Ceremonies In Dark Old Men January 13, 2009

Emmy Award winner Glynn Turman (The Wire), Tony nominee Rocky Carroll (Navy NCIS) and John Cothran, Jr. (Black Snake Moan) star in "Ceremonies in Dark Old Men" for L.A. Theatre Works. The performances will be recorded in front of a live audience to air on LATW's nationally syndicated, weekly radio theater series, The Play's The Thing.

Written by Academy Award nominee Lonne Elder, III and first produced by the Negro Ensemble Company, this classic masterpiece about a Harlem family that dreams of a better life but pursues it in tragic ways was one of the most meaningful theatrical events of the late sixties and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

"In a place like Harlem, populated by marginalized people, 'Ceremonies' reflected the social, economic and political quagmire that institutionalized racism can spawn, says director Judyann Elder, formerly a resident actor with the Negro Ensemble Company who appeared in the 1969 seminal production. "Now, over 40 years since its conception, this American classic still resonates with clarion clarity. The United States has, with the election of Barack Obama as President, finally chosen content of character over color of skin. Nonetheless, the wretched vestiges of prejudice, impoverishment and self-victimization continue to cripple and corrupt inner-city communities all over America. And, indeed, the world."

Performances of "Ceremonies in Dark Old Men" take place on Tuesday, January 13 at 8 pm; Wednesday, January 14 at 8 pm; Thursday, January 15 at 8 pm; Friday, January 16 at 8 pm; and Sunday, January 18 at 4 p. The Skirball Cultural Center is located at 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd, off the San Diego (405) Freeway in the Santa Monica Mountains (exit Skirball Center Drive). For tickets and information, call the L.A. Theatre Works box office at (310) 827-0889 or go to www.latw.org.

Official Website: http://www.latw.org