"Johnson takes a risk and plunges head first into the difficult subject matter of gay Black men living in Southern states. This one-man show answers the questions many are afraid to ask". — The Washington Post
Chicago, IL - Jane M. Saks and Project& bring Dr. E. Patrick Johnson's hit one-man show Sweet Tea: Black Gay Men of the South to Chicago for a special engagement at the Hal and Martha Hyer Wallis Theatre @ Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, May 28, 29, 31 and June 3-7, 2015.
Based on his award-winning book, Dr. E. Patrick Johnson stars in this one-man exploration into the Southern black gay community. A fascinating, validating oral history inspired by the author's personal journey, Sweet Tea: Black Gay Men of the South explores identity, connection, power and partnership. With complexity and raw emotion, Sweet Tea humanizes a community often forced to the outskirts of society. Poignant and often heart-wrenching, Johnson reinforces the spoken-word tradition while challenging stereotypes — and finding humor, humanity and hope within.
Against the backdrop of both progressive and regressive legislation, racially motivated violence and the resulting #blacklivesmatter movement, Sweet Tea delves into the perceptions, triumphs and vulnerabilities of this minority within a minority. "Sweet Tea is not a show fixed in history," says Jane M. Saks, Project& President and Artistic Director, "it is a production of this moment, lending its voice to the necessary global conversations around race, sexuality and identity."
This riveting production is directed by Joseph Megel, co-presented by The Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts and Project&, an arts entity focused on cultural production with social impact.
Additionally, as part of a deep commitment to large and nuanced LGBT-centered conversations, Project& will work to develop and produce our newest collaboration with Dr. Johnson, Honeypot: Black Southern Women Who Love Women, into a national production and cast with actors and a rich creative team in 2016/2017.
SWEET TEA—WHEN May 28, 29, 31 & June 3-7, 2015 ( 7:30p for evening shows with Sunday matinees at 2p )
SWEET TEA—WHERE:
Hal & Martha Hyer Wallis Theatre, Northwestern University, 1949 Campus Dr., Evanston, IL
SWEET TEA—CREDITS:
- Presented by Project& and The Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts
- E. Patrick Johnson: Writer and Performer
- Joseph Megel: Director
- Jane M. Saks: Producer and Creative Advisor/Collaborator
- This presentation is co-sponsored by Project&, Black Arts Initiative and One Book, One
Northwestern
BIO INFORMATION:
Dr. E. Patrick Johnson is the Carlos Montezuma Professor of Performance Studies and African-American Studies at Northwestern University and a Project& Artist. A scholar, artist, and activist, Johnson has performed nationally and internationally and has published widely in the area of race, gender, sexuality and performance. He has written two award-winning books,
Appropriating Blackness: Performance and the Politics of Authenticity ( Duke UP, 2003 ), and Sweet Tea: Black Gay Men of the South - An Oral History. Johnson is the recipient of a 2014 Otto Award for his contributions to political theatre. He was also awarded the Leslie Irene Coger Award for Outstanding Contributions to Performance by the National Communication Association, the Randy Majors Memorial Award for Outstanding Contributions to LGBT Scholarship in Communication and was inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame—all in
2010. He received his PhD from Louisiana State University in 1996, and was also the first African American born and raised in Hickory, NC to receive a PhD.
About Project& ( www.projectand.org )
Project& is a new arts entity that believes art has the unique power to address pressing issues facing local and global communities. We amplify artistic voices that risk, engage, investigate and inspire, highlighting issues at the forefront of our world today: issues of gender and race, the global culture of violence, economic and social equity and LGBTQ freedoms — one of the greatest human rights struggles of our time. Through extraordinary collaborations with awardwinning and emergent artists such as Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Lynsey Addario, acclaimed visual artist Hank Willis Thomas, MacArthur Fellow and revolutionary flutist Claire Chase and accomplished scholar and artist, Dr. E. Patrick Johnson, Project& examines and influences critical policy, social and community discussions.
Jane M. Saks is the Founding President and Artistic Director of Project&. Sweet Tea, the play, was originally developed and produced by Saks from its book form into the full-length production. She is a cultural alchemist, arts advocate, creative collaborator and producer, as well as a writer and educator. Her work challenges and champions issues of gender, sexuality, human rights, race and power within the worlds of arts and culture, politics and civil rights, academia and philanthropy. She is the producer, co-producer, creative advisor and series producer on many original and compelling creative works in various media and art forms.
The direct link for tickets is:
www.communication.northwestern.edu/wirtz/special_events .
