[NEohioPAL]What the Critics say about Karamu's Permanent Collection

Thu Jan 25 16:48:22 PST 2007

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What The Critics Are Saying About Thomas Gibbons PERMANENT COLLECTION @
Karamu House

"Karamu artistic director Terrence Spivey gets kudos for even daring to do
this complex, multilayered work that questions presumptions that racial
tensions are always somebody else's fault. And his zesty production, which
puts reproductions of Impressionist art on the walls, floor and ceiling of
the Arena Theatre, is masterful."

"Several fine performances at Karamu get at Gibbons' nuances. Anne McEvoy
leads the sextet (three black, three white) as a caftan-clad reporter in
search of truth but who also fans the flames. John Busser's white curator
pursues his own agenda and makes clear-eyed statements about art and racism.
And Katrice Monee Headd's assistant-to-the-director explores black identity
in an increasingly multicultural world." 

"Gibbons goes right to the crux of the matter and lays bare the most
electrifying issues." 

"With this play, which dares to question the "gotcha" game of racist
accusation, Karamu takes a courageously independent stance and reasserts its
claim to be not just a "black" theater, but a truly integrated one." - Tony
Brown, Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Thomas Gibbons' incendiary drama about charges of racism and dueling
lawsuits at a private art museum gets a terrific ride from director Terrence
Spivey and his Karamu cast. John Busser is spot-on as the naive white
subordinate coaxed into dissing his ambitious new African-American boss (a
spiky Joseph Primes) by a silken snake of a reporter (Anne McEvoy). The play
is full of ironic twists and turns, and Gibbons' ability to make everyone a
combination of sympathetic and wrong-headed gives the play an uncanny sense
of truth: it's a tragicomedy that depicts all the things that can go wrong
when principles and pride get entangled." 

  "John Konopka's subtle set, with painted reproductions of famous European
masterworks on all floor surfaces and African art at the periphery, creates
a visual metaphor that literally underpins the dramatic fireworks."  Linda
Eisenstein, Cool Cleveland

"Derived from the real-life tribulations of Philadelphia's treasured Barnes
Foundation, Collection is a thoughtful, literate, passionately balanced
piece, whose head and heart are both rightly placed. Racists of any stripe
will find no comfort here, as Gibbons unflinchingly exposes the fanatical
foolishness of white and black alike, along with their genuine resentments."

"Terrence Spivey's cogent production plays to Gibbons' strengths. In
particular, the director has corralled one of Karamu's most evenly able
casts in recent memory. As North, Joseph Primes exudes a tightly controlled
inner rage that explodes dynamically in emotional confrontations with John
Busser's Barrow. Ranging from the conversational to injured fury, Busser
conveys an impressive humanity. Anne McEvoy invests the reporter with an
affable reptilian sliminess, Katrice Monee Headd wavers sympathetically as
North's confused assistant, and Iris Tucker-Berry is a staunch ultimate
inheritor of the museum."  - James Damico, Cleveland Free Times

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PERMANENT COLLECTION - Barrymore Award for Outstanding New Play/Cleveland
Premier (Drama) Written By Thomas Gibbons Directed by Terrence Spivey (Arena
Theatre), January 19 - February 11, 2007 

 "put yourself in my place"  "Racist, the accusation is it's own
unanswerable truth."  These are stirring lines from two central characters
that ignites Thomas Gibbons thought provoking Permanent Collection. 

In Permanent Collection, Thomas Gibbons explores racial politics within the
art world. Sterling North, an African American, has just been hired as new
director for a private arts museum under the Morris Foundation.  He
discovers African American art tucked away in storage and challenges the
institution to display them amongst the present European art. This most
recent play is being produced in regional theatres throughout the country.
It is based on an actual account that happened in Philadelphia-with a
twist-which garnered national attention. 

Post performance discussions will occur on Friday, January 26  and Sunday
January 28th ; Saturdays and Sundays February 3rd & 4th and 10th and 11th.

During the second week of Permanent Collection performances selective
artists from the Greater Cleveland area will exhibit their work in Karamu's
Concert Hall on the following days:

            6:30 pm  Friday and Saturday, January 26 & 27; 

6:30 pm  Saturday February 3 and 10th.

Sunday  1:30 pm January 28, February 4 and 11

 The Exhibits are FREE and Open to the Public for viewing. 

