by Al Letson, Jr.
Directed by Tracy Jack
Blackboard Readings Series features a new play by a Black playwright from the Black Diaspora Every 2nd Monday of the month, followed by a twenty minute talk back.
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A swift and enthralling political thriller, Julius X portrays a life-and-death struggle for power in 1960s Harlem. Inspired by Shakespeare’s tragedy of Julius Caesar , Julius X is set in Harlem in 1965, and amalgamates the lives of Julius Caesar and slain civil rights leader Malcolm X. Playwright/performance poet Al Letson, Jr. weaves the text of Shakespeare with bits of African mythology, the history of the Civil Rights movement, slam poetry, and hip-hop beats into something completely new. The poetry ranges from Shakespearean soliloquies to slam poems utilizing the entire cast. Alive with hip hop dance, performance poetry and stunning actions, Julius X investigates the intoxicating effects of power and the danger of pride.
About the playwright
Al Letson established himself as a heavyweight in the Poetry Slam Movement early in his career and has performed on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam, CBS’s Final Four PreGame Show (2004) and commercial projects for Sony, the Florida Times Union, Adobe Software and the Doorpost Film Project. Drawing on his background as a performance poet, Letson weaves spoken word into the fabric of his theatre work. Griot: He who Speaks the Sweet Word (2004), a genre mixing choreopoem was commissioned by the Baltimore Theatre Project. Letson’s teen drama Chalk (2004), features young actors and explores the reality of teenage aggression. With Chalk, Letson created a new genre of theatre he calls “The Poetical.” The format of a Poetical is similar to a Musical but instead of the dialogue leading into musical numbers, characters engage in performance poetry. Letson gives audiences a genuine glimpse inside the world of abject poverty with his solo show, Summer in Sanctuary (2008). Employing storytelling, poetry and multimedia, he chronicles his eye-opening experience working at a summer camp for disadvantaged children. In 2007 Letson was one of the three finalists out of 1,400 applicants to win the Public Radio Talent Quest. The Talent Quest is an effort by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to find new hosts and shows. The pilot State of the Re:Union created from the contest is to be presented to The Corporation for Public Broadcasting for possible funding. Letson continues to tour with his shows and push the boundaries of performance art, never accepting his craft as a static medium. Audiences can look forward to significant themes seamlessly blended with innovative methods in his future projects.
