in Los Angeles with C A D E A U , a jazz duo, w ith her partner Michael R. Simpson. Her extensive credits include the H B O ’ s drama tr il ogy, “ Prison Stories; Women on the Inside,” airing last year, fo r w hich she was submitted for an Emmy nomina tion. Other credits include the c ritic a lly acclaimed KCET;s American Playhouse production o f Zora Is M y Name,” and adaptation by ruby Dee; “ Frank’s Place,” and the NBC movie o f the week, “ She Knows Too M uch.” She made her fea ture film debut in “ Nuts,” starring Barbra Streisand and directed by the late M ar tin R ill who was the creative genius behind such film classics as “ Sounder,” “ Hud,” and “ Norma Rae.” Ms. G uilliard is the younger sister o f T. V. and screen actor, Yaphet Koto. Red Beans and Rice was first pre sented in 1980 at the Cabell Center lo r the Performing Arts w ith a cast that featured musicians, actors and dancers who have since become local and na tionally recognized talent. Musicians in c lu d e d , tru m p e t p la y e r and bandleader, Thara Memory who was musical director; Obo Addy, percus sionist, Don M um ford, drummer, John Mazzocco, bass, and Janice Scroggins, piano. Ruby Bums was choreographer, and the play was the debut o l Portland’ s currently only African American Eq uity actress, Brenda Phillips. The 1992 Portland Black Reper tory Theatre season culminates w ith emerging playw right, Marian X ’ s W et Carpet, directed by Terry Bellam y, o f St. Paul, Minnesota (Previews arc Sep tember 16, 17 and opening September 18 through October 11). The play fea tures an all-fem ale cast. It is the north west premiere o f this new drama set in the present, in Baltimore, which tells the story o f three sisters and the daugh ter they raise. IF YOUR READING THIS AD THEN YOU KNOW HOW EFFECTIVE ADVERTISING IS! . <•.*'« 's r»» •’ • • ».'• vSs?,''*'-'. AS- *>• • '. J W ' ' Ktvoit) K in the physical universe a total eclipse is a forboding darkness caused when one planet crosses in front o f a source o f light, it’ s a great cause o f wonder, but the result is an even stronger energy and brightness that emanates thereafter. In ancient times it wasa sign o f change, a symbol that something new was on the horizon. In 1992 this Total Eclipse is a throbbin’ groovin’ rockin ’ slam m in’ fe elin ’ bandcom in at ya courtesy o f vocalist Bernie K., guitarist V icto r johnson, drummer Dave Brown and bassist Dre’ Baby. B rillia n t m usi cians in an equation that is pure magic. Alchem y is alive! Here’s how the cards lined up for Total Eclipse so they could record their debut alum on T ab u/A & M Records. Bernie K. was the powerhouse voice, Dave Brown was the master blaster behind the drum k it in the original all black, hard rock metal band Sound Barrier who were signed out o f the L A clubs and released three albums (yes, w ell before L ivin g Colour). V ictor Johnson b uilt his reputation w ith the re spected Bus Boys, w hile Dre’ Baby came from the more R & B and funk side o f life. There was one common thread between the four members who came together in Total Eclipse. We a ll have our influences. 1 love rock and like to do the funk thing,” said bassist D re’ , “ Dave has a jazzier background, but deep dow n we all want to rock.” It shows. “ Everything that had to happen in order to make this band be a reality d id,” said drummer Dave Brown. “ I ’d been bugging Vic for years to put a rock band together. I had originally come to Los Angeles from Colorado looking for a hard rock band,” said the highly respected guitarist Johnson. VJ ended up touring and recording as the axemaster in the Bus Boys and sat in on a few Sound Barrier gigis. D re’ baby came west from Cleveland, found work as a session player, also joined the Bus Boys and recently recorded w ith Jennifer Batten (M ichael Jackson’ s last tour guitarist). He was the final lin k in the Total Eclipse chain o f fortune. I kept thinking, said vocalist Bernie K. “ Lord just give me a bass player. We found one who could really lay it down! Once intact the Eclipse captured the attention o f pro ducer Michael McDonald (the engineer fo r such diverse artists as M artika, Patti La Belle, Ray Charles, and the Desert Rose Band) who took