Show Performances: Thursday through Saturday at 8:00 pm; Sunday at 3:00 pm
Regular Ticket Prices: Thursday and Sunday $18.00; Friday and Saturday
$21.00
For special discount packages please contact Karamu's box office at
216-795-7077.

Come to Karamu and Feel at Home In the House, Karamu House is the oldest
African American Cultural Arts Institution in the United States.  Karamu's
theatre productions are sponsored in part by The Cleveland Foundation.

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<p class=3DMsoNormal><strong><b><i><font size=3D4 color=3Dblack =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-style:italic=
'>What
The Critics Are Saying About Thomas Gibbons PERMANENT COLLECTION @ =
Karamu House</span></font></i></b></strong><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>=

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>=

"Karamu =
artistic
director <st1:PersonName w:st=3D"on">Terrence Spivey</st1:PersonName> =
gets kudos
for even daring to do this complex, multilayered work that questions
presumptions that racial tensions are always somebody else’s =
fault. And
his zesty production, which puts reproductions of Impressionist art on =
the
walls, floor and ceiling of the Arena Theatre, is =
masterful."<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>=

"Several =
fine
performances at Karamu get at Gibbons’ nuances. Anne McEvoy leads =
the
sextet (three black, three white) as a caftan-clad reporter in search of =
truth
but who also fans the flames. John Busser’s white curator pursues =
his own
agenda and makes clear-eyed statements about art and racism. And Katrice =
Monee
Headd’s assistant-to-the-director explores black identity in an
increasingly multicultural =
world."  
  =
<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><em><i><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>"Gibbons =
goes right
to the crux of the matter and lays bare the most electrifying =
issues." </span></font></i></em><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>=

<p class=3DMsoNormal><em><i><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>"With this =
play,
which dares to question the “gotcha” game of racist =
accusation,
Karamu takes a courageously independent stance and reasserts its claim =
to be
not just a “black” theater, but a truly integrated =
one." </span></font></i></em><strong><b><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>- Tony Brown, Cleveland Plain =
Dealer</span></font></b></strong><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>=

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>=

"Thomas =
Gibbons'
incendiary drama about charges of racism and dueling lawsuits at a =
private art
museum gets a terrific ride from director <st1:PersonName =
w:st=3D"on">Terrence
 Spivey</st1:PersonName> and his Karamu cast. John Busser is spot-on as =
the
naive white subordinate coaxed into dissing his ambitious new =
African-American
boss (a spiky Joseph Primes) by a silken snake of a reporter (Anne =
McEvoy). The
play is full of ironic twists and turns, and Gibbons' ability =
t<st1:PersonName
w:st=3D"on">o m</st1:PersonName>ake everyone a combination of =
sympathetic and
wrong-headed gives the play an uncanny sense of truth: it's a =
tragicomedy that
depicts all the things that can go wrong when principles and pride get
entangled." <o:p></o:p></spa=
n>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><em><i><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>  =
"John
Konopka's subtle set, with painted reproductions of famous European =
masterworks
on all floor surfaces and African art at the periphery, creates a visual
metaphor that literally underpins the dramatic =
fireworks."</span></font></i></em><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>  <st1:PersonName w:st=3D"on"><strong><b><font =
face=3DArial><span
 style=3D'font-family:Arial'>Linda =
Eisenstein</span></font></b></strong></st1:PersonName><strong><b><font
face=3DArial><span style=3D'font-family:Arial'>, Cool =
Cleveland</span></font></b></strong><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

"Derived from the real-life =
tribulations of
<st1:City w:st=3D"on"><st1:place =
w:st=3D"on">Philadelphia</st1:place></st1:City>'s
treasured Barnes Foundation, Collection is a thoughtful, literate, =
passionately
balanced piece, whose head and heart are both rightly placed. Racists of =
any
stripe will find no comfort here, as Gibbons unflinchingly exposes the
fanatical foolishness of white and black alike, along with their genuine
resentments."<o:p></o:p></spa=
n>

"<st1:Perso=
nName
w:st=3D"on">Terrence Spivey</st1:PersonName>'s cogent production plays =
to
Gibbons' strengths. In particular, the director has corralled one of =
Karamu's
most evenly able casts in recent memory. As North, Joseph Primes exudes =
a tightly
controlled inner rage that explodes dynamically in emotional =
confrontations
with John Busser's Barrow. Ranging from the conversational to injured =
fury,
Busser conveys an impressive humanity. Anne McEvoy invests the reporter =
with an
affable reptilian sliminess, Katrice Monee Headd wavers sympathetically =
as
North's confused assistant, and Iris Tucker-Berry is a staunch ultimate
inheritor of the museum."  =
- James Damico, <st1:City w:st=3D"on"><st1:place =
w:st=3D"on">Cleveland</st1:place></st1:City>
Free Times<o:p></o:p></spa=
n>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>=

