Jewelle Gomez's WAITING FOR GIOVANNI Comes to The Flea Theater

TOSOS presents its upcoming production of Waiting for Giovanni at The Flea Theater. A great American writer at a pivotal moment in his career is the subject of a play by another iconic American author.

It's 1957. Bombs are exploding in Black churches and lynchings are a fact of life for many across the U.S. From these ashes a young Black writer emerges to become a literary celebrity bringing with him both his boundless talent and personal insecurities.

"Waiting for Giovanni," a new play by Jewelle Gomez, in collaboration with Harry Waters Jr., imagines a moment in the mind of James Baldwin in which he struggles with writing a novel that he's been told will ruin his career.

Cast:
Jordan J. Adams
Neil Dawson*
Jonathan Dewberry*
Michael Striano*
Robert Walker Jeffery
Ken Simon*
Joy Sudduth*

*member Actors' Equity Association

The Siggy at The Flea Theater
20 Thomas Street, New York, NY 10007

Thursday - Saturday July 12-14
Tuesday - Saturday July 17 - 21
Wednesday - Saturday July 25 - August 4
All performances are at 7pm
Tickets are available at: Waiting for Giovanni

Running time: 2 hours with intermission

Jewelle Gomez is the author of eight books including the Lambda Award-winning classic, THE GILDA STORIES, which has been in print since 1991. Her play,
"Bones and Ash," based on THE GILDA STORIES, was commissioned by the Urban Bush Women Company. "Waiting for Giovanni" is the first play of a trilogy about
African American artists in the early part of the 20th century. The second play, "Leaving the Blues" about singer/composer, Alberta Hunter, premiered at San Francisco's New Conservatory Theatre Center, where she is Playwright in Residence, in 2017. She is currently working on "Unpacking at Ptown," the third play in the trilogy, which will premier in 2021. www.jewellegomez.com
waiting4giovanni.blogspot.com

Mark Finley (Director) is the artistic director of TOSOS and has directed many of its acclaimed productions including Doric Wilson's Street Theater - 2016 IT Award Winner for Best Revival. He made his Off-Broadway directorial debut with Chris Weikel's Penny Penniworth. He most recently directed the TOSOS production of the Byron Loyd's Rebel Boy Fireworks (which premiered at the United Solo Arts Festival) and Virginia Baeta's Damaged Goods (Emerging Artists). Mark is also an author, an actor and a graduate of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

TOSOS (The Other Side of Silence) is New York City's oldest professional LGBTQ theater. In 1974, Off-Off Broadway veteran Doric Wilson, cabaret star Billy Blackwell and
director Peter dell Valle, started the first professional gay theatre company in NYC. It was called The Other Side of Silence; TOSOS for short. In 2002, directors Mark Finley
and Barry Childs and playwright Wilson resurrected TOSOS. The company has produced over 30 mainstage shows and so many readings of new plays and works in progress we have trouble counting them all.
www.tososnyc.org

The Flea Theater, under Artistic Director Niegel Smith and Producing Director Carol Ostrow, is one of New York's leading Off-Off-Broadway companies. Winner of several Obie Awards, a Special Drama Desk Award for outstanding achievement and an Otto Award for political theater, The Flea has presented over 100 theatrical, musical and dance performances since its inception in 1996. Past productions include premieres by Steven Banks, Thomas Bradshaw, Erin Courtney, Bathsheba Doran, Will Eno, Karen Finley, Amy Freed, Sarah Gancher, Sean Graney, A.R. Gurney, Jennifer Haley, Hamish Linklater, Enrique Gutiérrez Ortiz Monasterio, Itamar Moses, Anne Nelson, Qui Nguyen, Adam Rapp, Jonathan Reynolds, Kate Robbins, Roger Rosenblatt, Elizabeth Swados, and Mac Wellman. Successes include Drama Desk nominated She Kills Monsters, These Seven Sicknesses, Restoration Comedy, The Mysteries and ten World Premiere productions by A.R. Gurney, including the WSJ Best New Play of 2013, Family Furniture.