thee band into the studio to record demos. The band played a handful o f shows, and quickly established a reputation inside the tight musical community o f Los Angeles w ith their live performances. “ Vocalist Bernie K. combines the sensual assurance o f M arvin Gaye w ith the firebreathing vocal finesse o f Rod Stewart and... Guitarist V icto r Johnson’ s solos possess all the shock inducing impact o f a concussion bomb,” said the L A D aily News. A fte r that. CALL 2 8 8 -0 0 3 3 TO ADVERTISE DjtV«» t ‘>iow ' Brow n’ s brother-in-law saw the band live and walked the tape into Clarence A vant’s office. He played it w ithout identifying the band and that started the ball rollin g . “ U ltim ately, we were given fu ll control to make the album we wanted,” remembers Brown. Immediately the band went into the studio w ith producer M cDonald to lay down the tracks. “ We turned on the tape and just started jam m ing to get the vibe,” said Dre’ “ and went from there.” “ 1 just wanted something that fe lt right. That’s our m otto,” chimed in the undeniable Bernie E., who captured the attention o f Bruce Springsteen, w hile Total Eclipse was recording their album and ended up doing a session with the Bass. “ As long as it feels right is what this band is all about. There hasn’ t been one day since w e’ ve been together that I haven’ t heard the word ’ groove'. It all starts there, it has to be there. We a ll want something that is universal, and great music has to have a groove.” The real proof is in the music you’ ll find in the thirteen tracks in the self-tilled debut album. Total Eclipse has com bined a grinding groove (what they call “ Rock n Groove” ) and superb musicianship w ith a confidence that makes them unique. Listen to “ Get Outta Y o ’ Body” and you’ll feel like dancing. On “ Check Me Out” you’ ll understand Bernie K .’s invitation to get into his band. “ I like to tw ist the lyrics sexually,” Bernie says, “ because I think rock should be sexy. Get into it and we know you’ ll dig it.” Put “ Freedom Star” on the stereo and you’ ll understand the sentiment that comes from four black musicians who are socially aware and pas sionate. And for those music lovers who appreciate great guitar work, V ictor Johnson’ s solo w ill send shivers to your fingers as you wonder where those notes come from. “ Fire In The Rain” which has become Bernie K .’ s signature work is redesigned this time. Il has grown from a simple piano ballad about the demise o f a former band, to the title track o f one album, and is now a Total Eclipse sweeping and clim atic favorite, as w ell as the first single from their debut release. “ I think the strength o f this band,” said Johnson, “ is that we are doing what we really feel and there is a special chem istry.” “ We can look each other in the eye,” adds D re’ , “ w ithout saying a word and know i f it ’ s right.” “ I ’ ve even had people come up to me,” concluded Bemie K. “ and say man you guys play so tight, you sound like you wear the same underwear!” ” Rarely w ill you find four such spirited musicians w ith such a commanding feel for their music, a broad spectrum o f musicality, all focused on one target, as the players in this band. But then how often docs a total eclipse come along? PORTLAND OBSERVER ‘The Eyes and Ears ol the Community Olfice: (503)208-0033 Fax#: (503)288-0015 MUSIC M ILLENNIUM 'Why do Igive blood totheÂiÉGross?' 32ND & E BURNSIDE 2 3 1-8 926 23RD & NW JOHNSON 248-0163 N EW C EVEN T M T. 5 ÏO Q P BLAIR UNDERWOOD ÎN T E R N Â n O N A .:. 3 F .U 5 .S F E S T IV A L S a lu r C a y , A u g u s t 8 , I , 'I like the way it wakes w /- Some say it s because there’s a need for blood to save lives Others just like the way it makes them feel about themselves What about you? Please (live Blood 0 B. B. King Buddy Guy Dr. Juhn Fabulous Thunclcrbuds Etta James Brow. Duintet Mark Naltaliii with low , II F a ta l JV ■ ?. » < e • ’ * • - > . : . ». a . • i Î * A * < * C • . . ■ . ’• / • Will be in Portland Aug.7. Showtime, Roseland Theatre. For tickets please call 224 8499 don't miss it I Arrested Development is one of the hottest groups around (wow that s entertainment). /- • ■ A. *• K •; * A A * A * American Red Cross A
