Lorraine Hansberry Theatre Presents A Staged Reading of HOME by Samm-Art Williams June 15

SAN FRANCISCO - June 10, 2015 - PRLog -- Lorraine Hansberry Theater (LHT) in association with the 5th Annual Project1VOICE presents a benefit staged reading of HOME by Samm-Art Williams at the African American Arts & Culture Complex, 762 Fulton Street in San Francisco on Monday, June 15th at 7 PM.

Project1VOICE is a national performing arts service organization whose mission is to strengthen and promote African American theater and playwrights. Each year, Project1VOICE presents an international salute to the American theater on the third Monday in June in recognition of Juneteenth to preserve the legacy and tradition of the American theater, most specifically African American playwrights.  This year, Project1VOICE honors the 35^th anniversary of HOME’s Broadway debut and commemorates the 150th anniversary of the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, and over 30 African American theaters and diverse institutions across the country and internationally, will present simultaneous staged readings in 1VOICE/1PLAY/1DAY!  The annual Project1VOICE benefit fundraiser fosters community awareness and audience recommitment to local arts institutions.  Net proceeds from the San Francisco reading of HOME will benefit future productions of Lorraine Hansberry Theatre.

LHT's San Francisco Staged Reading Cast:
DAVID MOORE* --- CEPHUS MILES
KELLEY STRICKLAND --- WOMAN 1
CATHLEEN RIDDLEY* --- WOMAN2
STEVEN ANTHONY JONES * --- STAGE DIRECTIONS
*Members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Professional Actors & Stage Managers Union.

ABOUT HOME by Samm-Art Williams:  HOME is a brilliantly inventive, lyrically expressive play that deals joyfully with the coming of age of a young black man from rural South Carolina. The action begins on a small farm in South Carolina that Cephus Miles, an orphan, inherited from his family. Young and strong, he is content to work the land—until his childhood sweetheart rejects him and goes off to college. Not believing in the Vietnam War, Cephus is imprisoned as a draft evader for refusing to serve. By the time he is released, Cephus has lost his land to the tax collector and heads north to build a new life. With a good job and a slinky new girlfriend, he finds the big city exciting and rewarding. But soon after, the dream begins to fade—Cephus loses his job and becomes involved in drugs and prostitution. Pulling himself together, he returns to South Carolina and settles back on the land with his old sweetheart. Despite all, he never lost his joyous goodwill, his indomitable spirit and the conviction that one day his quest for fulfillment would be rewarded.

ABOUT PROJECT1VOICE: Project1VOICE is a national performing arts service organization whose mission is to strengthen and promote African American theaters and playwrights. Project1VOICE presents simultaneous readings of a classic play each year on the third Monday in June in recognition of Juneteenth to preserve the legacy and tradition of the American theater and most specifically African American playwrights - www.Project1Voice.org.

ABOUT LORRAINE HANSBERRY THEATRE (LHT):  Award-winning Lorraine Hansberry Theatre was founded in 1981 with the core mission to promote the performing arts and present plays by America's foremost African-American and multicultural playwrights. LHT provides employment and career-building opportunities for actors, directors, designers, and technicians. In March 2011, veteran stage, film and television actor, Steven Anthony Jones, took the helm as LHT’s Artistic Director after the passing of both co-founders, Stanley E. Williams and Quentin Easter, in 2010.

HOME STAGED READING DETAILS:

WHO:      Lorraine Hansberry Theater in Association with the 5th Annual Project1VOICE

WHAT:    Benefit staged reading of HOME by Samm-Art Williams

WHEN:    Monday, June 15, 2015 - 7:00 PM

WHERE:  African American Art & Culture Complex, 762 Fulton Street, San Francisco, CA94102.

WHY:      Project1VOICE collaborates with over 30 theaters and other diverse institutions across the country to present simultaneous staged readings of a classic play or musical by an African-American writer or composer on the third Monday in June in recognition of Juneteenth.  The event fosters community awareness and audience recommitment to local arts institutions.  Net proceeds from the San Francisco reading of HOME will benefit the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre.

TICKETS:  $25 Adults, $20 Seniors/Students. To purchase tickets: go to http://lhtsf.org/tickets.html. Box Office: (415) 474-8800, www.LHTSF.org.