<p class=3DMsoNormal><strong><b><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>----------------=
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
------------------------------------------------------------------</span>=
</font></b></strong><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><em><b><i><f=
ont
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;font-weight:bold'>PERMANENT =
COLLECTION</span></font></i></b></em><strong><b><font
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:black'> - Barrymore
Award for Outstanding New Play</span></font></b></strong><font =
color=3Dblack
face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:black'>/<strong><b><font
face=3DArial><span style=3D'font-family:Arial'>Cleveland Premier (Drama) =
Written By
Thomas Gibbons Directed by <st1:PersonName w:st=3D"on">Terrence =
Spivey</st1:PersonName>
(</span></font></b></strong></span></font><strong><b><font size=3D2 =
color=3Dblack
face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Arena
Theatre), January 19 – February 11, =
2007 </span></font></b></strong><font
color=3Dblack><span style=3D'color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<U1:P></U1:P>

<U1:P> </U1:P><f=
ont
color=3Dblack>"put
yourself in my place"  "Racist, the accusation is it's =
own
unanswerable truth."  These are stirring =
lines
from two central characters that ignites Thomas Gibbons thought =
provoking Permanent =
Collection. <o:p></o:p>

In Permanent =
Collection,
Thomas Gibbons explores racial politics within the art world. Sterling =
North,
an African American, has just been hired as new director for a private =
arts
museum under the Morris Foundation.  He discovers African
American art tucked away in storage and challenges the institution to =
display
them amongst the present European art. This most recent play is =
being
produced in regional theatres throughout the country. It is =
based on
an actual account that happened in <st1:City w:st=3D"on"><st1:place =
w:st=3D"on">Philadelphia</st1:place></st1:City>-with
a twist-which garnered national attention. <o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>Post performance discussions will occur on Friday, =
January
26  and Sunday January 28<sup>th</sup> ; Saturdays and Sundays =
February 3<sup>rd</sup>
& 4<sup>th</sup> and 10<sup>th</sup> and =
11<sup>th</sup>.<U1:P></U1:P></span></font><font
color=3Dblack><span style=3D'color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
text-indent:-.25in'><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>During the second week of <i><span
style=3D'font-style:italic'>Permanent Collection</span></i> performances
selective artists from the Greater Cleveland area will exhibit their =
work in
Karamu’s Concert Hall on the following days:</span></font><font
color=3Dblack><span style=3D'color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<U1:P></U1:P>

<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>          =

6:30 pm  Friday and Saturday, January 26 & 27; =
<U1:P></U1:P></span></font><font
color=3Dblack><span style=3D'color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
text-indent:.5in'><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>6:30 pm  Saturday February 3 =
and 10<sup>th</sup>.</span></font><font
color=3Dblack><span style=3D'color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<U1:P></U1:P>

<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
text-indent:.5in'><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Sunday  1:30 pm January 28, =
February
4 and 11</span></font><font color=3Dblack><span =
style=3D'color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<U1:P></U1:P>

The Exhibits are FREE and Open to the Public for =
viewing. <o:p></o:p>

<U1:P></U1:P>

<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;letter-spacing:-.25pt'>Show Performances: Thursday through =
Saturday
at 8:00 pm; Sunday at 3:00 pm<br>
Regular Ticket Prices: Thursday and Sunday $18.00; Friday and Saturday =
$21.00</span></font><font
size=3D4 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;letter-spacing:-.25pt'><br>
</span></font><font color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:Arial;
color:black;letter-spacing:-.25pt'>For special discount packages please =
contact
Karamu’s box office at 216-795-7077</span></font><font size=3D4
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;letter-spacing:-.25pt'>.<U1:P></U1:P><b><u><span =
style=3D'font-weight:
bold'><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;letter-spacing:-.25pt'>Come to Karamu and Feel at Home In =
the
House, Karamu House is the oldest African American Cultural Arts =
Institution in
the <st1:country-region w:st=3D"on"><st1:place w:st=3D"on">United =
States</st1:place></st1:country-region>. 
Karamu's theatre productions are sponsored in part by The Cleveland =
Foundation.</span></font><font
color=3Dblack><span style=3D'color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

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