Out of the Vineyard at Joe’s Movement Emporium, Sep 8-24

Out of the Vineyard at Joe’s Movement Emporium, Sep 8-24

Joe’s Movement Emporium presents:
Out of the Vineyard
by Psalmayene 24

Opening Night! Friday September 8, 2023 7:30 pm
Saturday September 9, 2023 3 pm
Saturday September 9, 2023 7:30 pm
Sunday September 10, 2023 3 pm
Wednesday September 13, 2023 7:30 pm
Thursday September 14, 2023 11 am
Thursday September 14, 2023 7:30 pm
Friday September 15, 2023 11 am
Friday September 15, 2023 7:30 pm
Saturday September 16, 2023 3 pm
Saturday September 16, 2023 7:30 pm
Sunday September 17, 2023 3 pm
Monday September 18, 2023 7:30 pm
Wednesday September 20, 2023 7:30 pm
Thursday September 21, 2023 7:30 pm
Friday September 22, 2023 11 am
Friday September 22, 2023 7:30 pm
Saturday September 23, 2023 3 pm
Saturday September 23, 2023 7:30 pm
Sunday September 24, 2023 3 pm

Location: Joe’s Movement Emporium.

Over the last year, we dug deeper into the Freedom Stories Initiative alongside playwright Psalmayene 24 (Psalm), who was inspired by Dr. William G. Thomas’ book of history “A Question of Freedom”. The book follows the story of the longest and most complex legal challenge to slavery in American history. Psalm referenced Prince George’s County’s rich history as he created the play Out of the Vineyard, weaving together monologues that excavate a buried chapter in American history while illuminating how the legacy of slavery still affects us.

Out of the Vineyard is directed by director-choreographer Tony Thomas and features actors Scott Abernethy, Frank Britton, Adrienne Nelson, and Jacqueline Youm. The design team includes costume designer Jeannette Christensen, sound design by Nick Hernandez, lighting design by Luis Garcia, set design by Shartoya Jn. Baptiste, and media design by Christian Henriquez. The production will be stage managed by Kate Kilbane.

The Freedom Stories initiative is a program partnership between Prince George’s County Memorial Library System, Prince George’s Community College Center for Performing Arts, Prince George’s County Office of Human Rights, and Joe’s Movement Emporium. The commissioned play Out of the Vineyard is made possible by the generous support of PGCMLS Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, Busboys and Poets, Maryland Humanities Counsel, if, A Foundation for Radical Possibility, Maryland Milestones, National Endowment for the Arts, Adelphi Friends Meeting, Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, and individual donors.

The premiere of Out of the Vineyard will take place from Friday, September 8th to Sunday, September 24th at Joe’s Movement Emporium. Each performance will have a post-show discussion with guest facilitators.

*Recommended for audiences ages 10+, with some adult language and discussions of systemic racism.

Adults $40, Student/Senior/Veteran $25. Click here.

Ladies of Laughter at Prince George’s Community College, May 13

Ladies of Laughter at Prince George’s Community College, May 13

Prince George’s Community College presents:
Ladies of Laughter: Funny and Fabulous

Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 7:30 PM

Audience warning: This event is recommended for ages 18+.

Location: Prince George’s Community College, In Person.

Center for Performing Arts, 301 Largo Road Largo, MD 20774

Since it first began at a YWCA in 1998, the Ladies of Laughter has steadily become known as the “career-builder” for women in comedy. Tonight’s show includes three national Ladies of Laughter Winners: Jane Condon, Jocelyn Chia and Leighann Lord.

Its international competition and tour has visited historic theatres and legendary venues like Madison Square Garden and Caesars, and has included major comedic talent, including Amy Schumer, Michelle Buteau, “Big Bang Theory” star Melissa Ruach, and countless other notable women in comedy.

Jane Condon has two boys, otherwise, everything’s fine. Since she’s from a blue-collar town in Massachusetts, she likes to make fun of her current posh address in Greenwich, CT. She loves to tell stories about her adventures (mostly survival tales) with her boys. Condon was named one of 10 Comedy Best Bets in Back Stage’s annual comedy issue (2001). She has appeared on ABC-TV’s “The View” and Lifetime TV’s “Girls’ Night Out” and FOX-TV’s series finale of “24. She won Audience Favorite (NY) on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.” Last May 2011, Jane was the commencement speaker at Wellesley College (her alma mater) and at the University of New Haven graduation.

