December 21 , 2007                                                                                                                                          Associate Director of Marketing

                                                                                                                                                                               Phone: 253.573.2360

                                                                                                                                                                               Email: laceyl@broadwaycenter.org

                                                                                                                                                                               Artistic Contact: David Fischer                

                                                                                                                                                                               Executive Director

                                                                                                                                                                               Phone: 253.591.5582

                                                                                                                                                                               Email: davidf@broadwaycenter.org

Coming to the Theatre on the Square

Brian Copeland’s

Not a Genuine Black Man

Plus – A Free Panel Discussion on “The Race Coalition—Where Are We Now?”

Tacoma, WA – The Broadway Center “calls people to connect” as part of its core mission, and that calling has never been more evident than with its New Year performance of Radio, TV and Theatre star, Brian Copeland’s “Not A Genuine Black Man” beginning January 18 in Downtown Tacoma.

During the past year, the Broadway Center has hosted a series of ongoing community dialogues including an African Heritage Dialogue last October. From the African Heritage Dialogue came a community desire to explore issues of race, social justice and divisions in American society. One of the participants in the this dialogue was Dr. Dexter Gordon, a professor at the University of Puget Sound and founder of The Conversation, an ongoing group that meets weekly to discuss such issues. As an outgrowth of the Broadway Center’s African Heritage Dialogue, Dr. Gordon and Steven Nebel, an activist with United for Peace of Pierce County, will partner with the Broadway Center to explore the past and current state of the Black/White civil rights coalition.

The result will be a dynamic mixing of deep conversation and great performance brought to life through the Broadway Center’s upcoming performances of Not A Genuine Black Man (see the full show description below) and a panel discussion that features prominent thinkers and activists in the South Sound area examining the current state of the black/white civil rights movement. The panel titled: The Black-White Civil Rights Coalition: Where Are We Now? will be moderated by Dr. Dexter Gordon. The panel will convene on Wednesday, January 9, 2008 at Theater on the Square at 7 PM, admission is free. Refreshments will be served in advance of the panel presentation at 6:30 PM. Confirmed panelists include:

• Dr. Artee Young, Director at The Evergreen State College, Tacoma Campus,  
• Tom Hilyard, Education Chair for the Black Collective,
• Imam Amir Abdul-Matin, President of the Islamic Education and Community Center of Tacoma,
• Charhys Bailey an activist and member of a positive hip hop group 2012,
• Dr. Michael Honey, professor of history, African-American and labor studies at the UW Tacoma
• Bill Hagens, has worked extensively toward organizing multiracial coalitions for social change
• Dr. Dexter Gordon, Moderator, and Professor for African American Studies and Communication Arts at the University of Puget Sound

Brian Copeland brings his poignant and hilarious Not a Genuine Black Man to the Theatre on the Square for performances on Friday and Saturday, January 18 and 19, 2008 at 7:30pm, and again on Sunday, January 20, 2008 at 3:00pm. The one-man-show tells the riveting and comic story of Brian’s youth growing up in the “number one racist community in America,” juxtaposed to his successful career as a stand-up comic and media host. Audiences will be moved to laughter and tears, as Brian puts his unique comic spin on life and what defines us as individuals and as a culture. Tickets for Not a Genuine Black Man are $20 and $34 and are available through the Broadway Center Box Office at 253.591.5894 or online at www.broadwaycenter.org.

Hailed by Sam Hurwitt of the San Francisco Chronicle as “…a beautiful mix of wry humor and heartbreak, indignation and inspiration, a singular story of extreme isolation that speaks to anyone who’s ever felt out of place.”

In 2004, Brian Copeland premiered Not a Genuine Black Man, at the Marsh Theater in San Francisco. The show deals with the lingering effects of Copeland's childhood spent as an African American in the then 99.9% white Bay Area suburb of San Leandro, considered in the 1960's and 70's to be one of America's most racist enclaves. Brian grew up to become a popular radio talk show host, and one day received an anonymous letter telling him that “As an African American, I am disgusted every time I hear your voice because you are not a genuine black man.” The letter inspired a journey of introspection that would become Brian’s greatest hit. The show's themes of isolation, racial identity and redemption struck a central nerve in audiences. Genuine went on to run for over two years, becoming the longest running solo show in San Francisco theatrical history. It went on to acclaimed runs in Los Angeles and Off Broadway. A best selling memoir based on the show and the attention of Hollywood soon followed. Not a Genuine Black Man is currently being developed as a feature film and a television series.

Brian Copeland: Copeland’s incisive, cutting edge standup comedy material and his unique ability to hilariously cut to the heart of some of our most serious social and political problems has earned him spots as the opening act for such diverse artists as Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Dionne Warwick, James Brown, Rick Springfield, Lionel Richie, The Temptations, Aretha Franklin, and many more. In addition to performing in clubs and concert halls across America, he has appeared at such venues as Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Taj Mahal and Trump Palace in Atlantic City and Constitution Hall in Washington DC.

Copeland's quick wit and probing interview style earned him a five year position as co-host of San Francisco Fox affiliate KTVU's top rated breakfast program Mornings on 2 where he did everything from man on the street comedy bits to interviews with such stars as Dustin Hoffman and Garth Brooks. His biting social commentary segment Copeland's Corner appeared daily on KTVU's Noon News.

Copeland's work on television and stage soon caught the attention of San Francisco ABC radio affiliate KGO which produced The Brian Copeland Show. With his unique blend of humor and riveting talk, the show soon became the most listened to program in its time slot. In 2002, KGO debuted a radio version of Copeland’s Corner during its Afternoon News. In 2003, the commentary was honored by the Associated Press with an award for Best Regularly Scheduled Feature Segment. Copeland’s Corner also received the Radio Television News Directors 2003 award for best news writing.

David Ford, Director: David has been collaborating on new and unusual theatre for eighteen years. In addition to Genuine, he has worked on numerous solo shows in some of the finest theatres across the country, including Theatre for the New City (New York), Highways (Los Angeles) and Woolly Mammoth (Washington DC) as well as at theatres around the Bay Area including the Magic Theatre and Marin Theatre Company. Ford’s first play, Too Good to Be True, won second place in South Coast Rep’s 6th Annual California Playwrights Competition. His second play, The Interrogation of Nathan Hale, premiered at SCR and was published by Dramatic Publishing Company.  His third and fourth plays have been commissioned by SCR and Phoenix Pictures (respectively) and have been read at the Mark Taper Forum, the Bay Area Playwright’s Festival, and the Magic Theatre. 

On sale now, tickets are $20 and $34 and may be purchased at the Broadway Center Box Office located on 9th & Broadway or by calling the Box Office at 253.591.5894. To purchase online at any time or for information about upcoming events visit www.broadwaycenter.org.

The Broadway Center for the Performing Arts gratefully acknowledges SAFECO as the primary sponsor of “Not A Genuine Black Man,” and the following for support of the entire 2007-2008 Season: ArtsFund, Ben B. Cheney Foundation, The Boeing Company, City of Tacoma, Forest Foundation, The News Tribune, Pierce County Arts Commission, Sequoia Foundation Pierce County Program, and Washington State Arts Commission.

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