Play "In White America" Draws Media Attention

How did Serendipity Playhouse manage to get The Columbian out to cover local theater? Scott Hewitt doesn't cover the arts!  Honey, they done sent out a photographer an' averathang!

So what gives?

It's all about spin, my friends. You put the right spin on things; push the right buttons at the right time and you get some column inches, baby. (Hewett does cover social issues.)

This is bigger than mere entertainment! 

You see, February is Black History Month and this Drama Desk Award-winning play is about black history in America.

The play covers slavery, the Civil Rights movement, the Civil War, the abolitionist movements, the era of Reconstruction, and early twentieth century racism and segregation. The performance is also slated to include storytelling by the following members of the local community: Belva Jean Griffin, Huarleen Bane, Kenneth Smith, Charles L. Simmons, Deena Pierott, Dolly England, and Reverend Marva J. Edwards.

John Robertson and Ron Munsey -
Photo courtesy of Christopher Paradee

AND the play, of course, features people of color which is something you just don't see much of in Vancouver's homogeneous artsy crowd. But Serendipity wants to change that; they wish to embrace people of all creeds and colors, the young and the old, the disabled and of all sexual persuasions.

And that, my friends, is newsworthy. (Of course, I happen to believe the Arts are culturally relevant and newsworthy at all times.) None-the-less, kudos to Serendipity!

See The Columbian's story here.

"In White America" opens at the Serendipity Playhouse, 500 Washington St., Vancouver, Wash. 7:30 p.m., Friday, February 15 and plays through the 24th . Showtimes are 2 p.m. Sundays; 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturdays; February 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24. Special showing 2 p.m. Sunday, February 17 is “Pay What You Will.” A “Meet the Players” Q&A event will take place after the February 24 matinee.
Tickets, $15, available at the door only, but reservations are recommended; leave info at 360-834-3588.

See our review by Dennis Sparks at noon, Saturday, February 16.

By Gregory E. Zschomler