Stage Memoir COUNTRY OF KINGS to Play Winter Center, Today

Young Audiences New York and Literature to Life present the tough yet poignant biographical stage memoir, "County of Kings", written by Lemon Andersen and performed by Michael Angel Viera, at the Winter Center Saturday, October 3 at 7:30 PM. The play depicts Lemon Andersen's experience as a good kid growing up in the unforgiving environment of Brooklyn, New York. Weaving hard edged drama with urban poetry, "County of Kings" is a coming-of-age story told with profound honesty, compassion, and humor, touching on young love, the birth of hip hop, slinging crack, ballet, stealing car parts, prison, and poetry. This performance is presented by Millersville University's Cultural Affairs Committee. The Winter Center is located at 60 W. Cottage Avenue, Millersville.

Lemon Andersen is an American poet, spoken word artist, and actor. He served two prison sentences before he was 21 and won a Tony before he turned 30. He has been featured as a regular on HBO's "Def Poetry" presented by Russell Simmons and was also an original cast member and writer of Russell Simmons' Tony Award winning Def Poetry Jam on Broadway. On screen Lemon has appeared opposite Denzel Washington in Spike Lee's Inside Man and The Soloist starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr.

Growing up in poverty as a teenager, Lemon experienced the successive deaths of his stepfather, father, and mother from complications of heroin abuse and AIDS, leaving him and his older brother orphaned and forced to fend for themselves. Lemon became involved in serious crime, but his growing compassion first for hip hop and then acting, as well as a succession of gifted mentors who recognized and nurtured his theatrical talent, resulted in his development into a powerful artist.

In "County of Kings" Andersen paints a vivid portrait of his own life and of the lives of countless other Brooklynites during the 1980s and 1990s.

Tickets are $8 adults, senior citizens (60+), and visiting students. MU ID discount tickets are $5 in advance (limit 2 per ID) at a ticket office location; $8 at the door. ASL interpretation will be provided for this performance. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting ArtsMU.com or by calling 717-871-7600. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Ticket Office located in the Student Memorial Center on Millersville's campus, or the Ware Center, located at 42 N. Prince Street, in Lancaster. Doors open one hour before each show for ticket sales, subject to availability.

The Millersville University Visual and Performing Arts Season is made possible by support from Season Platinum Partner Rodgers & Associates and Gold Season Sponsors Aussie and the Fox and Hagelgans & Veronis, and Silver Season Sponsors Clipper Magazine, The Hotel Lancaster, 12:34 MicroTechnologies, and Weber Advertising. First Friday Music Stage is sponsored by Fine Living Lancaster. This season's Luminary Donors include Ann Barshinger, John & Susan Garofola, Mary Burton & Laurent Horne, Linda Holman Marcks, William McIlwaine, Peggy Neff, Mary Kearns & Jon Walker, and Paul & Judy Ware.

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