M ay 25, 1994 • T he P ortland O bserver
P age B4
<44 Ä ENTERTAINMENT
Martin Lawrence ‘You So Crazy’
With unflinching candor and humor, comedian Martin Lawrence
takes on the world in the controversial new concert film YOU SO
CRAZY, presented by The Samuel Goldwyn Company.
M artin Law rence is amazing
audiences around the country by
doing everything for a laugh. Not
only is he the star and executive
producer of the hit Fox-TV show
that bears his name, he is also the
hip-hop of the H B O ’s “ Def Com ­
edy Ja m ,” his com edy album
“T a lk in ’ S hit” on B illb o a rd ’s
charts, he recently signed a three-
film development deal with Twen­
tieth Century Fox, and he stars in
and executive produces his con­
cert film You So Crazy.
Lawrence traces his comedy
beginnings to his boyhood in
Landover, M aryland, where in
grade school he would stand in
the hall cracking jokes about ev­
eryone who walked by. With the
encouragem ent of an art teacher,
Lawrence tried stand-up for the
first time at a local comedy club’s
open mike night. By working
among the hustlers and street per­
form ers in NY C’s W ashington
Square Park, Lawrence eventu­
ally found his way to that c ity ’s
famed Improvisation Club. From
there he went on to win the first
round of the “ Star Search Show­
case.” That tape was seen by ex­
ecutives at Columbia Pictures, and
Lawrence was cast as- a series
regular on “W hat’s Happening
Now.”
You So Crazy is the contro­
versial state-of-the art concert
film starring comedian and actor
Martin Lawrence, by him self but
alone, thanks to the extended fam ­
ily of characters who take over
his mouth, his body and his mind
on stage at the Brooklyn A cad­
emy of M usic’s Majestic Theatre.
Uncensored and unabashed,
Lawrence prowls the stage in com ­
bat boots and peace sign em bla­
zoned, baggy leather baseball suit.
He starts out big, confronting the
issues of the day with the logic of
the street.
W hat’s up? Racism, Rodney
King, M exican looters, Jeffrey
Dahmer and Waco, Texas, not to
mention people who talk out loud
at the m ovies, guys doing time
and the nasty habits of men be­
hind bars.
Fueled by astute observation
and disarm ing warmth, Lawrence
brings his concerns closer to home
as the show progresses. Home was
the projects, after his dad left, but
mama did her best. The neigh­
bors included some “crazy, de­
ranged” characters — and still do
— but Lawrence does not judge.
H e’s against the crackhead, but
not without pity, and tolerates the
grave realizations of herb-sm ok­
ers who are “ smarter than the
average scientist.”
R elatio n sh ip s provide the
juiciest subject matter. He gives
his lady his ultimate tribute, “ You
go, g irl!,” as he chronicles the
giddy early stages of love. The
lady talks back in virtuoso dia­
logue th at follow s the ro lle r
coaster ride of relationship, and
demonstrates Law rence’s ability
to wear somebody else’s shoes.
His message is this: Com m uni­
cate!!! And don’t worry if the
language gets rough.
Scholarships Available
For Summer Performing
Arts Workshop
Partial scholarships are avail­
able for the Summer Performing
Arts workshop sponsored by Port­
land State University and Metro
Performing Arts. Applicants for
the scholarships should call 823-
3660 as soon as possible to re­
quest an application. Registration
must be received by June 3.
Participants must be between
age 11 and 14 and have com ­
pleted the 5th grade. The work­
shops will meet from August 1 to
26 from 10am to 4pm on the PSU
campus in Lincoln Hall.
The program is designed so
that serious young performers can
explore the entire world of per­
forming arts with a focus on act­
ing, musical theatre, dance and
THE VOICE OF HOPE
1 "800"572" 1717
RUTTI JACKSON IS GOING TO BE
Muscular Dystroph»
70
L ive M usic
M;ï. \ i . \r
Friday &
Saturday
8pm-Midnight
and ufe arc haying a Part g
Janice Scroggins
w ith Mario De Priest
Saturday, June 11, 1994
Wednesday
Jam Session
9PM u n til...
w ith Ron Steen
7pm to 11 pm
at
featuring Louisiana style
cuisine at its finest
Hilly Webb Elk’s Lodge
6 N. Tillamook
At Bourbon Street we're proud to offer the finest ribs,
freshest seafood, delicious fettucini and blackened
dishes. Enjoy the big screen
TV in our lounge.
Northwest Black Music Month
Celebration June 9-11
Portland, the City of Roses will
open its gates to embrace those in the
music industry attending the 1994
Northwest Black Music Month Cel­
ebration, June 9-11.
Hosted by KBMS Radio and
UnForgettable Entertainment, this is
the first Northwest Black Music
Month Celebration for Portland.
Major and independent record com­
panies are invited to participate by
sending their established and emerg­
ing artists. The event will give record
company executives, artists, those in
the radio industry, music retailers,
concert promoters, and club owners
an opportunity to network in our beau­
tiful city.
1994 Northwest Black Music
Month Celebration will kick-off on
Thursday, June 9 at 7:00 pm at the
Red Lion Hotel, Jantzen with an offi­
cial welcome from Margaret Carter,
State Representative, District 18, and
special guest speaker Bobby Duckett,
Senior Director of Artist Develop­
ment and Touring, Mercury Records,
New York. Activities continue on
Friday, June 10 when visiting artists
will sign autographs from 3;00 to
6:00 pm at House of Sound Records,
3620 N. Williams, KBMS Radio will
hold a live on-location radio broad­
cast during this time. The event will
wrap up on Saturday, June 11 at 8:00
pm with a live performance at the
Roseland Theater, 8 NW 6th. (Lineup
of artists will be announced at a later
date.)
1994 Northwest Black Music
Month Celebration promises to be an
exciting musical event for Portland.
The general public is invited to attend
the festivities on June 10 and 11.
Tickets are $15.00 and will be avail­
able at Fred Meyer Fastixx. For fur­
ther information contact Kevin Berry
at (503) 282-7042.
technical theatre. The intensive
6-hour day format also features
Mini Classes which explore re­
lated topics such as make-up, ra­
dio drama, costumes, performing
on cam era, stage com bat and
more.
Public performances will be
held at the conclusion of the work­
shop. Instructors are profession­
als who teach throughout Port­
land. A discount for fam ilies who
register more than one student.
Free Tri-M et bus passes are also
available.
Student interns are also be­
ing sought to assist with the pro­
gram. For more information con­
tact Metro Performing Arts at 823-
3660.
Come by & wish Kuth a Happy Hinliday
Food, Music, & Lots of Fun
15900 Boones Ferry Road
in Lake Grove, Oregon
636-0017
Portland Repertory Theater
NEXT AT
PORTLAND REP’S STAGE II
CTED WITHIN
A new play by the
celebrated African-American
playwright/author John Henry
Redwood
Directed by Lillie Marie Redwood
W
H
I
V
,1994 • 8 k \ i
FRIDAY, JUNE», 1994 • 8>()(NTM.
PORTLAND CFNTfR FOR THF. PERFORMING AITES
INTERMEDIATE THEATER • ADMISSION: $15.00
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT: PCPA BOX OFFICE A ND Al l. TICKET MASTER OUTLETS
DEPARTMENTAL
rnwt
john henry redwood
SPONSORED IN PART BY: METROPOLITAN ARTS COMMISSION.
PORTLAND ROSE FESTIVAL ASSOCIATION » BIACK UNITED FUND '
"-PROVOCATIVE AND
COMPELLING-"
MAY 18-JUNE 12
WORLD
PREMIERE
(B o x O ffice: 224-1491
4.
* ’