Pegasus produces awarding-winning play about the impact of HIV/AIDS from May 16- June 17, launches new reading series 

CHICAGO – Pegasus Players closes its 2011-2012 season with the award-winning play In the Continuum written by Danai Gurira and Nikkole Salter. In the Continuum runs from May 16 to June 17, 2012, at 4520 N. Beacon Street in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood, the new home for the well-known theatre company.

Opening/Press Night is Saturday, May 19 at 7:30 p.m. Named by The New York Times as one of the top ten plays of 2005, In The Continuum offers the audience a seamless, multifaceted story of betrayal, denial and self-discovery. The play follows the lives of Abigail and Nia, one from South Central LA and the other from Harare, Zimbabwe, as each one learns that they have contracted HIV. Both women take parallel and darkly comic journeys as they attempt to confront family and friends with their tragic revelation while navigating the new course set before them.

The play received its world premiere in September 2005 at Primary Stages in New York City. In 2007, it premiered in Chicago, receiving high praise and a Jeff Recommendation. This season, Pegasus remounts this funny yet deeply moving two-person play featuring Samantha Bailey and Ashleigh Lathrop. Ilesa
Duncan, producing artistic director of Pegasus, is the director. 

Profiles:
Ilesa Duncan (Director/Producing Artistic Director) recently directed the acclaimed production of THE NATIVITY for Congo Square Theatre at the Goodman. In addition to the last several festival productions, her recent directing work includes THE GIMMICK and SHAPE OF A GIRL (Pegasus Players), BLUE SHADOW (Lifeline Theatre), HOPE SIX (Chicago Dramatists) and CROWNS for the Contemporary American Theater Company in Columbus Ohio. Other direction at Pegasus includes Jeff Award nominated TICK, TICK BOOM as well as HEATWAVE, BREATH BOOM, EV'RY TIME I FEEL THE SPIRIT, and four Young Playwrights Festivals (DINE & HASH, BLOOMING FLOWERS IN WEEDS, IN YOUR DREAMS and GRACE). Some
favorites include the Jeff award-winning comedy LOVE CHILD (Theater on the Lake, Chicago Theater Co., and Live Bait Theater), SHAKIN’ THE MESS OUTTA MISERY, (CTC), WAITING TO BE INVITED (Victory Gardens), SARAFINA (Fleetwood Jourdain at Next Theatre), A RAISIN IN THE SUN (CATCO), F**KING A (Theatre School at DePaul), and RED RAIN at Lincoln Center Theatre/HERE in New York.

As the new Artistic Director at Pegasus Players, Ilesa is a member of the Lincoln Center Theatre Director's Lab, and a NEA/TCG Directing Fellow. She is also Associate Artist with PanAmerica Performance Works (formerly Latino Chicago) and Chicago Dramatists.

In addition to company’s full production, Pegasus will launch a new reading series this month. The first public reading -- Dana Lynn Formby’s new play If You Split a Second -- will take place on Saturday, April 28 at 5 p.m. at Pegasus. A donation of$5 is requested for the reading, directed by Emmi Hilger. Additional details on future readings will be listed at www.pegasusplayers.org.

IN THE CONTINUUM LISTING INFORMATION
Performance Times
Thursdays – Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m.
Cast
Samantha Bailey
Ashleigh Lathrop
Production Team
Director: Ilesa Duncan
Scenic Design: Jackie and Rick Penrod
Lighting Design: Mike Durst
Sound Design: Christopher Kriz
Costume Design: Christine Pascual
Props Design: Angelica Gutierrez
Production Manager: Dre Robinson

Tickets
Preview tickets are $15. Regular run tickets are $25. All tickets can be purchased online at www.pegasusplayers.org or by calling Ovation Tix at 1-866-811-4111. For more information on group sales and preview discounts, contact Pegasus’ box office at 773.878.8864. Discounts for previews and group tickets are available.

By Corey Hall

     Freshly divorced, financially destitute, and flat-out desperate, the newcomer from Nigeria found himself surviving in the smallest apartment available to artists at 5750 S. Stony Island. The man, Adedayo Laoye, soon befriended other, older artists in the building who bemoaned how unoriginal their professional world had become. But with five used canvasses and no paper, what could Laoye – better known as Dayo – do?

     “Who said that’s the only thing you can create on?” his friends asked.

