Al Letson Brings Summer In Sanctuary to the Abingdon Theatre 3/25-4/17

Providing a glimpse into one man's attempt to use words and poetry as a means to connect with young people living in an economically challenged community, 'Summer in Sanctuary' returns to the Abington Theatre in New York City for a 3-week run, Friday, March 25, 2011 to Sunday, April 17, 2011.

Raised in a middle class New Jersey home, noted poet, playwright and NPR host Al Letson is the proverbial fish out of water during his time spent working as part camp counselor, part writer-in-residence at the Sanctuary on 8th Street, a community center in an underserved neighborhood in Jacksonville, Florida, the summer of 2006. Raised in a middle class home, Letson's eyes are opened struggles of the disadvantaged children at the Sanctuary who are more concerned with survival than the words of George Bernard Shaw.

In a marriage of old and new forms, Letson weaves his story in the style of monologist Spalding Gray, but he brings his own style infused slam poetry, actual videos of his time with the kids, and musical accompaniment by hip hop producer Willie Evans Jr.

With 'Summer in Sanctuary', Letson challenges perceptions of race and class. As he moves swiftly from one end of the stage to the other, neck swirling, gum popping, the occasional rap free style - then returning fluidly to form and offering first-person thoughts and actions - Letson embodies not only the characters of the children with whom he sought a connection, but the struggle to do so when juxtaposed with his Theo Huxtable-like existence. The audience witnesses the internal frustration experienced as Letson makes attempts - at times, fumbled - to reach a community of young people who reject Letson's teachings with blank expressions, hurled insults, and spit in the face.

Says Letson, "When I started at the Sanctuary, I thought I was going to go there, and like all the movies I'd seen, be some sort of a savior. What I learned is that real life doesn't work that way. There are no easy answers, and sometimes even the best intentions bare little fruit. But if your patient, those small victories can change lives. I am not your typical volunteer, or activist that works in these type of situations, but that's the point. You don't have to be extraordinary to give something back, you just have to care."

The show returns to New York City this year after premiering in Baltimore at the Theatre Project to reviews from the Baltimore Sun and WYPR; after which Letson continued to perform the show around the county including Jacksonville, Florida and New York.

Says Martha Thomas of NPR, "Fast, turbulent, filled with ruckus, or slowing down for contemplation, picking up some characters along the way. [Letson is] an engaging presence blending the language of a poet with the language of the streets. Moving in and out of character as easy as flipping his hands or shrugging his shoulder. Letson fills the large stage, empty but for a lone desk, and a dj/sound guy in the corner with the personalities he appropriates...He ricochets about the stage, braids flapping shifting from exposition to poetry when the emotional content becomes too much."

'Summer in Sanctuary' is directed by Rob Urbinati, who helmed Foggy Bottom and The President and Her Mistress, both of which played at the Abington during their 2006/7 season. Music by Willie Evans Jr; developed and directed by Gary Anderson.

Performance schedule:
Opening Night, 3/25, at 8:00pm
2nd Saturday, 3/26, at 2:00pm
3rd Saturday, 3/26, 8:00pm
4th Sunday, 3/27, 2:00pm

From March 30 - April 17:
Wednesdays, Thursdays at 7:00pm
Fridays, Saturdays at 8:00pm
Saturdays, Sundays at 2:00pm
Sunday, 4/3, 5:00pm
Closing Night, 4/17

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by visiting www.abingdontheatre.org.

About Al Letson: Soul-stirring, interdisciplinary work has garnered Al Letson national recognition and devoted fans. Early in his career, Letson established himself as a heavyweight in the Poetry Slam community and went on to be a featured performer on stages across the country, including such venues as HBO's Def Poetry Jam, and CBS's 2004 Final Four PreGame

Drawing on his background as a performance poet, Letson seamlessly weaves spoken word into the fabric of his theatre work. With plays like Essential Personnel, a solo performance; Griot: He Who Speaks the Sweet Word, a theatrical celebration of African American performance art and Julius X a mash-up of Shakespeare, spoken word, African mythology, and Civil Rights history he has taken traditional theater into new directions. His most recent work, Summer in Sanctuary opens off-Broadway with the Abingdon Theatre Company in March of 2011. Summer in Sanctuary is an autobiographical piece chronicling his journey working at a summer camp at the Sanctuary on 8th Street, a community center in an economically challenged neighborhood in the south. Karen Houppert of the Baltimore Sun said, "Letson is a powerful performer who tells his story by moving fluidly from one role to the next. He is at his comedic best when playing both himself - overly sincere and eager - and the sassy kids who badger him."

In 2008, Letson was one of three finalists out of more than 1,500 applicants to win the Public Radio Talent Quest. The Talent Quest was an effort by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the Public Radio Exchange to find new voices and innovative programming to launch nationally on public radio. Since that time Letson's program State of the Re:Union (SOTRU) has become one of the fastest growing shows in public radio, airing on more than 200 stations, receiving critical acclaim and the first co-distributed program by NPR and the Public Radio Exchange. Every episode State of the Re:Union travels to an American city or town to tell stories about the American people and explore how community is being created. Matt Martin, General Manager, KALW, San Francisco says, "State of the Re:Union models the curiosity and open heartedness public radio should stand for, and never forgets the beat". SOTRU is currently in production of its second season and is also being developed for television.

While his many interests are diverse, The Common theme in Letson's work is his effort to bring people together. By examining difficult topics and influential historical themes, Letson strives to focus on our common humanity-and always present a production with consummate artistry.

 

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