Jocelyn Chia is a New York-based standup comedian originally from Singapore. She is the 2016 Ladies of Laughter Newcomer Winner at Turning Stone Resort Casino. Having lived much of her life in Asia, she brings a unique perspective to her experiences in the United States, which she draws from to entertain audiences with hilarious anecdotes and humorous observations. A lawyer-turned-comedian, she is the winner of the Gotham Comedy Club’s Funniest Lawyer Competition, the first runner-up of the She-Devil Comedy Festival, and has been a guest comedian on the Howard Stern Channel of Sirius XM. She is also a two-time winner of the
Moth Storyslams and enjoys weaving storytelling into her stand-up.

Leighann Lord is smart, sexy, savvy, and funny, Leighann Lord’s “heads-up humor” is stand-up comedy at its finest. Inspired by the brilliance of George Carlin, the smooth jazz style of Franklyn Ajaye, and the elegance of Rita Rudner, Leighann has crafted her own unique brand of Thinking Cap Comedy. It is no wonder she received the NYC Black Comedy Award for “The Most Thought Provoking Black Female Comic.” And for two consecutive years, Leighann was Harlem Week’s official comedian. (The only other comedian in Harlem Week’s history to earn that distinction was Richard Pryor.) Leighann has performed around the world. In London, she appeared at The
Comedy Store, and on the BBC show Blouse and Skirt (think Politically Incorrect meets BET). In The Netherlands, she was a guest on the popular late night talk show Raymann is Late! and The Comedy Factory. A festival favorite, Leighann has been featured in the Trinidad, Montreal, Winnipeg, Halifax, Boston, Detroit and NYC Underground Comedy Festivals. She also entertained U.S. troops stationed in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia during Operation Enduring Freedom, as well as troops helping the Haitian earthquake relief effort (Operation Unified Response). This year, she was featured in Showtime’s “Funny Women of A Certain
Age.”

Tickets: $45 + $4.75, click here.

Students Playwriting and Acting Showcase at Prince George’s Community College, May 4

Students Playwriting and Acting Showcase at Prince George’s Community College, May 4

Prince George’s Community College presents:
Students Playwriting and Acting Showcase

Thursday, May 04, 2023 at 11:00 AM

Location: Prince George’s Community College, In Person.

Center for Performing Arts, 301 Largo Road Largo, MD 20774

An end-of-the-semester event where theatre students perform small vignettes to demonstrate their skills.

Tickets: Free, tickets required, click here.

The Piano Lesson at Prince George’s Community College, Apr 13-15

The Piano Lesson at Prince George’s Community College, Apr 13-15

Prince George’s Community College presents:
The Piano Lesson
By August Wilson
Directed by Ayesis Clay

Thursday, 13 April 2023 to Saturday, 15 April 2023 at 7:30 PM

Location: Prince George’s Community College, In Person.

Center for Performing Arts, 301 Largo Road Largo, MD 20774

In “The Piano Lesson,” a play about a Black family living in Pittsburgh in 1936, Boy Willie and his friend Lymon reflect different attitudes about self-determination, the process by which a person makes choices about and manages his or her own life.

Tickets: $10 + $4.75; Free for PGCC students, click here.

Dragons and Mythical Beasts at Prince George’s Community College, Mar 30

Dragons and Mythical Beasts at Prince George’s Community College, Mar 30

Prince George’s Community College presents:
Dragons and Mythical Beasts

Thursday, March 30, 2023 at 7:00 PM

Location: Prince George’s Community College, In Person.

Center for Performing Arts, 301 Largo Road Largo, MD 20774

Calling all brave heroes! Enter into a magical world of myths and legends in this fantastical new show for the whole family.

In Dragons and Mythical Beasts, unveil a myriad of dark secrets and come face to face with some of the most magnificent monsters and terrifying beasts ever to walk the earth. Discover the colossal Stone Troll, the mysterious Indrik and Japanese Baku; the Tooth Fairy (not as sweet as you’d think), an adorable Unicorn and majestic Griffin. Take your place among legendary heroes, just don’t wake the Dragon…

This award-winning show is brought to you from the creators of the international smash hit Dinosaur World Live. Nominated for the 2022 Olivier Award for Best Family Entertainment, don’t miss this brand new spell-binding adventure live on stage!

Suitable for all ages 3+.

Tickets: $15-$35 + $4.75, click here.