Who: Kyle Beltran, Dan Butler, Helen Cespedes, Kalyne Coleman, Crystal Dickinson, Brandon J. Dirden, Ricardy Fabre, Yonatan Gebeyehu, Marin Ireland, Peter Mark Kendall, Nicole Lewis, Nana Mensah, Joe Morton, Deirdre O’Connell, Keith Randolph Smith, Ryan Spahn, Chris Stack, Myra Lucretia Taylor, TL Thompson, Nicole Villamil, Victoria Villier, Reggie D. White
What: Historic talks put into contemporary context
Where: Vineyard Theatre
When: October 6 – November 1, community conversations free, others $5-$9 per person per event, All Access Pass $60
Why: Conceived by Marin Ireland, Peter Mark Kendall, Tyler Thomas, and Reggie D. White, the Vineyard Theatre’s “Lessons in Survival” features a group of actors dubbed the Commissary reenacting historic speeches, interviews, and conversations from activists and artists during revolutionary times. Episodes such as “Survival Is Not a One Time Decision,” “I’m Trying to Make You See Something,” and “When You Say Revolution . . . What Do You Mean?” will be performed by Kyle Beltran, Dan Butler, Helen Cespedes, Crystal Dickinson, Brandon J. Dirden, Nicole Lewis, Joe Morton, Deirdre O’Connell, and Keith Randolph Smith, presenting the words of Nina Simone, Lorraine Hansberry, James Baldwin, Angela Davis, Fannie Lou Hamer, Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Nikki Giovanni, and others, directed by Tyler Thomas, with video design and editing by Josiah Davis and music by Daniel Kluger. Performances take place Tuesday and Wednesday nights at 8:30, with ticketed open rehearsals on Thursday nights and free Sunday afternoon community talks that can be viewed over YouTube and Facebook Live. To get ready, you can watch a discussion about the series here.
Tuesday, October 6, 8:30
“Survival Is Not a One Time Decision,” words by Nina Simone, Lorraine Hansberry, and Audre Lorde/Blanche Cook, with Nicole Lewis, Kalyne Coleman, Myra Lucretia Taylor, and Deirdre O’Connell
Wednesday, October 7, 8:30
“I’m Trying to Make You See Something,” words by James Baldwin/Dick Cavett, and Paul Weiss, followed by live tweeting about the vice presidential debate, with Ricardy Fabre, Chris Stack, and Dan Butler
Thursday, October 8, 8:30
Live Open Rehearsal, words by Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis and others, with Crystal Dickinson, Brandon J. Dirden, and Victoria Villier
Sunday, October 11, 5:30
Live Community Conversation, free
Tuesday, October 13, 8:30
“When You Say Revolution . . . What Do You Mean?,” words by Angela Davis, Georgia Gilmore, and Fannie Lou Hamer, with Nicole Lewis, Ricardy Fabre, Crystal Dickinson, and Helen Cespedes
Thursday, October 15, 8:30
Live Open Rehearsal, words by Bobby Seale, Bobby Seale/Bob Costas, and Ericka Huggins/Angela Davis/JoNina Abron/Barbara Rogers, with April Matthis, Reggie D. White, Sevrin Anne Mason, Adam Chanler-Berat, Brandon J. Dirden, Kristolyn Lloyd, Clarissa Marie Ligon, Nicole Lewis, and director Tyler Thomas
Sunday, October 18
Live Community Conversation, free, 5:30
“The Old Leadership Is Dead,” words by Bayard Rustin, with Kyle Beltran, Yonatan Gebeyehu, and TL Thompson, 8:30
Tuesday, October 20, 8:30
“Something Is Beginning to Crack,” words by Maya Angelou/Mavis Nicholson and James Baldwin/Mavis Nicholson, with Myra Lucretia Taylor, Marin Ireland, Joe Morton, and Deirdre O’Connell
Wednesday, October 21, 8:30
“This Country’s My Problem and Your Problem,” words by Toni Morrison and Charlie Rose, James Baldwin and R. H. Darden, with Dan Butler, Yonatan Gebeyehu, Nana Mensah, and Ryan Spahn
Thursday, October 22, 8:30
Live Open Rehearsal, words by Muhammad Ali/Nikki Giovanni, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, and more, with TL Thompson, Jennifer Ikeda, Crystal Dickinson, Nicole Villamil, Peter Mark Kendall, Peter Gerety, and director Tyler Thomas
Sunday, October 25
Live Community Conversation, free, 5:30
“This Country’s My Problem and Your Problem,” words by Toni Morrison/Charlie Rose, James Baldwin, and R. H. Darden, with Dan Butler, Yonatan Gebeyehu, Nana Mensah, and Ryan Spahn, 8:30
Tuesday, October 27, 8:30
“Lie to Me,” words by James Baldwin/Nikki Giovanni, with Kalyne Coleman, Crystal Dickinson, and Reggie White
Thursday, October 29, 8:30
Live Open Rehearsal, with words by Lucille Clifton/Sonia Sanchez, Sarah Keys Evans, John Lewis, and Paul Robeson, with Keith Randolph Smith and others
Sunday, November 1
Live Community Conversation, free, 5:30
“To Teach Is a Revolutionary Act,” words by James Baldwin/Nikki Giovanni, with Kyle Beltran, Nana Mensah, Kalyne Coleman, and Joe Morton, 8:30