Listen to Mamie "Peanut" Johnson...

Everyone has stories to tell, but not everyone can tell them with the detail and joy that these videos offer.

And, I credit the interviewer with making this look easy....

Rites & Reason offered a one woman show performed by Melodie Thompson, directed by Marsha Z. West about Mamie Johnson. How did I miss it?

And, if there's family in Connecticut, then she fits my definition of neighbor....

Harold Rogovin and the Vince Lombardi Trophy

When Harold and Carol and the kids left New York City for New Jersey, it was a day of mourning for me.

Even without a car, we did go and visit them many times... They were first in Flemington, I think, and then in Califon....

During one visit, Harold held up something he was working on or had recently finished.

It was a Super Bowl. The actual Vince Lombardi Trophy. I remember how it shone brilliantly from across the room. Not being a football fan then (or now), it did not really impress me more than his chandeliers, and bedposts, jewelry and bowls, etc.
Harold was a tremendous metalsmith and artist.

I am wondering which year that was, and have the vague hope that someone who knows will chance upon this note. Speaking to Celia, she confirmed that it was not a joke on his part...She suggested 1978 or 1979.

Annotated on thursday after the 2012 Superb Owl, I hear via the Rogovin family: The Trophy Harold made was in 1981 and went to the San Francisco 49ers....

What does the Super Bowl trophy look like?

In 1967, Tiffany & Co. former vice president Oscar Riedner made a sketch for the design of the Super Bowl trophy and showed it to Pete Rozelle, who was then the commissioner of the NFL. Since then, the Super Bowl trophy has been handcrafted by Tiffany & Co. in Parsippany, New Jersey. The trophy weighs seven pounds and is 23 inches tall. It takes four months and 72 hours for the trophy to be finished. It is made completely out of sterling silver and the artists that construct the Vince Lombardi Trophy specialize in chasing, polishing, hand engraving, silversmithing, and spinning. The trophy has a stand with three concave sides. On top of the stand is a regulation-sized football that is in kicking position. Engraved on the trophy are the words "Vince Lombardi Trophy," the roman numerals corresponding to that year's Super Bowl, and the logo of the NFL. Details such as the winning team's name and score are engraved after the presentation of the trophy.

The description above is from this site.

Was Marsha Z. West a football fan ? If yes, I imagine her rooting for the Giants.

I understand that Rhett Jones was definitely a football fan, and rooted for the Patriots, despite his Illinois background...

and I have not the slightest idea whether Grace Paley paid any attention to football....

I can picture her responding to any right wing/religious commercials against health care for all..

Sweet Marsha Z. West ! Look What I Found !

Thinking about Marsha Z. West, and imagining listening to her thoughts on The Help and on the greater world of Theater and Love and Many things,

I found this amazing site, African Amerhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifican Playwrights Exchange

I don't have the time now to check out all the links on the side, but I see Rites and Reason, of course, and I recognize some of the names.

And it is a treat and a joy to see many names that are new to me....

I don't doubt for a second that if I searched, I would find Marsha's name in an earlier post, and that she probably knew artists involved with almost all of those theaters and websites. She was "Mama" to many !

I am so grateful to have witnessed her on the stage and to have been directed by her.

As Marsha, wrote in her notes: "Smooches" . . .

Ramses contra los monstruos: salmos y apocalipsises or New from Rites and Reason Theater

Well, the first reading was yesterday, but there will be more !

Ramses y los monstruos: salmos y apocalipsises

Time
Monday, February 7 at 9:00pm - February 11 at 4:00pm
Location Rites and Reason /&/ List Art Center @ Brown University
Created By
Victor I. Cazares
More Info
Ramses contra los monstruos: salmos y apocalipsises (bailes, canciones y visiones para el fin del mundo)

A Staged Reading
Performed in English and with English supertitles.

...written by: Victor I. Cazares
directed by: Ryan Purcell

1st Reading: Feb. 7th, 9pm @ Rites and Reason
2nd Reading: Feb 11th, 4pm @ List Art Center (64 College St.)

Get your tickets here:

http://pw.brown.edu/blueroom/

SYNOPSIS:

It had been a long night in his clandestine laboratory.
Ramses el pozolero (stewmaker) had spent hours making and remaking the same recipe he'd made a million times before--but without the desired results.
The same recipe of his ancestral acid stewmakers.
He needed it for six bodies.
He needed it to dissolve them.
But in this cursed hour, the damned pozole instead of dissolving bodies, remade them.

