Water Wine Travel™

I just saw the off Broadway play, “Through the Night” at the Union Square Theatre tonight. I couldn’t wait until tomorrow to blog about it.  Daniel Beaty, is a one man tour de force.    Beaty is the author and performer of this solo play.  The play was FANTASTIC!  Beaty does a six person montage that brings to life the joys, hardships, pain and struggle of African American men.  He literally brings each character to life, without the use of costumes, smoke and lights or creepy stage music.  This is raw talent!

I won’t give away the whole story line…but I was in tears by the end of the show!  There is Bishop Saunders – a minister to a 10,000 person congregation, who is struggling with food addiction and his son’s sexuality.  Isaac is Bishop Saunders’ son, a successful corporate music executive, who is gay and at odds with his father and faith.  Kwon is a high school student on his way to Morehouse College – with the help and support of  his mentor, Isaac.  Mr. Rogers owns “Maxine’s” – a health food store on the verge of financial collapse.  His son, Eric, is a boy genius, who mixes up special herbs and teas to cure various ailments.  Dre is an HIV-positive, ex-con and expectant father who works for Mr. Rogers.  There are a few female characters that Beaty brings to life…but this is a play that focuses on the unique black male experience.

Beaty is the real deal.  He has a BA in English and Music from Yale and a MFA in Acting from the American Conservatory Theatre.  He received the 2007 Obie Award for Excellence in Off-Broadway Theatre for Writing & Performing and the 2007 AUDELCO Award for solo performance.    “Through the Night” is at the Union Square Theatre, 100  East 17th Street, NYC. Show and ticket information is at  ThroughTheNightOnStage.com Take someone you love!