     Well, a few days later, Dayo happened upon and retrieved two doors discarded in the alley behind his apartment. He would bring them inside and soon begin panting on the doors, eventually creating “Orisa,” a Yoruba god, that, similar to a door, he noted, provides protection.

     Dayo – who graduated from the School of Art and Design, Yaba College of Technology in Nigeria – recently discussed his 30-plus year career as an artist, which will be displayed in “Evolution.” This exhibit will show from January 24 through March 6 at the South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Drive. Twenty-two years after his arrival, Dayo, now equipped with ample canvasses, more paper, and much more studio space, has continued celebrating his Yoruba origins through his creations.  “Evolution,” he explained from his studio, chronicles how African people worldwide have progressed.

     “We were a family-oriented, spiritually-oriented people. We saw God through nature, and we saw specific people as intermediaries of God through us,” Dayo said. “I’m hoping that my work will emphasize our greatness and beauty of what we have, and that people will be able to see the beauty and pride in who we were and who we are, still.”

     Featuring 40-plus works created with watercolors, charcoals, pastels, oil and acrylic on canvass, and six wooden doors, “Evolution” will include titles such as “Prayer Time,” “Elder’s Meeting,” “Landscape,” and “Sango.”  (writer's note: A dot should be below the  “s” in “Sango?  It’s a Yoruba word, and the dot, Dayo stated, gives the word its “sh” sound.)

     “It’s my interpretation of the god of thunder and lightning. He became a deity after he passed,” Dayo explained, “but prior to that this particular rendition was presented as a warrior or a king. There is symbolism in that it explains what we have gotten from Sango devotees through the griot.”

     Daniel Parker, an art collector and author, whose book African Art: The Diaspora and Beyond features Dayo’s work, has purchased more than 10 paintings and one door by Dayo.  Parker calls the door, which he had framed, “one of the most cherished pieces I have.”  Dayo’s style, he said, forces African-Americans to look at African culture and invite it into their own.  

     “At first take, you may feel that the characters (in the paintings)  are cartoons, but when you look deeper, you will see that they have a far deeper meaning.  When you look at the eyes of the characters, you can see that they’re not cartoonish at all,” Parker said.  “They are significantly profound, and these hard edges to his work...captivate a striking image for the viewer.”

     When further discussing Dayo’s impact, Parker read an excerpt from his book about a painting entitled “Gre Gre.” This work, he noted, serves as an invitation to life, love, and sexuality.

   “Dayo creates acrylic paints almost sizzling off the canvass as this exuberant couple sensually dances to the pulsating beats.  (Dayo’s) burning colors and the fiery strokes of his brush add even more heat to the sultry image,” Parker read.  “Other than the dancing couple, only the artist hears the music, and he smiles as we draw nearer to better share in the mood.  The realization strikes this inviting moment meant only for the dancers.  With the stroke of his brush, (Dayo) has brilliantly woven the story, and it is our story.”              

     “Evolution” will also include “Oya by the Yorubas,” which features his interpretation of the River Niger. Oya’s interpretation, he explained, is based on a praise chant.

     “I interpret her as a whirlwind, which is fire and hurricane. Oya is known to light a fire from magical powers, because she’s a goddess represented by water, the river,” Dayo said. “Oyo is a very important part in the history of the Yorubas. She was one of the three major wives of Sango, the god of thunder and lightning.”

     While Dayo prefers not to suggest what new and seasoned observers should look for in his paintings, he does hope that they inspire conversation about their symbolism. “A work is considered alive if that happens,” he said. “If you walk through an exhibit and it does nothing to you, that work is considered dead, sterile.”

     “Evolution’s” ultimate purpose, Dayo added, is to inspire people today by celebrating the past and future.

     “I’m hoping that we will never forget who we are as Africans,” he said. “Our culture, our spirituality, our ways are the only things that distinguish us as who we are as we evolve.”

     An artist’s reception for “Evolution” will be held February 5, 2-6 p.m., and a forum, “Yoruba Culture/Symbolism & My Work,” will be held on February 19, 2-5 p.m.

Toure Muhammad enjoyed helping Bryant Thompson of Red Level Entertainment celebrate 10 years in business. 

(l-r) Toure Muhammad, Bryant Thompson, Carl West, and Ron Baker Jr.

Much love to Bryant Thompson, CEO of Red Level Entertainment who celebrated 10 years in business. Had the pleasure of doing my first roast. 

Toure Muhammad roasting Bryant as he looks on

Click here for more photos.

Check out Red Level Entertainment here.