Cast:
Tito/Titus- Grant Chapman
Ramses- Charlie Thurston
Lydia la Lavandera- Barrie Kreinik
Padrecito Ernesto Alonso- Lovell Holder
Viri (Viridiana)- Lauren Lubow
Chema- Liz Morgan
La Yuri- Leicester Landon
Stage Directions- Kevaughn Harvey

:::part of the Writing is Live festival, a presentation of new works featuring nine plays by writers in Brown’s graduate theatre programs:::

Solidarity with Rhode Island Janitors

Here's a little history:

In 2007, the Justice for Janitors campaign spread beyond Providence, and contracted Amica janitors in Lincoln went on strike for fair treatment and a voice on the job. Their courage, your support, and Amica’s intervention opened the door for hundreds of Rhode Island contracted janitors outside of Providence to get a voice on the job and better working conditions. 
Now, Amica is dishonoring the sacrifice of those contracted janitors by bringing in Martins Maintenance, which has already demonstrated its inhumane and repressive treatment of workers, and has made no effort to hire the long-time Amica subcontracted janitors. Come join us on Thursday to remind Amica that their courageous contracted janitors deserve to work for a responsible contractor that will retain them at the site and will honor the standards they have sacrificed so much for.

That's copied directly from the Rhode Island Jobs With Justice website.

N.B. Most of this blog's visitors do not live in RI or even New England, so please consider visiting the RI Jobs With Justice facebook page (the link is on the above site) or spreading the word to your friends and readers....

My friends, whose spirits and memories inspire this blog, would be supportive, I believe. Grace Paley and Rhett Jones and Harold Rogovin: definitely. Marsha Z. West, I am a tiny bit less sure of, but I think very likely, yes.

‘Imagining Heschel,’ New Play Features Richard Dreyfuss

‘Imagining Heschel,’ New Play Features Richard Dreyfuss


My Heschel connection is very slight. I heard his daughter speak in Providence many many years ago. She did not leave a stirring impression on me then....but I think I expected too much, because I had heard such wonderful things about Abraham Heschel.

Richard's website/blog Tikun Olam, is worth visiting daily. His posts are always thoughtful and well-written. The responses are sometimes constructive, sometimes petulant or worse.

Also I am still visiting the sites on Richard's Blogroll. It's a remarkable list.

This play sounds fantastic.

Marsha Z. West said: " Theater is magic."

Eugene V. Debs: Quote about Moses -- Relevant to Rhode Islanders and Everyone..

Eugene Debs did not say this at a Seder, as far as I know:


“Too long have the workers of the world waited for some Moses to lead them out of bondage. I would not lead you out if I could; for if you could be led out, you could be led back again. I would have you make up your minds there is nothing that you cannot do for yourselves.”


From an address on Industrial Unionism delivered at Grand Central Palace. New York City, Dec. 18,1905.

The Eugene V. Debs Foundation is keeping his spirit alive...

It's Valerie Tutson's Birthday! (January 29)

Happy Birthday, Valerie!

Rhode Islanders reading this blog will probably know who Valerie Tutson is.
And Valerie is known nationally and internationally as well...

Here is an excerpt from the biography on her site:

Valerie Tutson was graduated from Brown University with a Masters Degree in
Theatre Arts and a degree in a self-designed major—Storytelling As A
Communications Art. Valerie has been telling stories in schools, churches, libraries,
festivals and conferences since 1991. She draws her stories from around the world
with an emphasis on African traditions. Her repertoire includes stories and songs she
learned in her travels to South Africa, her experiences in West Africa, stories from
African American history. In addition, she is gaining quite a reputation for her
exciting retelling of age-old Bible stories. She not only delights listeners with her
tale-telling, she also teaches workshops and classes to students of all ages, and
hosts CULTURAL TAPESTRY, an award-winning show for COX 3 celebrating the
diverse cultures around us. Valerie has most recently served as the co Director of the
National Black Storytelling Festival in Providence, RI

Her website is:
http://www.valerietutson.com/

And if you use facebook, you can follow it on NetworkedBlogs.

