AfroSolo ARTS FESTIVAL 31 LET FREEDOM RING! PART 2 at AfroSolo

AfroSolo Theatre Company presents… 

AfroSolo ARTS FESTIVAL 31

LET FREEDOM RING! PART 2 

Fri., and Sat., March 28, 29, 2025 at 7:00 pm; 
Sun., March 30, 2025 at 3:00 pm

Limited Engagement - 3 Performances Only!

Potrero Stage* 1695 18th St., San Francisco, CA 94107

In Person & Live Streaming options available.

Show Dates & Performers: (3 shows) - Same performers – all 3 shows
- Fri. March 28, 2025 - 7:00 pm

- Sat. March 29, 2025 - 7:00 pm

- Sun. March 30, 2025 - 3:00 pm

Performers:

Douglass Haynes - vocalist

Augustene Phillips - writer

Libah Sheppard - writer

Thomas Robert Simpson, - writer 

Hugh Leeman – filmmaker

Dr. Carl Blake (piano for Douglass Haynes)

AfroSolo ARTS FESTIVAL 31 - LET FREEDOM RING! PART 2 

Now in its 31st year, the AfroSolo ARTS FESTIVAL presents LET FREEDOM RING! PART 2
featuring African American solo performers including: 

Douglass Haynes – vocalist; Dr. Carl Blake - Piano:
Douglass Haynes - vocalist, will perform “Songs That Feed My Soul,” a mini-concert of Black Gospel Hymns and Negro Spirituals. 

Augustene Phillips - writer

Will read her short story, “Let America Be America Again”.

Using the story of her father, Phillips writes a cautionary story about what life will be like for many people if the onslaught of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs (DEI), the erasure of, or a sanitized version of Black History in education, the banning of books, etc., is a success. 

Libah Sheppard - writer

Will read from her story “I Do Love You” - the story of a young Black girl's love for her older brother. Despite his faults, he could do no wrong. The result of her brother's encounter with a policeman sent Sheppard spiraling out of control, which led to almost a decade of drug addiction. "I Do Love You" is a story of personal redemption over adversity. She only recently has been able to talk or write about the incident. The story is a reclamation of her life as she recently completed a Bachelor's Degree and is presently working on a Master's Degree, both at SF State University.  I Only Wanted to Play with My Dolls - by Libah Sheppard

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDZm1tKASmo

Thomas Robert Simpson who will premiere: Little Jimmy, Finally Reaches the Promised Land. This will be an AI generated film. This will be AfroSolo’s first venture into presenting a film. Little Jimmy, Finally Reaches the Promised Land. explores the youthful vision of urban renewal and the promise he envisions from the project. Thomas Robert Simpson is a writer, director, performer and producer of AfroSolo. The film will be created by Hugh Leeman via Artificial Intelligence Storytelling, a creative framework that pairs the ancient art of storytelling with artificial intelligence to bring stories to life and communities together. 

Show Dates & Performers: (3 shows)
- Fri. March 28, 2025 – 7:00 pm

- Sat. March 29, 2025 – 7:00 pm

- Sun. March 30, 2025 – 3:00 pm

POTRERO STAGE, 1695 18th St. (at Arkansas St.), SF, CA 94107.
Limited Engagement - 3 Performances Only! 

TICKETS: https://tickets.playground-sf.org/TheatreManager/1/online?event=391

General Admission Seating. $0 - $35, pay what you can. 
No one turned away due to lack of funds. In Person & Live Streaming options available.

* Venue Accessibility Info.: The Potrero Stage and its restrooms are ADA-accessible.

Thomas Robert Simpson, founder and artistic director of AfroSolo says:

 “We are very excited to continue our performance series with five inspiring performers showcasing the diversity and talent of our artists. Each performance will include theatre, music, dance, storytelling, a post-performance on surviving police stops, and for 2025, an AI-driven story. The performances continue to provide us the opportunity to celebrate our history, uplift our culture, and through our experiences, explore the bonds all people have in common.” 

“We cordially invite you to experience this exhilarating program by the AfroSolo Theatre Company, a haven for Black Arts, Culture, Intellect, and Entertainment! We welcome back all former patrons and invite new audience members to come and experience our ingenuity.”