Archie Barlow to Speak at Road Less Traveled Theatre, 6/7-21

Buffalo native and award-winning writer, poet, and spoken-word artist Archie "The Messenger" Barlow will appear locally for two weeks in June in an evening of poetry and theatre. Barlow's play No Stage , a presentation of Writing4MyLife Productions, will open Thursday June 7th at the Road Less Traveled Theater in Downtown Buffalo's Market Arcade Film & Arts Centre. Barlow both wrote and performs in this successful touring production that has been seen in over ten states across the U.S.

No Stage fuses poetry with drama to portray the lives of two young black men in the inner city, as they encounter realities both harsh and pleasant. The two-hour performance takes the audience on an emotional roller coaster tour through birth, death, love, happiness, violence, racism, and self-discovery. The play has also evolved to integrate details of the recent and nationally relevant Trayvon Martin homicide case.

"I hope this play plants seeds that will foster communication between all members of the community at-large in Buffalo," said Mr. Barlow, who avoided the pitfalls of street violence in WNY to graduate from City Honors High School and find success as a writer and poet. "There is a racial dynamic in this country that no longer exists as an undertone, but as a blatant disregard for basic human rights... and there has to be an uproar... in Buffalo and across the country, to signal that no man, woman, or child deserves to have their life taken from them at the hands of another."

Barlow suggested that spoken word and poetry enthusiasts, jazz, neo-soul, gospel, and R&B lovers, and patrons of WNY's performing arts community would all appreciated No Stage .

"The idea behind No Stage ," continued Barlow, "is to remove the boundaries between performer and audience. What results is a crafty blend of poetry, spoken word, and acting. There is no other show like No Stage ."

Barlow's honors and accolades include winning the NAACP's ACT-SO National Oratory Championship, the New Africa House Slam (Buffalo), the Last Poet Standing 2004 Championship (Baltimore), the Rip da Mic Poetry Slam, the Njozi Poets Slam (Buffalo), the Tri-City Slam Series (Cleveland), and the Slam Last Poet Standing Championship. Barlow also was the Capital Jazz Fest (Columbia, MD) 2006 Nuyorican Grand Slam Champion, a member of Morgan State University's Battle of the Schools Slam Team, and has been performing on the national spoken-word circuit for over seven years.

No Stage will run from June 7th through June 21st at The Road Less Traveled Theater. Showtimes are at 8 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. Sundays. General Admission tickets are $20, Student tickets for $15, and Senior tickets for $10. For more information about No Stage , please contact Archie Barlow at (309) 706-0711 or Tony Shep at (716) 444-3016.

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