I cannot even remember when I first saw Valerie perform at Rites & Reason Theatre...but she was phenomenal.

We know that Valerie hails from Connecticut, but We Claim Valerie as a Rhode Islander, thank you very much.

Wherever you are, Valerie, I hope that you have a Joyful day and know how Grateful we are for your many Gifts.

Somewhere Marsha Z. West smiles.

Elmo Terry-Morgan To Receive Award From National Black Theatre

The brilliant and kind Elmo Terry-Morgan will be receiving an award tomorrow from The National Black Theatre

Here is his own brief description:

I will be in Harlem, NY on Thursday, 12/1709, at the National Black Theatre to receive a Dr. Barbara Ann Teer Spirit Award for being "a visionary and catalyst for artistic development". I am humbled by the sentiment and recognition. This particular award, among 3, is named after Tunde Samuel, my brother-friend and producer who made his transition in August of 2001. PS: I feel Marsha West's presence.

For years I admired Elmo from a distance, but have been graced with chances to work with him at Rites and Reason in the last few years.

En horabuena, Elmo!

Thank You Ninja Nurse, Democommie And Patient Friends

I have been a deeply dormant blogger, but the encouragement of the NinjaNurse, and Democommie and the famous bloggers of Newport and Other Mysterious Settings is waking me from the slumber.

This past Saturday at a wonderful Halloween event in my neighborhood, I had the great fortune to see Alex Svoboda, my friend whose knee was so harmed by the authorities in Pawtucket and who works joyfully with the Wobblies. Incredibly there are still charges pending against her ( and one or two others ).

Grace Paley's Birthday is approaching.

Rhett Jones' spirit is, I'm sure, following this Obama Administration and football and theatre and Civil Rights.

Marsha Z. West is Dancing and somewhere laughing about silly people blogging in her Memory.

And Harold Rogovin? Somewhere making jokes in Yiddish and reflecting on Sacco and Vanzetti.

Rites And Reason: Black Lavender, April 2- 5, '09

I can see George Houston Bass, Rhett Jones and Marsha Z. smiling somewhere.

This looks wonderful.

Rites And Reason Theatre Seeks Musicians and Save These Dates!

CONTACT: Clarice_Thompson@brown.edu

MUSICIANS WANTED FOR

Strings
Guitars
Keyboards
Wind instruments
Percussions

RITES & REASON THEATRE

Gever/Shabab
Shadows of Israel-Palestine

by Noam Dorr, ‘09, RUE
Director, Elmo Terry-Morgan
Music Director, Clarice LaVerne Thompson, PhD.
Choreographer: Meida McNeal
Associate Director: Connie Crawford

Performance Dates:
February 19-22
February 26-March 1, 2009
Thursday, Friday, Saturday performances at 7 PM
Sunday performances at 3 PM with Folkthought

Yes, I am going to be in this play and Ethan is working Tech...
as we get closer to the dates above, I expect to be less available for blogging...

Del Martin. (May 5, 1921 --August 27)

From Pam Spaulding, I learn the news of Del Martin's passing. I have only read about her and seen photos of her, but I celebrate her life and am grateful for her tremendous pioneering activism.

I hope this link works!

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=6698

If there is another "after world" she is joining Grace Paley and Marsha Z. West and Harold Rogovin and Darren Carr and Rhett Jones and Seraphin B. and Eric S. Richardson and Allegra Jones and Mahmoud Darwish and Mollie Ivins and Fred Martin and so many ancestors ...

Rites And Reason Awards, 2008

Most Recent Recipients of Rites and Reason Awards:

Darnell J. Fine '08: Rhett S. Jones Legacy Award for Outstanding Contribution to Institution Building

Gina Rodriguez '08: Alexis Prussack Legacy Award for Outstanding Contribution to Institution Building

Julian Drix '08: McKinley Ragland Legacy Award for Outstanding Contribution to Institution Buidling

Elizabeth C. Morgan '10 and Sevita Qarshi '10: Marsha Z. West Legacy Award for Outstanding Contribution to Institution Building

Bradley Toney '10 and Janine Heath '10: Donna Edmonds Mitchell Torch Award for Outstanding Rising Junior

Tomas Landes '11, John Racioppo '11, Elizabeth Rothman '11 and Akinyi Shapiro '11: Annual Luis Pagan and Joanne Suh New Pioneer Award for Outstanding Contribution to Institution Building by a First-Year Student.

I hope that this time my effort to copy and paste has not resulted in chopping off people's names on the right margin (well, it's no secret, I lean to the left). This information is gleaned from the website of the Africana Studies Department of Brown U. I tried unsuccessfully to post a link, but have now deleted that line. The link below to Rites & Reason Theatre does work, thankfully!

On a personal note: Darnell J. Fine and Gina Rodriguez were my stage managers for The Candlemakers of Kletsk at Rites & Reason in October of 2005.

If you belief in prayer, or anything of that ilk, please (as the Quakers say) "hold in the light," Rhett Jones . Rhett is in RI Hospital as I write this. Rhett has been a mentor to me (and more) since I studied with him my sophomore year (1983-1984!)

Grace Paley Documentary Needs Funds!

I'm sending this short note to pretty much all my lists. For those of you getting this, I was able to

watch an 18 minute beginning to a film about Grace Paley, to be called: Grace Paley: Collected Shorts.

For those who don't know who Grace Paley was (she died last August), visit your

bookstore. Grace's voice was unique - as was her life. Many of us in the peace

movement and the women's movement count it as a privilege to say we were

arrested with her.

Lilly Rivlin needs to raise more than a half million dollars to get the film finished. I'm sure she will

do that - provided she has help. This is not a fund appeal letter - it is an appeal for anyone who

knew Grace and her work to think of people who do have funds. People in the literary world, in the

world of film, of art. And of course, if you want to help directly with a check you can send it to

Lilly Rivlin made out to "Women Make Movies", % Lilly Rivlin, 463 West St., Apt. 510 A, NYC 10014.

You can also visit the website: www.LillyRivlin.com.

So put your thinking caps on. The remarkable Grace, who meant so much to so many of us

(there must already have been six different memorials). Grace was a whole and complete human

being who saw no way to draw a clear line between art and protest. So, if you have any idea on

sources that can help with funding, get them to check in with Lilly Rivlin. Meanwhile, judging from

the 18 minute segment I saw, all of us will have a great film to look forward to, and a means to

introduce a whole new generation to the life and work of one of America's greats.

David McReynolds

I received this from David today (less than 2 hours ago!). I don't know Ms. Rivlin, but the address above is the same one Suzanne and Peter Ruta live in, so I could have passed her in a corridor.

Grace Paley and Marsha Z. West are surely celebrating the Marriage Victory in California with Ancestors. Harold Rogovin might be chuckling.

Rites & Reason Theatre

I've loved this theatre and everything about it since 1982.

http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Africana_Studies/rites_reason/

Grace Paley may or may not have visited, but she would have loved this place and its people. This is true for Harold Rogovin (less likely that he visited). Marsha's spirit is here forever.

Thank you, George Houston Bass.

Thank you, Rhett Jones.

Thank you.

Marsha Z. West, I love you.

What Grace Paley, Harold Rogovin & Marsha Z. West Have In Common (Part I)

I write in haste as I plan to attend a noon Board meeting of the Providence Public/Private Library, and it is already 10:55 AM. They are still claiming that eliminating the 7 Child Life Specialists is the only answer. I will post more on this soon.

Marsha Z. West and Harold Rogovin and Grace Paley were 3 people who died in 2007. I doubt that they ever met each other. It is true that they all lived in New York City at various times. Harold and Grace may have been close in number of years lived.

They were all artists. Marsha: a dancer, actor, director, dramatug, and much more. Harold: a metal smith, jeweler, sculptor...Grace: a poet, writer of fiction, baker of pies...

Harold was the man who first introduced me to the history of Sacco and Vanzetti. We lived in the same apartment building in New York City ( on West 111th Street) for years. His family became my family.

Marsha, I first encountered through her acting at Rites & Reason Theater which is part of the Africana Studies Department at BrownU. I was blessed to act under her direction in the play, "The Candlemakers of Kletsk"[Angela Thurston] in 2005.

Grace, I met only once in Vermont, and I will save that story. Her activism and literature first touched me when I was about 12 or 13 ( maybe younger).

These three people inspire me...It is 11:07AM....